Analyzing and Interpreting Literature / Unit 17 AIL 1616 short lesson, about 20 seconds
"Sing, Heavenly Muse"
Captions available
The idea
The main verb arrives in the sixth line: sing, Heavenly Muse. Five lines of object precede the imperative that governs them. Unit two used this sentence as its example of a delayed main verb, and the delay is a deliberate imitation of classical epic syntax.
In practice
The verb waits five lines.
Where people slip
Unit two's example, in full.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
Builds on
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