Challenge: Write a Mnemonic Poem!
Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 1:38 pm
Slavete grammatici,
I have a challenge for those of you who are inclined to wit and silly poetry: write a mnemonic rhyme to help remember some tricky grammatical rule. This was a very popular method for teaching grammar from the Middle Ages down to the early twentieth century, and I think it has a lot of untapped potential even for advanced readers of Latin and Greek.
I wrote the following poem long ago while studying Wheelock's Latin. It was designed to list the main ablative functions that require a preposition. I'm sure it doesn't cover ALL the ablatives that take prepositions (neither does it cover all the prepositions) but it helped me remember my notes on the first-year Latin exam. I submit it for your approval or censure, and I invite you all to do the same:
The Ablative Adventure
(or, The Preposition Mission)
For place from which use ab, ex, de;
While in and sub tell where you stay.
Use cum if you’re accompanied
Or if your manner is “with speed?.
Using ab when journey’s ended
Will tell by whom you were befriended;
And if some seek details from you,
Produce a treatise, de cursu!
I have a challenge for those of you who are inclined to wit and silly poetry: write a mnemonic rhyme to help remember some tricky grammatical rule. This was a very popular method for teaching grammar from the Middle Ages down to the early twentieth century, and I think it has a lot of untapped potential even for advanced readers of Latin and Greek.
I wrote the following poem long ago while studying Wheelock's Latin. It was designed to list the main ablative functions that require a preposition. I'm sure it doesn't cover ALL the ablatives that take prepositions (neither does it cover all the prepositions) but it helped me remember my notes on the first-year Latin exam. I submit it for your approval or censure, and I invite you all to do the same:
The Ablative Adventure
(or, The Preposition Mission)
For place from which use ab, ex, de;
While in and sub tell where you stay.
Use cum if you’re accompanied
Or if your manner is “with speed?.
Using ab when journey’s ended
Will tell by whom you were befriended;
And if some seek details from you,
Produce a treatise, de cursu!