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Prefixes

At the beginning of a word
Not every word has a prefix
A base at the beginning of a word is not a prefix
Prefixes have definitions and can be “translated”
Prefixes frequently have several forms

a- / an- (not, without, un-)
amphi- (both, on both sides, around)
ana- (up, back, again)
anti- / ant- (instead of, against, in opposition to, opposite)
apo- (from, out of, away, away from, off, utterly, completely)
dia- / di- (through, across, over, apart)
ec- / ex- (out, from, off)
en- / em- (in)
exo- / ecto- (outside)
hyper- (over, above, beyond, excessive)
hypo- / hyp- (under, below, insufficient)
meta- / met- (behind, beyond)
pro- (earlier, in front of, instead of)
syn- / sym- / syl- / sy- (together, with)

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Suffixes:

Noun Forming Suffixes:

General = thing or substance. EX: music
Abstract = a concept, quality, process. EX: justice, removal
Agent = person that does an action. “One who.” EX: librarian, idiot, scholar
Locative = refers to a place. “Place for.” EX: dormitory, aviary
Diminutive = smaller version of something. “A little X.” EX: pencil, granola
Medical = indicates a condition/substance. EX: arthritis, chlorine

Adjective Forming Suffixes:

Show a relationship to the noun.
“being,” “having,” “relating to” “resembling”
EX: urban, favorite, servile

Verb Forming Suffixes:

Shows a relationship to the noun
Transforms into a verb.
Translatable as “to make,” “to be,” “to begin”
EX: agonize, pacify, liquify, coalesce

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Word Building Practice – Suffixes

Macroscop-

(adj)

(abstract noun)

(agent noun)

(verb)

macroscop–ic

macroscop–ics / –ism / –y

macroscop–ist

macroscop–ize

Disclaimer: not all real words!

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Word Segmentation Practice

Hypergamy

Pedagogue

Gnostic

Metaphor

Diameter

Diagnose

Eutrophy

Synagogue

Hyper (prefix) + gamy (combining form)

Ped (base) + agogue (combining form)

Gno-st (base) + ic (noun OR adjective forming suffix)

Meta (prefix) + phor (base)

Dia (prefix) + meter (base)

Dia (prefix) + gno-se (base)

Eu (base) + troph (base) + y (noun forming suffix)

Syn (prefix) + agogue (combining form)

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Adaptations of Greco-Roman Mythology:

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What purpose does adaptation serve? Why would you want to retell a story from thousands of years ago?

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The Ancient Adaptor: Ovid

Ovid was a Roman poet that lived in the Augustan era (1st century BCE-1st century CE)
He is often considered a “canonical” poet of Latin literature
Most famous for the Metamorphoses – a mock epic that retells “whatever myths catch his fancy” (according to Ted Hughs).
Metamorphoses covers some major stories: theogony, Medea, Persephone, birth of Hercules, etc…
But much more myths in the Met. are super niche: Arachne, Phaethon, Narcissus, Scylla, etc…

And… Pyramus and Thisbe!

The Met. is 15 books & covers over 250 stories.
Why did Ovid adapt old myths?

Perhaps Romanizing them, perhaps for his own literary success, perhaps to subvert institutions of power, perhaps for fun!

The Met. ended up being one of the most popular Ancient Roman books during the Middle Ages… from there it entered English poetry… and trickled down to where we are now.

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Death of Actaeon, Titian, ca. 1559

Pygmalion and Galatea, Gerome, 1890

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Also adapted into music!

Sunlight by Hozier!

Each day, you'd rise with me

Know that I would gladly be

The Icarus to your certainty

Oh, my sunlight, sunlight, sunlight

Strap the wing to me

Death trap clad happily

With wax melted, I’d meet the sea

Under sunlight, sunlight, sunlight

Landscape with the Fall of Icarus, Bruegal, 1555

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Pyramus and Thisbe: What story was influenced by theirs?

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Adapting Pyramus & Thisbe:

How does Ted Hughs alter/adapt Ovid’s original adaptation? To what end?
What parts of the story does Hughs deem essential to his retelling?
What parts are left out? Why do you think so?
Which version do you prefer?

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