10 Epigram Examples

Epigram

The epigram It is a very short type of poem that deals with a single idea. This composition has the characteristic of being very precise, clear, happy and ironic.

The epigram originated in Ancient Greece, but was present in Latin poetry, in the Spanish Baroque, and in the 18th century in England, France, and Germany.

Greek epigrams were found in tombs, weapons, statues, temples or other places and later became a lyrical subgenre and began to appear in books or other writings.

In addition, the themes and the function were modified (in some cases, these compositions stopped having an ironic-comic effect and began to have a moralizing purpose).

Characteristics of the epigram

Examples of epigram

1. Someday we will see the earth by divine work;
   now the sea is a circus to jump from the wind.

Fillets of Cos, 340 BC C. - 285 a. C.

1. Shun the sea land and grasp the steva
   if you want to see the end of a long life;
   on land the years are long and, on the other hand, it is not easy
   find gray heads among the sailors. (Faleco de Fócida, who lived between the 4th century BC. C. and the 3rd century BC. C.)
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2. Three heads of menalian deer with huge antlers
   they are consecrated to you in your portico, Apollo;
   on horseback the swift hand of the children hunted them
   of the brave Leontiadas, Dailoco and Promenes. (Perses, Greek poet)
3. I greet you, oh, Neoclid twins!, that one to the homeland
   He freed the other from slavery and foolishness. (Menander, 342 a. C.-291 a. C.)
4. You admire, Vacerra, only the ancients and you only praise the dead poets. Excuse me, I beg you, Vacerra: it's not worth dying to like it. (Marco Valerio Marcial, 40-104)
5. Everyone lives in pain if it is noticed,
   This one for not losing what he has gained,
   That one, because he was never rewarded. (Baltasar Gracián, 1601-1658)
6. "EPIGRAM V To the same Lady" by León de Arroyal (1755-1813)
   Who is Maria? She is true mother
   of Christ God and true Man.
   Already greater dignity to know I do not wait,
   nor be it known he could already;
   so let's sing with metric harmony:
   Holy Mother of God, Holy Mary.
7. That philosopher laughs,
   this one cries: that one contemplates
   the comic of life,
   this is the tragic thing about her. (Juan de Iriarte, 1702-1771)
8. A bandit was found
   With a certain clerk one day,
   And taking off his hat
   He made him the courtesy of him:
   The clerk gave hint
   That he missed the compliment;
   But the other said: "I do
   Because we are of a trade ”. (Manuel de Zequeira Arango, 1746-1846)
9. This will be my revenge:
   That one day the book of
   a famous poet
   and read these lines that the author wrote for you
   and you don't know it. (Ernesto Cardenal, 1925-2020)

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