The PINDARIC ODE is a structured work in three parts or movements: the strophe, the antistrophe, and stand or epode. The first two parts are structured alike. The stand is structured, but different from the first two movements. In traditional tragedy, the ode was an argument with a chorus delivering the strophe and antistrophe on opposite sides of the stage and the stand in the middle. The strophe would be one point-of-view. The antistrophe the opposite, the stand a conclusion somewhere in the middle.

The poet determines meter, stanza length, rhyme scheme etc. for the two types of movement, so the pindaric ode is constructed of two nonce forms.

Another expert refers to the Pindaric ode as being written in triads of three verses, in other words, this structure of strophe, antistrophe, and epode can be repeated.



Example by Ben Jonson:

excerpted parts from A Pindaric Ode

The Turne

BRAVE Infant of Saguntum, cleare
Thy coming forth in that great yeare,
When the Prodigious Hannibal did crowne
His rage, with razing your immortall Towne...
[snip]

The Counter-turne

Did wiser Nature draw thee back,
From out the horrour of that sack,
Where shame, faith, honour, and regard of right
Lay trampled on; the deeds of death, and night...
[snip]

The Stand

For, what is life, if measur'd by the space,
Not by the act?
Or masked man, if valu'd by his face,
Above his fact?...
[snip]