Catullus Poem 72 Notes Flashcards Preview

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Flashcards in Catullus Poem 72 Notes Deck (33)
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1
Q

How does this poem have symmetry?

A

Lines 1-4 are then, lines 5-8 are now

2
Q

How do we know the beginning of the poem is ‘then’?

A

‘Dicebas’ in the imperfect tense

3
Q

What is ‘dicebas’ replaced by emphatically?

A

‘Cognovi’

4
Q

What is the effect of the verbs in lines 5-8 being in the present tense?

A

Adds immediacy and vividness to the text

5
Q

What picks up ‘velle’ in line 2?

A

Bene velle line 8

6
Q

What picks up ‘dicebas’ line 1?

A

‘Inquis’ line 7

7
Q

How does Catullus address Lesbia?

A

In the second person

8
Q

How does Catullus explain the exact nature of his feelings?

A

Psychological subtlety and recording her words and answering them

9
Q

Where are the paradoxes in this poem?

A

Last line between loving and liking. Idea that injustice causes someone to love more but reduces liking

10
Q

What is surprising about this poem?

A

People would see liking as a less intense form of loving rather than separate things completely. The comparison of fathers loving their male children relates non- sexual affection to sexual obsession

11
Q

Which word has a biblical sense?

A

‘Nosse’ as you only ‘know’ someone that you have had sex with

12
Q

How is the force of the word ‘nosse’ brought out?

A

Repetition with ‘nunc cognovi’

13
Q

What is the message with the ‘knowing’?

A

She claims she only knows him but as he’s got to know her, he realises that is not true

14
Q

What is the emphatic positioning of names?

A

Catullus and Lesbia are next to each other but on different lines to show union and disunion. Jove is in the same place as Catullus on line 2 to compare himself and compete with Jove

15
Q

What does ‘tenere’ mean here?

A

To possess

16
Q

How is Catullus’ attitude o ordinary sexual affection shown?

A

Verbal juxtaposition of ‘vulgus amicam’

17
Q

What is the idea behind ‘vulgus’?

A

Pejorative

18
Q

What does ‘amicam’ imply?

A

Strong sense of temporary sexual partner contrasted with the permanency of a wife

19
Q

What techniques are in line 3?

A

Alliteration and lots of monosyllabic words

20
Q

What is the meaning behind ‘sons and sons in law’?

A

His love was not short-lived and was based on ties stronger than transitory sexual love (like mobs loving girlfriends)

21
Q

Is his passion for her infidelities greater or lesser?

A

Greater

22
Q

What does ‘vilis’ pick up?

A

Cheapness of ‘vulgus amicam’

23
Q

How does ‘impensius’ contrast ‘levior’

A

‘Impensius’ suggests weight to contrast the ‘light’ of ‘levior’

24
Q

What is the vocabulary of sexual frenzy in the paradox?

A

‘Impensius uror’

25
Q

What is now the vocabulary of social intercourse?

A

‘Iniuria’ and ‘bene velle’

26
Q

What is ‘iniuria’ used as in Propertius?

A

A woman’s unfaithfulness

27
Q

Why does Catullus use ‘iniuria’?

A

Places the blame of his love on Lesbia’s bad behaviour and puts the situation into language of friendship

28
Q

What does ‘cogit’ show?

A

These feelings are not out of choice

29
Q

What does the repetition of ‘amantem… amare’ show?

A

Inevitability of his reaction

30
Q

Which word is positioned emphatically in the paradox?

A

‘Cogit’

31
Q

What is Juppiter known for?

A

Sexual edge

32
Q

What does the paradox mean?

A

Her infidelities make him love her more but respect her less

33
Q

The contrast of which words suggest a lack of and more control?

A

‘Amare’ with ‘bene velle’

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