Catullus Flashcards
Can we see the influence of Catullus’ poems on any other poets of that era?
Yes; poets such as Virgil, Horace, Propertius, Tibullus and Ovid were influenced by Catullus.
Whose death affected Catullus and where did he visit his grave?
Catullus was greatly affected by the death of his brother, whose grave he visited while travelling in Asia Minor c57 BC with the governer Gauus Memmius. Poem 101 is a lament at the grave and is a very moving poem.
Who was Lesbia?
Lesbia was Catullus’ muse, a married socialite with whom Catullus had an affair. Her real name was probably Clodia. This affair was a great source of anguish for Catullus.
How many of Catullus’ poems survive?
His poems were almost completely lost as they were not on school curriculum and at one point only survived on a single manuscript. A total of 116 carmina survive but 18,19 and 20 are not by Catullus.
Describe the composition of the 57 short poems of Catullus.
They are mainly between 5 and 25 lines in length. 51 are either hendecasyllabic or iambic. These rhythms can be characterised as occasional or conversational.
Describe the composition of Catullus’ 8 longer poems.
They range in line from 48 to 408 lines (except poem LXV, of 24 lines) in four different metres. The longest and most important is Poem 64.
Describe Catullus’ 48 epigrams.
These are elegiac couplets which consist of between 2 and 12 lines.
Why do we describe Catullus as a poets poet?
He addressed himself to fellow craftsmen, especially his friend Licinius Calvus whose work hasn’t survived.
Who were the Neoterics or poetae novi?
These were poets who preferred the learned, allusive and highly mannered art of the Greek Alexandrian poets like Callimachus to the grander style of Ennius, the father of Roman poetry.
Describe briefly Catullus’ 25 poems about Lesbia.
They record a love that could register ecstasy and despair. Two of these poets deliberately recall Sappho, as does his use of the pseudonym Lesbia. These two poems evoke the first moment of adoring love (poem 51) and the final bitterness of disillusionment (poem 11)
What are Catullus’ most outstanding poems other than the Lesbia poems?
Poem 101 - lament at his brother’s grave
Poem 31 - salute to his beloved retreat at Sirmio
Poem 64 - epic in miniature (epyllion)
In modern times who is regarded as Rome’s greatest lyric poet?
Ya boy Catullus!!!
Where and when was Catullus born?
Born in Verona C. 84BV, at that time part of Cisalpine Gaul
Of the 116 carmina which survive - recognising 18-20 aren’t by Catullus - how many are short and how many are long? How many are epigrams?
57 short poems, 8 long poems, 48 epigrams
Of the 116 carmina which survive - recognising 18-20 aren’t by Ovid - how many are short and how many are long? How many are epigrams?
57 short poems, 8 long poems, 48 epigrams
