Catullus: "How many kisses?" and "Conflicting emotions" - NOTES

Question 1

“basiationes”

“How many kisses?” - Line 1

Answer 1

The usual word for “kiss” is “basia”, but the word used here is made up by Catullus and follows a fondness of his for older antiquated words ending in “-tis” to convey a mock seriousness; but by asking the question, he is also setting a light-hearted tone to the poem that follows.

Question 2

“sint satis superque”

“How many kisses?” - Line 2

Answer 2

Sibilance emphasises perhaps the noisy kisses Catullus is talking about.

Question 3

“Libyssae harena … lasarpiciferis … oraclum … Battus”

“How many kisses?” - Lines 3, 4, 5 and 6

Answer 3

• It was a common image to use grains of sand as an example of a large number, but by using a proper name (“Libyssae”) this enhances the romance
• Associating a place with a precious herb, referring to a desert shrine and also a legendary founder of a city who was a poet, all help to create an exotic atmosphere

Question 4

“sidera”

“How many kisses?” - Line 7

Answer 4

Another common image to evoke large numbers.

Question 5

“furvitos”

“How many kisses?” - Line 8

Answer 5

A word associated with night and silence, privacy and love affairs (especially involving Catullus and Lesbia, who was a married woman) and needed to be conducted at night.

Question 6

“vesano”

“How many kisses?” - Line 10

Answer 6

[This word is] used in a light-hearted way.

Question 7

“mala … lingua”

“How many kisses?” - Line 12

Answer 7

• Knowing the precise number of things was regarded by the superstitious Romans as giving malicious people power over others
• The tone of humour is controlled here but with a degree of superstition

Question 8

Context about the poem

“Conflicting emotions”

Answer 8

This poem has taken the form of an epigram, not a lot of words for a point.

Question 9

“fortasse requiris”

“Conflicting emotions” - Line 1

Answer 9

• It was common in shorter poetry for a question to be asked by an imaginary person; this would enable the poet to give his reasoned response; this is called the use of the interlocutior
• The new trust given by Catullus is that there is no answer - revealed by the first word of the next line, “nescio”

Question 10

“excrucior”

“Conflicting emotions” - Line 2

Answer 10

A deliberate and effective word:

• It is the last word of the poem, therefore emphatically placed
• The stem “cruc” means cross, conjuring the idea of crucifixion, hinting at the extreme torture Catullus is experiencing in his unrequital love (hyperbole)
• Catullus has been a devoted lover, virtually enslaved by his passion for Lesbia
• Legal form of slave execution, crucifixion