Catullus Poem 5 Notes Flashcards

1
Q

What is the tone of this poem?

A

Deceptive sophistication

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What does the first line suggest?

A

Living is the equivalent to loving

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Which word do the two verbs in line 1 frame?

A

Lesbia

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Which themes are displayed here?

A

Life and death

Love and contempt (over strict old men)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What types of verbs are used in the second half of the poem?

A

Imperatives

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What do the repeated numbers suggest?

A

A mathematical sum is being aimed at (builds up attitude of exactitude) only to find a confusion of figures

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What are the polarities created?

A

Life vs death
Light vs dark
Young vs old
Counting vs muddling

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What is the effect of the polarities?

A

Expression of love set against dark background of threats

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

How is the love shown?

A

Frequent use of first person pronouns not endorsed elsewhere

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is line one framed by?

A

Two iussive subjunctives

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What is the tone in lines 2-3?

A

Rebellious against older generation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What techniques are in lines 2-3?

A

Juxtaposition of ‘omnes unius’

Hissing sibilants

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What is an as?

A

The smallest Roman coin weighing a pound but was equivalent to a penny in English

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What does the use of the sun pick up?

A

‘Vivamus’ the sun dies and returns everyday but we cannot. Motif of life

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is the impact of linking the sun to ‘vivamus’?

A

Makes it into an argument to make the most of time available

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

How is the contrast of light and night shown?

A

Line break. Words similar in appearance but on different lines like dead and living

17
Q

What is at the end of line 5 and on line 6?

A

A series of monosyllables and line six starts with monosyllables and then broadens into long phrase evocative of eternity of death

18
Q

Where is there elision on lines5-6?

A

‘Perpetua una’

19
Q

Why does Catullus list the number of kisses?

A

To show verbally the long sequence of kisses. Leads reader to thoughtful calculation only to prove it false in line 11

20
Q

What is there repetition of in lines 7-9?

A

‘Dein(de)’

21
Q

What are possible reasons why Catullus does not specify importance of knowing total kisses?

A

Not wanting to ‘count their chickens’ according to Quinn or need to hide from older generation how much has gone on

22
Q

What does ‘invidere’ primarily mean?

A

Cast an evil eye upon

23
Q

What does the poem end with? Why?

A

The striking word ‘basiorum’. Leaves reader with image of physical affection as net result of argument and then calculation

24
Q

What type of adjective is used line 2?

A

Comparative - links to line 2 poem 3

25
Why might he be talking a lot about the loving process?
Loving keeps him living
26
What could the muddling represent?
Messing up the relationship
27
What is the 'gossip'?
The fact Lesbia is already married and is having an affair
28
What is the purpose of making 'Lesbia' the centre of the line?
To show she is the centre of his heart
29
Where is there juxtaposition?
'Lux' and 'nox' and 'perpetua' and 'brevis'. Light and dark and short and eternal
30
What is the effect of repetitive 'a' sounds on line 6?
The idea of ongoing
31
What is the effect of 'd' sounds?
Creates pace and represents him frantically kissing her and sound of him kissing her.
32
What does 'ne quis' mean?
No person
33
What was the context behind 'evil eye'?
If you knew the exact numbers about individuals, you could curse them with that number. Sacred to just Catullus