Catullus Poem 8 Notes Flashcards
Who does he address in this poem?
Begins addressing himself in second person, then girl in second person and then back to himself in final line
What other person does Catullus use to refer to himself?
Third
Which three verbs use the third person?
Requiret
Obdurat
Rogabit
Is the girl ever named in this poem?
No
What tensions are established here?
Between love expressed and love denied
Between poet addressing himself and rebuking girl
What contrast occurs here?
The hardness aimed at and the wistful longing which succeeds it.
In what instances does Catullus distance himself?
From the girl and the persona of lover poet
What are suggestions of the word ‘lovesick’?
Lover is sick rather than healthy
What technique is used for the poet to address himself?
Apostrophe
What helps to produce tension?
Dialogue between narrator and his persona
How does ‘candidus’ link to the sun?
Well off people would stay inside when it was sunny to keep their complexion pale
What else can ‘candidus’ mean?
Happy
How is the past nature of this happiness shown?
Past tense verb ‘fulsere’ and ‘quondam’
What is the effect of the word ‘soles’?
Shortness of a happy life contrasted with eternal death
Where is there assonance and what is the effect?
‘-dam can didi tibi’ reminisces about pleasures of past
What’s the impact of using imperfect tenses?
Regularly repeated actions
What is the effect of mentioning love in two verbal forms?
Apply to poet not girl and show him looking into past and future
What is the impact of ‘iocosa’ being an understatement?
Rest of poem undermines it
