Catullus Poem 86 Notes Flashcards
How is Quintia compared to Lesbia?
Unfavourably
How is Quintia’s compared unfavourably to Lesbia?
She is attractive but not in the same league as Lesbia
What is the aim of this poem?
To praise Lesbia
Which word holds the poem together and dictates the argument?
‘Formosa’
Line 5 answers which line closely?
Line 1
How does Catullus distance himself from the masses?
Placing ‘multis mihi’ next to each other
What do the adjectives show?
What counted precisely for female beauty
What does he mean by ‘candida’?
Being pale was a positive attribute as you were not browned by the sun as slaves were or the lower class
Did Romans prefer short or tall girls?
Tall
What did Ovid attribute tallness to?
Goddesses and heroines
What does ‘recta’ show?
The importance of deportment
Why does Quintia lack charm?
Lesbia has stolen it all
What is the contrast with salt?
The size of girl and amount of grains of salt
Which word is emphatic on the last line?
‘Veneres’
How is ‘veneres’ intensified?
Omnibus una omnes
What could ‘veneres’ mean?
All qualities of Venus which give sexual attraction or the other men’s penises she has stolen (aka not so complimentary of Lesbia) - casts ironic doubt
The salt is…
A Roman punt and a representation of intellectual capacity
What does Catullus say about Quintia?
Individually she has good points but overall she is bad
What is the symmetry of Venusta showing?
One doesn’t have Venus qualities, the other does
What is the idea behind the last ‘Veneres’?
She is equal to Venus
Why is part of it not grammatically correct?
Neuter and feminine endings do not agree
How is the poem cyclical?
Relates to everyone, then Lesbia, then everyone
What is the difference between the ‘totum’ and ‘tota’?
Totum denies all but tota accepts all and likes all
