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Classical Civilisation > Classical Civilisation - Glossary of Key Terms > Flashcards

Classical Civilisation - Glossary of Key Terms Flashcards

1
Q

what is an agon

A

Agon

a formal contest or debate between two characters, each advocating an opposing principle

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2
Q

what is an aristeia

A

Aristeia

a scene in epic poetry in which the hero in battle has his finest moments

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3
Q

what is an augur

A

Augur

an official who observed natural signs and interpreted them as a sign of divine approval/disapproval of a proposed action

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4
Q

what is dactylic hexameter

A

Dactylic Hexameter

epic metre, a poetic metre consisting of six feet - a foot being made up of two long syllables or one long and two short syllables, thus enabling the poet to vary the speed and mood of each line

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5
Q

what is dramatic irony

A

Dramatic irony

a situation in which it is clear to the audience, but not to the characters, or is clear to one character but not to another, or which will only be revealed as drama unfolds

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6
Q

what is an ekphrasis

A

ekphrasis

the extended description of a work of art

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7
Q

what is an elegy

A

Elegy

a lament for the dead

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8
Q

what is an encomium

A

Encomium

a speech in praise

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9
Q

what is an epic

A

Epic

a long narrative poem

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10
Q

what is an epithet

A

Epithet

an adjective or phrase expressing a quality or attribute regarded as characteristic of the person or thing mentioned

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11
Q

what is formulae

A

Formulae

small word blocks that go to make up a Homeric epic

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12
Q

what is frugalitas

A

Frugalitas

the virtue of economy, frugality, restraint, thrift

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13
Q

what is furor

A

Furor

battle frenzy

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14
Q

what is a hero

A

Hero

the main character, often eponymous; in the study of classical civilisation one of an elite class of warriors

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15
Q

what is the heroic code

A

Heroic Code

the behaviour expected of a member of the heroic class, including behaviour in battle, loyalty to colleagues, care of the weak, aged and dead; hospitality, generosity etc

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16
Q

what is hexameter

A

Hexameter

epic metre, an elaborate verse rhythm used by the ancient Greek poets consisting of lines of six

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17
Q

what is Homeric Epithet

A

Homeric Epithet

the use of recognisable and often repeated epithets (adjectives) like “Thoughtful Telemachus”, “bright-eyed Athene”

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18
Q

what is a Homeric simile

A

Homeric simile

a comparison stretched into a little story that conveys deeper meanings or highlights similarities or contrasts in the main text

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19
Q

what is hubris

A

Hubris

disrespect of the gods

20
Q

what is “in media res”

A

in media res

starting halfway through the story

21
Q

what is irony

A

irony

implying a meaning that is opposite to the literal, superficial meaning of the words

22
Q

what is kleos

A

kleos

glory

23
Q

what is a metaphor

A

metaphor

a figure of speech by which something is spoken of as being the thing it resembles - an implicit comparison without like or as

24
Q

what is mos maiorum

A

Mos Maiorum

the ways of the elders; the unwritten code from which the Romans derived their social norms

25
Q

what is a Muse

A

Muse

a supernatural source of inspiration

26
Q

what is the Nostoi

A

a series of lost mini-epics dealing with the homecomings of various Trojan heroes

27
Q

what is nostos

A

nostos

homecoming

28
Q

what is oikos

A

Oikos

house, including the household i.e. nuclear and wider family

29
Q

what is Pater Patriae

A

Pater Patriae

father of the country, the title given to Augustus by the Senate in 2 BC

30
Q

what is Paterfamilias

A

Paterfamilias

the head of the household, the person in authority

31
Q

what is pietas

A

pietas

an attitude of respect and dutifulness towards gods, family and country

32
Q

what is pius

A

pius

sometimes translated as true or great-hearted, this is not quite the same thing as the English pious

the adjective pius and its noun pietas describe an attitude of respect and dutifulness towards gods, family and country

33
Q

what was princeps

A

Princeps

chief citizen

34
Q

what was a proem

A

Proem

a preface to a poem, setting out the main storyline

35
Q

what was retardation

A

Retardation

the action of delaying or slowing the progress or development of something, in this case, the plot

36
Q

what was a rhapsode

A

rhapsode

a person who recites epic poems, especially one of a group in ancient Greece whose profession it was to recite the Homeric poems

37
Q

what was a rhetorical question

A

rhetorical question

a question asked purely for effect, not expecting an answer

38
Q

what is ring composition

A

Ring composition

a digression in epic where we leave the story but are later returned to the story at the point where we left it

39
Q

what is Stoicism

A

Stoicism

a philosophy in which the will of the universe was seen as supreme; the Stoic acquiesces and doesn’t complain or grieve

40
Q

what is the Telemachy

A

Telemachy

the first four books of the Odyssey, focusing primarily on Telemachus, the son of Odysseus

41
Q

what was time

A

time

honour

42
Q

what was a triumvir

A

triumvir

one of three rulers (in a triumvirate)

43
Q

what is a univira

A

Univira

a woman who only marries once in her life

44
Q

what is verisimilitude

A

Verisimilitude

the appearance of being true or real

45
Q

what is xenia

A

Xenia

everything to do with the guest-host relationship

Classical Civilisation (5 decks)

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