Latin literature Flashcards
ANON: Epitaph to Claudia translation.
Stranger, what I [have to] say if brief; stand still and read it through. Here is the not beautiful tomb of a beautiful woman. Her parents gave her the name Claudia. She loved her husband with [all] her heart . She bore two sons: one of them She leaves on earth, the other she has placed beneath the earth. Of charming conversation, and indeed of elegant step, she looked after the house, she spun wool. I have spoken. [Now] go on your way.
Give the context of ANON: Epitaph to Claudia
- written on a tombstone by a husband to/about his dead wife.
- dated c.150 BC
- In Rome
- abou the ideal ‘matronae’
‘Hospes’ in Line 1 of ANON: Epitaph to Claudia
Stranger
Conversational tone to passer by.
’ paulum’ in line 1 of ANON: Epitaph to Claudia?
Brief
Encourages traveller to stop as it won’t take long
‘asta’ ‘perlege’ in line 1 of ANON: Epitaph to Claudia?
Imperatives
Makes it appear stronger
‘sepulcrum … pulchrum … pulcrae … feminae’ in line 2 of ANON: Epitaph to Claudia
Chiasmus - noun, adjective, noun, adjective - draws attention to word play.
Juxtaposes two ‘pulchra…’ and highlights her beauty (contrasts tombstone and woman)
‘Claudia’ in line 3 of ANON: Epitaph to Claudia
It was a family name.
Placed emphatically at the end of the line.
‘suum … suo’ in line 4 of ANON: Epitaph to Claudia
her … her
highlights her possession of everything in between
’ natos’ in line 5 of ANON” Epitaph to Claudia
sons
primary purpose of ‘matrona’ was to have sons
‘sub terra’ in line 6 of ANON: Epitaph to Claudia
Under earth
bewteen 20 - 35% of children died before age 5
‘sermone’ in line 7 of ANON: Epitaph to Claudia
conversation : women were not expected to join in political / business conversation.
Generally would speak in private.
‘domum’ in line 8 of ANON: Epitaph to Claudia
home is womens domain
Matrona’s responsibilty
‘lanam’ in line 8 of ANON: Epitaph to Claudia
wool
Virtuous / good women spun wool e.g Penelope
‘dixi … abi’ in line 8 of ANON: Epitaph to Claudia
2 imperatives mirror line 1
nice summary
Give the context of CICERO: A family matter ad Atticum 5.1
- CICERO was an orator / speaker and stateman
- Letter to his friend Atticus in 51 BC
- ‘Pomponia’ is Quintus’ wife and Atticus’s sister
- Arpinum is Cicero’s estate - 60M SE of Rome
- about how women shouldn’t act - she doesn’t obey rules and is rude
- Quintus is his brother. Quintus’s wife is Pomponia. She is Atticus’s sister.
Translation of CICERO: A family matter ad Atticum 5.1
I have never seen anything so mild, nothing as calm as my brother was on that day towards your sister. If there had been any offence taken by the checking of expenditure it was not apparent. The next day we set out from Arpinum and took lunch at Arcanum. Very politely Quintus said, ‘Pomponia, you call in the women and I shall summon the men.’ Nothing could have been sweeter, not only in his word but also his attitude and expression. But she, with us hearing, said ‘I, myself am [only] a guest here’ - simply for the reason I think that Statius had gone ahead to see to lunch for us! Then Quintus said to me, ‘You see this is what I endure everyday.’ This really upset me: she had responded so unreasonably and harshly in both her words and looks. So, we all reclined to eat except for her. Quintus sent something from the table, which she just sent back. What more [can I say]? There seemed to me nothing milder than my brother, and nothing harsher than your sister; and I am passing over many similar [events].
‘nihil’ in line 1 of CICERO: a family matter ad atticum 5.1
nothing
repetition, anaphora. Strong negative forceful start ti apportion blame.
‘offensio’ in line 2 of CICERO: a family matter ad atticum 5.1
offence
ie. the offence taken by Quintus at his wifes expenditure
‘Arpinum’ and ‘Arcanum’ in line 4 of CICERO: a family matter ad atticum 5.1
Arpinum - Cicero’s estate
Arcanum - Quintus’ estate
4 miles between them
‘humanissime’ in line 5 of CICERO: a family matter ad atticum 5.1
very politely
Superlative
Excusing his brother. Start of sentence - emphatic positioning stresses Quintus’s exemplary behaviour.
‘dulcius’ in line 6 of CICERO: a family matter ad atticum 5.1
sweeter
comparative - Cicero invites us to compare Quintus to Pomponia
What is the ‘theme’ of line 5 of CICERO a family matter ad atticum 5.1
to show that men and women had distinct roles
Women - household / slaves / food
Who is Statius in line 9 of CICERO: a family matter ad atticum 5.1
Freedman?
Pomponia is the materfamilias and thinks organising lunch is her job - hence her getting upset about Statius seeing to lunch for them.
’ hic hospita’ in line 8 of CICERO a family matter ad atticum 5.1
’ I am only a guest here’
It is Pomponia being sarcastic and rude.
You can hear her tone of voice
