Literature : Dangers of City Life

Question 1

What did Juvenal mainly describe about dangers of city life?

Answer 1

(pg 15) Descriptions of collapsing buildings, fires: contrast of Cordus and Assaracus’s houses. (pg 17) dangers on the streets - soldiers boots, mud, portable ovens, carts with tree trunks/marble pillars etc. Things falling from high buildings also. - ‘cracked leaky pots’

Question 2

What did Horace mainly describe about dangers of city life?

Answer 2

Dangers of eating to excess - country mouse allegory : chased out of the luxurious dining room by “a great crashing of doors”
satire of city cena, the wall - hanging “collapsed” at Nasidienus’ feast
Ofellus (wise peasant) loosing his farm but still happy despite adversity (hardship).

Question 3

What did Pliny mainly describe about dangers of city life?

Answer 3

Being killed by your slaves! Illness of Zosimus danger of travelling with money (Zozimus only given money for the journey)