Literature - texts Flashcards
Horace - summary
Horace outlines various omens in a satirical fashion
This involves hooting owls, a snake interrupting the journey and a prophetic crow from the rising sun.
The ode finishes with a heartfelt message to Galatea, asking her to remember their time together
Martial - summary
Martial was at first worried by Nasidianus’ dreams about him
He let a soothsayer do his work on his farm, however, all Martial’s livestock, crops and wine were used up in rituals and sacrifices
He ends by telling Nasidianus to keep his dreams to himself
Ovid - summary
Ovid tells a story about an old procuress in a brothel, known as Dipsas, who is known for alcoholism
He explores various ways in which she uses magic, including her knowledge of potent herbs and a magic wheel. He claims that he has seen stars dripping with blood
He finishes by claiming that she can resurrect people’s ancestors
Petronius - summary
The narrator sets off on a journey to confess his love to Melissa, with his guest, a soldier.
They rest near some tombstones, when the soldier removes his clothes, piddles around them and becomes a wolf.
The narrator finishes his journey to Melissa in complete terror, when she reveals that the wolf was attacked with a spear at the home.
The narrator comes home to find the soldier lying on the couch, with a doctor tending to his wounds
Pliny - summary
Gaius Fannius had a dream, which began in a usual manner, until Emperor Nero’s ghost entered, unrolled his scrolls (which detailed Nero’s crimes and atrocities) then left
His friend interpreted that he would die, with his writings unfinished, and this prophecy came true. Pliny finishes by mentioning his concern for his own writings and with a warning to live life to the fullest
Suetonius - summary
Suetonius outlines various signs, which indicated Caesar’s murder
These include: strange behaviour in horses; haruspex Spurinna warning him against sacrifices, as danger would approach no later than the Ides of March; violent behaviour in birds; Calpurnia’s dream which involved Caesar lying dead in her lap.
Despite his hesitation, he was persuaded not to let people down, and while in public, he was handed a little note, with information of the conspiracy, which he ignored.
Suetonius finishes with a foreboding note that the danger had not yet gone
Virgil - summary
Dido builds her funeral pyre in the middle of the house, placing Aeneas’s head in the centre
A priestess calls out to 300 Gods, Erebus, Chaos, Hecate and the three faces of Diana
She uses various methods to enhance the curse, before calling upon gods which have under their care, lovers in an unequal relationship and stars with knowledge of fate.
Write a paragraph about how Suetonius links to divination
Key points:
- many omens appeared before his murder
- ‘et Calpurnia uxor imaginata est conlabi fastigium domus’ (and his wife, Calpurnia, dreamed that the gable of the house had fallen)
- ‘volucres varii’ (many different kinds of bird) chase a ‘regaliolum’ (wren, king-bird) and tear it apart near the senate-house
> dramatic tone; whooshing sound alliteration
> foreshadowing + link to augury
- very dramatic nature - supposed to be fictional or over-dramatization of events?
> could this be a way of emphasising warning?
Write a paragraph about how Martial + Horace link to divination
- both have a highly satirical nature - reflection of wider society?
- M: ‘non porcus, non chortis aves, non ova supersunt’ (neither a pig, nor a bird in a hen-coop, nor an egg remains)
> over-dramatization of events through triadic structure
> some (like Nasidianus) believe fully in divination - H: mockingly calls himself a ‘providus auspex’ (far-sighted augur) but references ‘praegnans canis’ (pregnant dog)
> mocking profession
> highlights common scepticism over augur’s claims
Write a paragraph about how Pliny links to divination
- ‘Gaius quidem Fannius id quod accidit multo ante preasensit’ (G.F. actually saw what happened far previously)
> direct opening with Pliny’s beliefs
> lines 1-4 postponing reveal (Nero’s entrance) for suspense
> very dramatic telling of story, but links back to Pliny’s own writings - ‘occursant animo mea mortalitas, mea scripta’
> only uses divination to lead to self-concern
Write a paragraph about how Martial links to
