Martial cure for a bad dream Flashcards
What is the context of the poem?
Martial dresses his friend (nasidimus)who has been having ominous dreams about the poet
Martial satirises about common Roman superstation
What is the structure of the poem?
whole poem 8 lines
1-2 introduction to the scenario
3-7 in detail about martials reaction to the dream and he tries to stop them
line 8-he gives up
What is the summary of line 1?
Every morning you recount to me idle dreams about myself
What does “semper” mean in line 1?
emphatically placed at the beginning of the poem to stress Nasidius persistence in reporting these dreams to Martial
What does “mane mihi de me mera somnia” mean/
repetition of “m” reinforces the repetitive daily report he gets
given in the morning Nasidius cant wait to report the bad news
dreams all about “me”as emphasized by the juxtaposition of “mihi de me”
What is the summary of line 2?
Which may move and alarm my mind
What does moveant animum..meum” suggest?
the phrase move by my mind” is fairly used in Latin and has the idea of creates fear
What verb are there in line 2?
“moveant” and “sollicitent”
subjective because Martial is describing general characteristic of all the dreams rather than talking about a specific dream.
Makes it clear all of Nasidianus dreams induce pain in Martial
What is the translation for line 3?
Now the previous vintage has come to me dregs and even this years
What is the alliteration in line 3?
“Vindermia venit”-emphatic alliteration
there is noting left
What were “feacem” in line 3?
dregs of the wine ,the liquid at the very bottom of the amphora and the stalks and grape skins
What does the wine symbolize?
hi pouring so much wine is another way to stop his friends bad luck
What is the translation for line 4?
While the wise women is appeasing your dreams for me
What can we tell about the word order?
The words are jumbled indicating his desperation
What is a “saga”?
a wise women who purified bad omens
magic is domain of women
What is the translation for line 5?
I have eaten heaps of salted grains and frankincense
What tone is created in line 5?
“que est”
creates an elevated tone making martial sound sombre and serious
Why is frankincense important?
it had to be imported into Rome from Africa and Syria and so it was costly
the fact he spends heaps on it suggest Martial is using up all his wealth trying to stop Nasidius dreams
What is the summary of line 6?
my flocks have dwindled away during the frequent scarifies of lamb
What is the translation for line 7?
Not a pig not a bird from the coop not an egg is left
What does “non..non..non” suggest in line 7?
the anaphora and the asyndetic list is a rousing and emphatic conclusion to the description of the repetitive attempts
What does line 8 translate as?
either stay awake Nasidius or sleep (and dream) for yourself
What does “aut..aut” suggest on line 8
the conjunctions reduces Nasisius options down to 2
