Ovid 3 Flashcards
what does ovid use through out this poem to convince his girl he is faithful
suasoria which is a rhetorical exercise involving pleading cases and making convincing arguments
precor
I pray
line 1-4
The poem begins in the form of a prayer, there was a set formula for roman prayers. Firstly he asks for something, but then worries he asks for too much
praedata est
war prize
Connect to praeda meaning war prize. Ovid is suggesting that he is her war prise, she is the proactive one in this relationship, he has mercy on her, or in other words his slave. Propertius also uses this: ‘Cynthia captured me’ (poem 29). Ovid- the hunted and the huntress; also or the ‘militia amoris’, campaigns of love. Soldier/lover
amet, faciat, patiatur
love me, give me, permit me
subjunctives, indicate what he prays should happen
aut amet aut faciat, cur ego sempre amem.a nimium volui: tantum patiatur amari
either love me or give me reasons for always loving her. Alas i have wanted too much. Let her only permit me to love her
What he prays for
nuper praedata puella
girl…now…war prise
alliteration of ‘p’ = seiousness of the poem
amari
to love
passive verb suggesting she is the one with the power- allow herself to be loved by him
Cyntherea preces
Venus prayers
prayers ends opening section - echo of precor in line 1- ring composition
accipe
accept a man
the next stage of the prayer is offering something in return
deserviat
slave
offering himself up as a slave- lover as a slave
si me non veterum commendant magma parentum nomina, si nostri sanguinis auctor eques nec meus innumeris renovatur campus aratris temperat et sumptus parcus uterque parens
if I do not have proud names of ancient ancestors to commend me, if the founder of my family is merely a knight, if my land is not renewed by countless ploughs and both my parents thrifitly control their spendings
Pleads poverty, without family links; ovid self deprecation. He says he is not wealthy but his family was
pura fide
pure loyalty
at Phoebus comitesque novem vitisque repertor hac faciunt et me qui tibi donat Amor, et nulli cessura fides, sine crimine mores nudaque simplicitas purpureusque pudor
yet Phoebus and his nine companions and the inventor of the vine are on my side, and love, who presents me to you his gift and my loyalty, which yeilds to none, my blameless character, my open serenity, and blushing modesty
He offers his skill as a poet
vitis repertor…Amor
the inventor of the vine…love
His power lies in his companions- Bacchus and love
fides, mores, simplicitas, pudor
loyalty, blameless character, sincerity, modesty
What he offers
nuda
open
not an inocent word in this context. Cupid depicted as naked, so is it just naked sincerity he is offering
purpureus pudor
blushing modesty
alliteration of pu shows stammering so ovid is pretending to be embarrased
et nulli cessura fides, sine crimine mores nudaque simplicitas purpureusque pudor
and my loyalty which yeilds to none, my blamless character, my open sincerity, and my blushing modesty
this is a pun as he is offering the attributes to the gods that someone would to a girlfriend
desultor amoris
leap from one to another
bold image: a circus acrobat jumping from horse to horse. Horse-riding was an obvious metaphor for sex
non mille placent
I do not take pleasure in a thousand girls
Ambiguity. A thousand women dont please me. does that mean she is the only one for him, or actually he needs two or three thousand
tu
you
Ovid uses tu/tibi/te and mihi often if lines 16-19 usually juxtaposed. A cliche of love poetry
si qua fides
belive me
Either ‘if there is any trust (any where)’ ie. trust me or ‘if there is any trust (residing in me) = ‘if you can trust me
perennis
everlating
fila sororum
the sister’s threads
the three Fates spun, cut and wove the threads of human existence into the tapestry of life. This phrase used by horace in Odes II, 3
te dolent
amid your laments
with you morning/ sorrowing. The grave-side scene: another ‘topos’- type of love poetry. The tone of the elegy is usually sad. The word elegy was wrongly redived by poets from greek e legin to say ‘woe’
materiem felicem in carmina, provenient carmina
as a fertile source for poems and poems will come forth
In epic poetry great heroes were not afraid to die, as long as they died gloriously, and they would be remembered in future generations for their heroism and bravery. The love poets offered that they and consequentaly the objects of their love would also live on in their poetry
Io
Reference to Io
this is one of the examples ovid uses in his poem to show women lived on in peoples minds
Io was the firts prestest of Hera, the wife of Zeuz. Zeuz fell inlove with her and to protect her from Hera he turned her into a white heifer
quam fluminea lusit adulter ave
she whom the adulterer deceived in the form of a swan
This is a refference to leda
this is one of the examples ovid uses in his poem to show women lived on in peoples minds.
Zeuz took a fancy to leda and transformed into a swan and impregnated her before she slept with her husband
quaeque super pontum simulato vecta iuvenco virginea tenuit cornua vara manu
and she who, riding the sea on the supposed bull has fame, held the curving horns in her maiden hand
reference to Europa
this is one of the examples ovid uses in his poem to show women lived on in peoples minds
Europa was the epitoment of beauty on earth and Zeus once saw her on the sea shore of Phenicia playing with her friends. He was captivated by her beauty and developed a strong desire to posses her.
Why did Ovid uses the examples of Io, Leda and Europa
So we draw the conclusion that that ovid isnt interested in love as these examples are of rape which show he is only interested in using this girl to give him material for his poem
nos cantabimur per totum orbem
We too shall be equally famed in poetry throughout the whole world and our names shall always be linked, mine to yours
Ovid and his lover will be known throughout the world- a bold statement. He is saying they could be as famous as the stories of Io, Leda and Europa. To the roman reader the unnamed characters are obvious thereby proving his point. Witty and allusive at the same time. But the myths deliberately undermine his argument by showing Jupiter as an unfaithful lover- reenforcing desultor amoris.
What is the irony throughout the poem?
Note that the girl is not named. On the surface Ovid follows in the footsteps of other elegists in offering to be a girl’s loyal lover on the usual terms: vi. I am a slave of love; I am devoted to you; fame through my poetry, girl; love & death; direct address to the girl ect.
BUT
By giving the example of jupiter- whose motto could be non mihi mille placent line 15- Ovid casts severe doubt on his protestation of everlasting love and fidelity. Jupiter is the master of seduction and deception, continually cheating his wife Juno. The god is not a composer of poems. The similarity between Ovid and Jupiter is their ability to deceive. The girl may be taken in but the reader can enjoy Ovid’s clever words of deception. His single mistress to whom he is loyally devoted to is not named. Is this poem ironically poking fun at other poets problems with true devotion?
