Ovid 5

Question 1

what kind of poem is poem five

Answer 1

a paraclusathuron

Question 2

Its a dogs life for you porter, chained to the wall

Answer 2

Slaves were often chained to the wall to act as a door-keeper/ night-watchman,, just as a guard dog might be. Ovid adresses the porter, rather than the door or his mistress.
Ovid is trying to win over the door man. This is an example of the locked out lover theme

Question 3

Just give me a wide enough crack…. Love has mealted off my poundage, I’m a shadow, a skeleton. One inch- or two- is enough

Answer 3

Ovid has fun with the poet’s unusual complaint of having lost weight through worry. It is actually a benefit to him as he’ll be able to squeeze through even a tiny crack.
This is an example of the thin lover

Question 4

Love will teach you to creep undetected past watchful sentries

Answer 4

The typical idea of love as a military campaign. Sentries is used in a military context. This also captures the fact that love makes you do wrong things

Question 5

He’ll (line 8)

Answer 5

personification of love

Question 6

it is just you I fear. You’re stubborn. You alone need my flattery. You bolt the door that could finish me off.

Answer 6

repetition of you reminds us of the structure of a prayer, while the word bolt is a pun on Jupiter’s lightning bolt

Question 7

scared of the dark

Answer 7

dangers of the roman streets at night

Question 8

And his sexy mother. “You too can be brave”

Answer 8

Venus is like a general urging on troops

Question 9

qualms

Answer 9

means worries- love has made Ovid brave like a soldier

Question 10

you (line 15)

Answer 10

reffering to door keeper

Question 11

my flattery

Answer 11

type of rhetorical training

Question 12

You hold the bolt that could finish me off

Answer 12

military language

Question 13

When you were stripped for flogging, and all ashiver, didnt I get your mistress to let you off? Have you the gall to suggest that the favour I once showed you can be paid with any lesser service in return? One good turn merits another.

Answer 13

The reminder of past services in another common feature of roman prayer to a divinity

Question 14

When you were stripped for flogging, and all ashiver, didnt I get your mistress to let you off? Have you the gall to suggest that the favour I once showed you can be paid with any lesser service in return? One good turn merits another. Here’s your chance to get what you’re after- The night is passing: slide that door bolt free! Just slide it- I tell you, you’ll win reprieve from your long bondage, goodbye to the endless bread and water of servitude

Answer 14

Trying to negotiate with door keeper- seems he has intervened in the past to prevent slave from being punished so is wanting payback now

Question 15

Here’s your chance to get what you’re after

Answer 15

saying he could be free from slavery

Question 16

The night is passing: slide that door bolt free

Answer 16

This is repeated throughout the poem and would be commonly found in a prayer, but not often elegiac poetry

Question 17

No good. You’re a hard case, porter

Answer 17

the plea is still not working

Question 18

The door stays barred. Such tough oak- battened defences are fine when a city lies under siege- but where’s the invader now, in peace time? Shut out a lover, what’s left for your enemies? The night is passing: slide that door bolt free. No army marches behind me, I’m innocent of weapons

Answer 18

military language which suggests the theme of lover as a soldier

Question 19

mildly fuddled

Answer 19

The lover in a paraklausitheron is generally inebriated, on his way home from some revel, when he arrives at his mistress’ door. The lover is drunk

Question 20

cock-eyed wreath set askew

Answer 20

garland

Question 21

attacker (line 39)

Answer 21

ironic

Question 22

Still obstinate? Or asleep? God damn you have my entreaties been wasted on empty air?

Answer 22

still not successful in winning over door keeper so now is no longer trying to win him over

Question 23

round (line 45)

Answer 23

all night

Question 24

got a girl in your cubbyhole? If so, you’re one up on me. Only give me the same chance- I’d take on your shackles

Answer 24

Ironically Ovid guesses that the porter is unresponsive because he is with his own girl.

Question 25

shackles (line 47)

Answer 25

willing to enslave himself

Question 26

damp with bright dewfall

Answer 26

passing of time

Question 27

Silence throughout the city: damp with bright dewfall. The night is passing: slide that door bolt free

Answer 27

As the passing of time is marked this repetition of the night is passing: slide that door bolt free which shows increased urgency and frustration to ovids complaints

Question 28

I’ve a sword and a torch, I’m ready to storm this standoffish mansion by frontal assault

Answer 28

military language- shows frustration and that he is about to break in

Question 29

Darkness, desire and drink dont make for moderation

Answer 29

comic figure of a drunk

Question 30

I’ve exhausted my repertoire. Neither threats nor entreaties can shift you. You’re tougher than the door itself. Guarding pretty girls isn’t your forte. Man, you’d do better as a warder in some top-security gaol

Answer 30

he starts to give up the argument and is showing his admaration for the door keeper

Question 31

Shatters poor workers’ dreams

Answer 31

morning is arriving

Question 32

morning star

Answer 32

commonly believed today to refer to the planet Venus which appears in the east just before sunrise

Question 33

I’ll take off this garland

Answer 33

poets in paraklausatheron commonly leave a garland or similar as a sign to his mistress of his unsuccessful virgil

Question 34

I’d better be of now. You stuck to it. Duty is duty

Answer 34

completely gives up- the door keeper has won