Ovid 5 Flashcards
what kind of poem is poem five
a paraclusathuron
Its a dogs life for you porter, chained to the wall
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
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
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
Love will teach you to creep undetected past watchful sentries
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
He’ll (line 8)
personification of love
it is just you I fear. You’re stubborn. You alone need my flattery. You bolt the door that could finish me off.
repetition of you reminds us of the structure of a prayer, while the word bolt is a pun on Jupiter’s lightning bolt
scared of the dark
dangers of the roman streets at night
And his sexy mother. “You too can be brave”
Venus is like a general urging on troops
qualms
means worries- love has made Ovid brave like a soldier
you (line 15)
reffering to door keeper
my flattery
type of rhetorical training
You hold the bolt that could finish me off
military language
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.
The reminder of past services in another common feature of roman prayer to a divinity
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
Trying to negotiate with door keeper- seems he has intervened in the past to prevent slave from being punished so is wanting payback now
Here’s your chance to get what you’re after
saying he could be free from slavery
The night is passing: slide that door bolt free
This is repeated throughout the poem and would be commonly found in a prayer, but not often elegiac poetry
No good. You’re a hard case, porter
the plea is still not working
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
military language which suggests the theme of lover as a soldier
mildly fuddled
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
cock-eyed wreath set askew
garland
attacker (line 39)
ironic
Still obstinate? Or asleep? God damn you have my entreaties been wasted on empty air?
still not successful in winning over door keeper so now is no longer trying to win him over
round (line 45)
all night
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
Ironically Ovid guesses that the porter is unresponsive because he is with his own girl.
shackles (line 47)
willing to enslave himself
damp with bright dewfall
passing of time
Silence throughout the city: damp with bright dewfall. The night is passing: slide that door bolt free
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
I’ve a sword and a torch, I’m ready to storm this standoffish mansion by frontal assault
military language- shows frustration and that he is about to break in
Darkness, desire and drink dont make for moderation
comic figure of a drunk
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
he starts to give up the argument and is showing his admaration for the door keeper
Shatters poor workers’ dreams
morning is arriving
morning star
commonly believed today to refer to the planet Venus which appears in the east just before sunrise
I’ll take off this garland
poets in paraklausatheron commonly leave a garland or similar as a sign to his mistress of his unsuccessful virgil
I’d better be of now. You stuck to it. Duty is duty
completely gives up- the door keeper has won
