Passion Fades Notes

Question 1

What does ‘nosse’ actually mean?

What could it be interpreted as?

Answer 1

‘Know’

‘To have sex with’

Question 2

How does the structure show a break in their union?

Answer 2

The names Catullus and Lesbia are next to each other but on separate lines

Question 3

Why is Iovum at the end of the line?

Answer 3

To contrast with Catullum at the end of line one

Question 4

Which word reinforces the timeframe in line three?

Answer 4

‘Tum’ meaning then

Question 5

What does Catullus suggest of his love for lesbia?

Answer 5

That it was deeper and less dependable on sexual attraction than a typical love affair

Question 6

What is a common love with a roman father?

Answer 6

Love for male family members usually exceeded the female ones

Question 7

Which two words in line one establishes a past tense timeframe?

Answer 7

‘Dicebas’

‘Quondam’

Question 8

How does this poem show symetry?

Answer 8

Lines 1-4 ‘then’

Lines 5-8 ‘now’

Question 9

What are Catullus’ attitudes in this poem?

Answer 9

He is weary of his love for Lesbia and is familiar with the changing fortunes of love

Question 10

In line 5 there is an emphatic contrast. What is it?

Answer 10

‘Nunc’

Emphatically contrasts from ‘tum’ and ‘quondam’

Question 11

What is funny about ‘te cognovi’?

Answer 11

Same root verb from line one ‘nosse’ but with a very different meaning

Question 12

What is special about ‘uror’?

Answer 12

First series of present tense verbs

Question 13

What does ‘impensius’ suggest?

Answer 13

Weight

More heavily

Question 14

What does ‘Impensius’ contrast with?

Answer 14

‘Levior’

Question 15

Give an example of homeoteleuton

Answer 15

Uror
Vilior
Levior
Rhyme technique

Question 16

What point is being made in lines 5-6?

Answer 16

That her infidelities increases his sexual passion even though he has lowered his opinion of her in poem 85

Question 17

Which word does ‘inquis’ pick up?

Answer 17

Dicebas

Question 18

What does ‘inquis’ do?

Answer 18

Directs the question at Lesbia

Question 19

‘Inuiria’ places the blame on who?

Answer 19

Firmly on Lesbia

Question 20

Where is there polyptoton?

Answer 20

‘Amantem’
‘Amare’
Lines 7-8

Question 21

‘Cogit’ is placed at the start of the line. Why?

Answer 21

To show these feelings are not a choice

Question 22

Where is the contrast in line 8?

Answer 22

Between loving and liking

Reinforced by ‘magis’ and ‘minus’

Question 23

‘Bene velle’ line 8 picks up what word?

Answer 23

‘Velle’ line two