Poem 16: Analysis (eng)

Question 1

Lesbia says she’d rather marry me than anyone, though Jupiter himself came asking or so she says,

Answer 1

• ‘says.. says’ - repetition of ‘dicet’ (she says) in the Latin. Emphasis on the idea that this is a poem about the sort of things lovers say & what they actually mean
• ‘marry’ - Cat seems obsessed with Lesbia clear had v strong emotions for her
• ‘than anyone’ - bit of an insult. Not saying direct answer of ‘yes I’ll marry you’
• ‘Jupiter’ - known for sexual affairs, reputation for ‘asking’ ladies for a relationship which of course they would say yes if they had any sense… except Lesbia …she’d rather choose Cat. - v hard to believe

Question 2

But what a woman tells her lover in desire should be written out on air & running water.

Answer 2

• ‘says.. says.. tells’ - repetition agin but with ‘tells’ this time - emphasising idea of poem about sort oft hints lovers say and what they actually mean
• ‘her lover in desire’ - Cat’s defence is she’s not looking or thinking clearly as she’s love ridden. Doesn’t know what she’s saying
• ‘written out on air & running water’:
  
  • her statement is worthless, no point in writing on paper what she’s said. Stands back & he realises what is happening. De-valuing her words (can take mysoginistic view - can’t take women’s word, even more now tho because of love). Cannot take his girl’s word because she is in love.
  • metaphor of impermanence: air & water are the opposite of stone, where things are really written to last

Question 3

Info on poem:

Answer 3

Summary of poem:
this is a mocking love poem about a special woman. She tells him that she only wants to marry him. She attempts to convince him that she only wants to marry him, and that Jupiter would not eve be able to woo her. Catullus then comments that the words a woman says to her lover should be written in wind & running water.

• poem offers a dichotomy of love and hate. The first two lines refer to how much his woman loves him. Her love for him is so strong that even the wooing power of the god of the sky couldn’t change that.
• Catullus sees though his woman’s words. In the 3rd and 4th lines, he shows how he does not trust her. According to Catullus’ experience, women’s words do not last. They are not fixed or permanent. Instead, they are as lasting as the wind or running water. This shows that his woman’s words are not truthful at all.