Propertius 1.12 Notes Flashcards
What do we think of love by the end if this poem?
It is individual, lovely and haunting
How is there symmetry in this poem?
First twelve lines relate to Amor as seen in art. The last twelve lines relate to the plight of the poet who is love’s victim
What is the iconography of Amor?
A boy and baby god
What could ‘levibus curis’ mean?
‘Trifling worries’ or ‘worthless attachments’
What is the ‘magna bona’ relating to?
Something a child is unused to e.g. money spending
What does the idea Amor flutters in our heart explain?
Why our heart beat increases and we can feel it thumping against our rib cage
What do most commentators think about the painting Propertius was imagining?
It depicted Amor flying from heart to heart
When is the phrase ‘thrown about on alternating waves’ used?
Anything that shows two contrasting phenomena alternately
Why did Propertius use a parallel with waves?
To show how sometimes a lover is at a crest and sometimes in a trough
What implication does the shifting wind have on sailing?
Carried one off course making it dangerous and erratic
What is the girdle of Venus that Amor sometimes wears?
An affair of ribbons that cross between the breasts
What is Propertius’ misinterpretation here?
He has merged Venus’ girdle with the quiver Amor normally has which hangs loosely from his right shoulder (ex)
What is significant about ‘quoniam’?
It metrical value prevents it being at the beginning of the line but it does follow the verb it describes only here
What is prolepsis?
Anticipation
Which line is proleptic and why?
Line 11 about being safe up to now
What are the different variations of the prolepsis on line 11?
‘Who up to now have been safe’ or ‘who think we are safe’
What is the wordplay on line 13?
Darts (love) remaining with him and darts being physically stuck in him
Why do we need ‘in me’ on line 13?
To draw an antithesis between ‘manent’ and ‘perdidit’
What does ‘meo sanguine’ actually mean?
‘My blood accompanying’
What type of clause is ‘meo sanguine’ and what does it mean?
Ablative of attendant circumstance. Means his wounds are never allowed to heal
Why can you not say ‘within my blood’ for line 16?
The heart and marrow are seats of emotion so it is normal for love to dwell there but not in the blood
What does Postgate suggest about line 20?
He is already dead although this insists more than necessary based on the literal meaning
What does ‘qui’ on line 23 pick up?
‘Qui’ on line 21
How were the body parts on line 23 chosen?
Randomly
What is significant about ‘lumina nigra’?
Dark eyes are a point of beauty
What is Propertius saying on the last line?
Even her footsteps were impressed by her beauty
Where is there sibilance? Why?
‘Sine sensu’ to show bitterness
What does he imply by lovers living without sense?
They are like children. The older you get, the wiser
What are connotations of the wind?
Unreliable and untrustworthy
What does he mean by ‘he must have lost his wings’?
Amor is not leaving him and he cannot shake the feeling of love accompanying him
Why is his heart thirsty?
It is dry of love to give
Why does Propertius mention a Muse?
Compliments a Muse for inspiration
Who does ‘idem’ on line 5 refer to?
The same man who depicted Amor as a boy
What is the underlying meaning behind ‘breeze never lingers in one place’?
Feelings fluctuate
Why does Amor have a Cretan quiver?
Best arrows came from Crete
Where is there tmesis? Why?
‘Ante’ and ‘quam’ for scansion
Where is there polyptoton?
‘Manent, manet’
‘Perdidit, perdideris’
What is the image of a boy representative of?
Love is like a child and caused him to stay a child
What could ‘in me’ mean?
Inside me or in my case
How can we tell he is upset?
‘Pennas perdidit’ plosive sounds
What is the underlying meaning with war being waged with his blood?
Bleeding from love
What word is used a lot?
‘Quoniam’
How do we know he is bitter about transferring the war elsewhere?
‘Traice tela tua’ harsh sounds
What does the shadow suggest?
He is no longer a person
What is Propertius really saying when he questions Amor?
Don’t destroy love poets you are supposed to like love
Which line is chiastic?
Third to last
Explain the contrast with ‘lumina nigra’
‘Lumina’ can mean ‘light’ so it literally means ‘dark light’ to give poetic qualities
What is the effect of repeated ‘t’ sounds in the last line and previously?
Onomatopoeic to give a bitter tone at effect girl has on him but it is ironic
What is he using the painting as an example of?
Details and how he can pick out qualities
