Propertius 2.17 Notes Flashcards
Why is the poem arranged after 2.22 and before 2.18?
2.17 is on the same idea and actual leaf as 2.22 and makes an excellent counterpart to 2.22
What has happened in this poem?
His mistress failed to appear on a certain night and the poet tries to fall asleep but tosses and turns and mounts into suicidal anguish
What does Propertius reflect in this poem?
How quickly he is swept from a height to a depth
Why does he dismiss the idea of laying seige at his mistress’ door?
It is too damp outside
What does Propertius resolve to do?
Not complain and endure her infidelities stoically instead
What causes him to go from rage to passive resignation?
Sleep overtakes him
What does he mean by ‘mentiri noctem’?
‘To promise a night falsely’
Why were lines 13-14 moved?
Line 15 follows nicely on from line 12
What would the tone be like if lines 13-14 were after line 16?
Complaining to suicidal anguish to calm resignation which is unpleasing
Why were lines 13-14 proposed after line 2?
Line 17 would then follow on from line 16. After line 2, lines 13-14 follow the tone and ‘impia’ fits the mood here while it would be harsh at the end of the poem
What is the ‘taking powdered drugs’ a reference to?
Grinding drugs in a mortar (pounding poisons)
What sort of expression is at the beginning of line 3?
A deliberately fancy, high-flown expression
Which part of line 4 is disputed?
‘Utroque toro’
What is meant by ‘tossing from each side of the bed’?
Double beds were made up from two mattresses side by side
What does the subjunctive about Tantalus and Sisyphus suggest?
The audience may be moved or admire but is not certain
Who is ‘tu’ referring to?
It is indefinite
There is full use of which preposition on line 6?
‘Ut’
What is ‘quoque’ derived from?
‘Quisque’ as seen by the quantity
What does he mean by ‘dry moon’?
The crisp appearance of the moon when the air is dry and the sky cloudless
The night is damp so he cannot lay outside his mistress’ door
Dry/ pure moonlight
What does he mean by ‘fores’?
‘Ianuae’
Explain what is meant on line 18
Wishful thinking but unusual as normally, a mistress will weep when she realises her harsh treatment has driven a lover elsewhere
What could ‘senserit’ mean?
‘Has realised’
What is the Tantalus?
Cut up his son Pelops to give to the Gods. He was punished by eternal hunger and thirst and could never reach food and drink
What is the Sisyphus story?
Cheated death many times. Was punished by rolling a boulder up a hill that always rolled back down for eternity
