Rejection in love

Question 1

Ducas

Answer 1

Direct address at the start
Grabs readers attention
Immediately followed by two instructions
In the subjunctive

Question 2

Line 3

Quondam

Answer 2

Wishful thinking
Idea that affair is over is brought home by the repetition in line 8
Quondam = once (not at the present time)

Question 3

Ventitabas

Answer 3

The frequentative verb shows how he used to hang onto her every movement and she provided happy times

Question 4

Line 7

Volebas:nec nolebat

Answer 4

Suggests the love was one sided

Nec nolebat is not as forceful as volebas and this suggests that he loved her more than she loved him

Question 5

Line 12

Answer 5

Addresses girl and refers to himself in third person

Repetition of the same verb and the end of the line reinforces the idea of being a survivor, not a victim

Question 6

‘Nunc, iam’

Answer 6

Intensifies the change

There is a string of prohibitions followed be even more forceful positive imperatives

Question 7

Lines 13-17

Answer 7

Catullus addresses the girl but doesn’t expect her to respond
The lines are part of convincing himself
7 firing questions (staccato)

Question 8

“Obdura”

Answer 8

Repeated again
Like a refrain
Emphasis

Question 9

“Obdura” at the end

Answer 9

Ends the poem with a final message for himself; be firm

Question 10

Perisse perditum

Answer 10

Alliteration and closed sequence reinforces the idea of finality