Stylistic Features 40-54

Question 1

dedita religionibus

Answer 1

> Celts = keen animists (believe souls/spirits exist in animals etc) therefore habitats such as springs, bogs, rivers, groves etc were all sacred as the deities’ homes, revering and venerating (respecting)the natural world.
Lots of tribes, conveniently coupled w Roman Gods, when conquered
59 WORDS. shocking as find out human sacrifice = wide spread - as if ceaser couldn’t stop for breath.

Question 2

homines immolant aut se immolaturos esse vovent

Answer 2

> indirect statement ‘se immolaturos esse’ (simple and effective) allows anaphora of verb to sacrifice
eyewitness as Caesar spent time in Gaul? Hard to prove.
propaganda/fiction or fact?
celtic practice of human sacrifice mentioned by other ancient writers
widely believed Romans thought it was a good excuse to stamp out Druidism
another reason for Romans to target Druids = effective opposition to roman rule
Strabo also mentions crucifixion and archery as ritual sacrificial practices

Question 3

pro vita hominis reddatur hominis vita

Answer 3

CHIASMUS - A - B - B - A (vita hominis…hominis vita)

> Juxtaposition of hominis with reddatur acting as a fulcrum, enveloped by vita enables this literary device.

Question 4

numen

Answer 4

Delayed till quite late in sentence to increase effect
Literally means ‘a nod’ hence ‘command/authority’
Religious sense ‘divine sway, God-head, divinity, divine majesty, god or goddess’

Question 5

publicque

Answer 5

Public follow same pattern as private sacrifices, presumably Druids no longer acting as assistants but officiating

Question 6

euisdem generis habent instituta sacrificia

Answer 6

End of tremendously long sentence, Caesar closes with the focus. Sacrificia

Question 7

alli simulacra…habent

Answer 7

‘Images’ thought to be huge hollow figures made from wicker, that people were placed in to be burned alive.

Fire associated with cleansing as a symbol of several divinities

Question 8

simulacris incensis homines flamma circumventi pereunt

Answer 8

word for men enveloped in two words for burning - symbolises being enveloped in flames

Singular of flamma suggests dramatically one big, all enveloping conflagration rather than plural flames

Question 9

Gratiora

Answer 9

Comparative - ‘more pleasing’ than imprisonment etc.

Question 10

ad innocentium supplicia descendunt

Answer 10

Caesar shows his distain by use of verb descendunt, lowering themselves to sacrifice the innocent