Stylistic Features - Last Stand Flashcards
Receptaculum perfugarum
Neat phrase that show Tacitus’ contempt for the Druids as outlaws fleeing the legions of Rome
Parat
Historic present - vivid
Incolis validam et receptaculum perfugarum
Chiasmic pairs of description referring to what mona is
navibus pedites, equites vado
Chiasmus. Abl. Nom. Nom. Abl.
Conciseness of style
stabat
Emphatically placed at start of sentence. Strength, immediacy of sight
Diversa acies, densa armis viris que, intercursantibus feminis
Celtic woman freedom > roman woman freedom (intercursantibus) double threat of battle line
Emphatically placed feminis at end of clause
TRICOLON. ASYNDETON
Furiarum
Dramatic illusion
Legendary spirits of vengeance. Horrific females w snake like hair that drank blood
Circum……… fundentes
Circle of Druids?
Metaphorical use of fundentes adds to horror of description
Lines 8-12
Progression of verbs.
Historic present vividness in last three. (Inferunt, sternunt, involvunt)
Strong verb: perculerunt (lit knock someone down) adds to drama
Tacitus seems to be in full flow and exaggerating - praise Romans superiority
Muliebre et fanaticum
HENDIADYS
signa
Main standard = Aquila. Eagle made of gold, holding golden darts = thunderbolts of Jupiter
Here inspiring soldiers
lucri…. sacri
Double description. = emphasis
Saevis supersitionibus
Sibilanca = despises human sacrifice
hominum fibris consulere deos
Description of the use of a human victim = shocks roman reader
Fas habebant
Druids didn’t think they were doing wrong, worsens their crimes.
Tacitus implies nefas infact. Opposite of fas, (divine Law)hence would shock even gods
