Sulpicia Poem 3.16 Notes

Question 1

What is significant about the syllables on the first line? What is the effect?

Answer 1

The last two words are monosyllabic. Gives authentic colloquialism

Question 2

What do critics think ‘subito ne’ does not go with?

Answer 2

‘Securus’

Question 3

What could the ‘subito ne’ be?

Answer 3

A pseudo-final clause with ‘permittis’

Question 4

How is Sulpicia ironic?

Answer 4

She interprets a consequence of Cerinthus’ action as his intention ( that she should not fall into the disgrace of marrying someone of lower social status)

Question 5

Where is the idea it would be a disgrace to marry Cerinthus brought up again?

Answer 5

Last couplet

Question 6

What does ‘cado’ mean?

Answer 6

Fall into disgrace

Question 7

What does ‘male’ intensify?

Answer 7

‘Inepta’

Question 8

What sort of style and tone is ‘male inepta’ possibly?

Answer 8

Colloquial and pejorative

Question 9

What is she not talking about?

Answer 9

Making a sexual error

Question 10

What suggests there has been a sexual error?

Answer 10

‘Ne… securus’

Question 11

Who wore togas?

Answer 11

Prostitutes or very low class women

Question 12

What technique is ‘togae’?

Answer 12

Metonymy

Question 13

Who could a prostitute be called?

Answer 13

‘Togata’

Question 14

What was ‘stola’?

Answer 14

Metonymy for posh ladies

Question 15

Who were spinsters known as?

Answer 15

Lowly slaves

Question 16

How does Sulpicia categorise her rival for Cerinthus?

Answer 16

A prostitute engaged in spinning (slave)

Question 17

Wha could we infer from the prostitute and wool idea?

Answer 17

Do we imagine her practising both occupations at the same time or was she an ex-spinner that became a prostitute now she is a freed woman?

Question 18

Is there hyperbole and rhetorical devices here?

Answer 18

Yes

Question 19

Why might Sulpicia be being snobbery and abusive?

Answer 19

Her rival is not noble like herself

Question 20

Where is there a slight asymmetry?

Answer 20

‘Cura’ lines up with ‘scortum’ and ‘filia’

Question 21

What was kept in a ‘wool basket’?

Answer 21

Unspun wool

Question 22

What does ‘pressum’ mean?

Answer 22

Burdened

Question 23

What technique is she using throughout but mainly with ‘scortum’ and ‘toga’?

Answer 23

Diction

Question 24

Who are worried about her?

Answer 24

Her family

Question 25

Who else might be worried?

Answer 25

Rivals of Cerinthus who want the prostitute

Question 26

What is hyperbaton and where is it seen?

Answer 26

Inversion of word order as seen with ‘maxima causa’

Question 27

Who does ‘maxima causa’ relate to?

Answer 27

Sulpicia

Question 28

Who does ‘ignoto toro’ refer to?

Answer 28

Cerinthus as he may not be as flash as Sulpicia or could be an exaggeration of a jilted girl

Question 29

What could ‘cedam’ mean?

Answer 29

Become property of

Question 30

What sort of writing is created if the lowborn bed refers to Cerinthus?

Answer 30

Preferable, forceful writing

Question 31

Where does the distllabic pattern at the end of even lines change? Why?

Answer 31

‘Sulpicia’ to show she is different and not a prostitute. She’s angry

Question 32

Could Sulpicia just be being jealous Unnecessarily?

Answer 32

Yes

Question 33

Where is there a contrast?

Answer 33

‘Securus’ and ‘solliciti’

Question 34

What does ‘ne cedam’ pick up? Why?

Answer 34

‘Ne... cadam’ to give balance and the second quote extra weight

Question 35

What sort of sounds are seen in line 4? Why?

Answer 35

‘S’ sounds to show hissing.

Question 36

Where are there elisions and why?

Answer 36

‘Gratum est’ ‘Illa dolori est’ Lack of control and composure

Question 37

Why is ‘maxima causa’ nearer the end of the line?

Answer 37

To highlight the greatness

Question 38

Where else is there a word to show a lot of something?

Answer 38

‘Multum’

Question 39

What does she use a lot of in this poem compared to others?

Answer 39

Elisions and sibilance

Question 40

Is the first phrase meant to be sarcastic?

Answer 40

Yes

Question 41

What does she mean by ‘securus’?

Answer 41

Confident in her feelings for him

Question 42

Why does the image of carrying wool contrast the prostitute idea?

Answer 42

Spinning and wool work were traditional tasks of a virtuous Roman lady

Question 43

‘Potior... quam’ is what?

Answer 43

A comparative

Question 44

Who could be concerned about her?

Answer 44

Messalla or her friends and family

Question 45

What is ‘illa’ in apposition with?

Answer 45

‘Maxima causa’

Question 46

Who is ‘illa’ not a reference to?

Answer 46

Whoever caught Cerinthus’ eye

Question 47

What is ‘quibus, dolori’?

Answer 47

Double dative

Question 48

What are the two interpretations of ‘lowborn bed’?

Answer 48

They don’t want her falling for a man who has affairs with slaves or they don’t want to see Sulpicia come second to a less advantageous girl

Question 49

Could Sulpicia be bluffing?

Answer 49

Yes

Question 50

Is there a chance Messalla knows about her relationship and approves of Cerinthus?

Answer 50

Yes