Tibullus 1.1 Lines 21-40 Notes Flashcards
What is ‘tunc… nunc’ an elaboration of?
‘Quondam… nunc’ on line 19
At the Ambarvalia, what did the size of an offering depend on?
The richness of the land and its produce
What did the poet wish for in line 2 then line 25 then line 43?
Large acreage, living with little then a small crop is enough
What is the effect of the apostrophes of Ceres and Lares?
Briefly dramatic. See the ceremony of sacrifice actually glimpsed
What does the repetition of ‘agna’ do?
Elaborates the thought of the preceding distich
What lessens the impact of the repeated ‘nunc’ and the sense of the earlier subjunctives?
The change of tense and mood
What is ‘circum’?
Postposition
What makes the reiteration of ‘iam modo iam’ effective?
Progression of time
What is the indirect connection here?
Between Tibullus’ past behaviour and his former possessions in a happier era
What might the exhortation of ‘possim’ suggest?
Positive desire or negative self-control
What is the military reference of ‘deditus’?
Surrendering - perhaps this ambition led to his present circumstances
What is ‘longae via’?
A euphemism for travel, normally military or for commercial purposes
What are the thematic ideas linking to ‘via’?
Separation, insecurity, desire
What is the rising Dog Star associated with?
Creative impulse and retreat from life’s pressures
What is the rising dog star an emblem of here?
A ‘vita iners’ - the river passes by but the poet farmer remains constant. The soldier goes on long journeys but the poet remains in one spot
How is ‘contentus’ a pun?
Tension between motion and rest, satisfaction and greed. The poet is content with having little and is held-in by confining shade of a tree
What is the effect of ‘rivos’ and ‘ortus’ plural?
Makes the action habitual
What is the contrast in line 29?
Suddenly there is an active life for the farmer
What does ‘interdum’ suggest?
Only spurts of activity
What does ‘pudeat’ suggest?
Revulsion overcome
What is the effect of the impersonal verbs, renewed subjunctives and abruptness of ‘nec tamen’?
Alerts the reader’s imagination further while keeping the thoughts less directly orientated on the poet
What does ‘increpuisse’ suggest?
Only use of words
What does ‘stimulo’ suggest?
Carries it into deeds in the same phrase
What is the difference between line 32 of Tibullus’ poem and the Eclogues?
The shepherd does not pick up the baby goat in the Eclogues because he is leaving the rural landscape entirely and not returning home. For Tibullus, the mother has only forgotten her offspring
Where is the contrast in lines 33-34? What is the impact?
‘Exiguo… magno’ picks up opening lines
What is the ‘real’ enemy of the rural landscape?
Humans and beasts
What other job does Tibullus fulfil as well as ‘rusticus’?
Landowner’s role of priest to perform a sacrifice
What is the effect of ‘hic’ on line 36?
Brings it to the present
What was the Parilla? Describe it.
Feast on April 21 to celebrate Pales. Traditional foundation day of Rome. Milk and oil instead of wine used as libations. Only a goddess so ‘calmed’ can make the fields productive
What is ‘adsitis, divi’?
A regular, ritualistic invitation by summary prayer
What is the ‘mensa’?
Sacrificial table
What is the message on line 38?
Poor in wealth not spirit
What are the two meanings of ‘puris’?
Simple and unelaborate and clean and pure. Both a reflection of the poet’s way of life
What were ‘fictilia’?
Earthenware vessels of little monetary value
Which words in line 40 have a punning connection?
‘Fecit’ and ‘facili’ based off a false etymology
What is the effect of referring to an old-time countryman?
Shows full awareness that religious worship and rural society are bastions of conservatism. Their combination virtually assures stability of a custom
What is the Tibullan wordplay with ‘composuit luto’?
Luto meaning loosen or relax and ‘componere’ meaning ‘put together’
What is ‘facili’?
Active and passive as in the mud is both pliable and helpful
Where is there emphasis on line 40?
‘Que’ is displaced
What device connects lines 40-44?
Homeotleuton
What is homeotleuton?
Repetition of endings of words
What does the homeotleuton create between lines 41-42 and 43-44?
Internal rhyme and rhyming couplets
Which words contrast on lines 21-22?
‘Parva’ and ‘innumeros’
What type of word is ‘pubes’?
Singular translated as plural
What style of phrase is ‘iam modo iam’?
Colloquialism
What type of verbs are ‘pudeat’ and ‘pigeat’?
Impersonal
Where is there enjambment?
Lines 33-34 ‘parcite’
What type of word is ‘petenda’?
Gerundive of obligation
