VIRGIL 732 - 746 Orodes the Mountain

Question 1

Why does Mezentius originally not kill Orodes?

Answer 1

Mezentius did not think it was right to bring down Orodes as he ran away nor to give him an unseen wound from his thrown spear

Question 2

How does Mezentius make Orodes face him?

Answer 2

He both runs to meet him and took himself in front of Orodes facing him man to man

Question 3

What was Mezentius best skills?

Answer 3

and Mezentius was better not by deceit but with his strong weapons

Question 4

How did Mezentius threaten Orodes?

Answer 4

Then with his foot positioned over the thrown down Orodes

Question 5

How did Mezentius kill Orodes?

Answer 5

leaning on his spear

(subtext tells us Mezentius is leaning on the spear jabbing into Orodes

Question 6

As Orodes is dying what does Mezentius say?

Answer 6

Men, here lies mountainous Orodes, a participant in war not to be underestimated

Question 7

Why does Mezentius described Orodes as mountainous?

Answer 7

Because Orodes literally means mountain man

Question 8

caecum dare cuspide

stylistic features

Answer 8

Spear is described as unseen = personification

Question 9

Sternere nec iacta caecum dare cuspide vulnus

stylistic features

Answer 9

Emphatic first portion of Sternere
Emphatic last position of Vulnus

Question 10

ocurrit

stylistic features

Answer 10

Vivid present

Question 11

viro vir

stylistic features

Answer 11

Alliteration of v

Polyptoton both mean man

Symbolism the two men are facing each other, here they are next to each other

Question 12

armis

stylistic features

Answer 12

This word literally means arms, but here Virgil uses it as a metaphor meaning fighting abilites

Question 13

Positio pede

stylistic features

Answer 13

Alliteration to emphasise the image of Mezentius positioning his foot

Question 14

altus Orodes

stylistic features

Answer 14

Pun to reinforce Orodes name meaning

Irony as Orodes is below him so not mountainous

Question 15

Temmenda

stylistic features

Answer 15

Orodes is described as underestimated here, which is ironic as he has been brought down

Question 16

How does Mezentius men react to his pun?

Answer 16

His companions following his lead shout a song of victory happily together

Question 17

How does Orodes respond to the pun?

Answer 17

Orodes breathing out his last breath says….

Question 18

What does Orodes say?

Answer 18

Whoever you are victor you will not rejoice for long with me unavenged

Question 19

Why won’t Mezentius rejoice according to Orodes?

Answer 19

Equal fates are also looking out for you and you will soon by clutching the same earth

Question 20

Equal fates are also looking out for you and you will soon by clutching the same earth

What does Orodes mean by this?

Answer 20

Soon the fate of death will come to Mezentius

And he will be on the ground

Question 21

How does Mezentius feel about what Orodes said?

Answer 21

in reply to him smiling mixed in with anger

Question 22

What does Mezentius say to respond?

Answer 22

Mezentius said

Now die! However the father of the gods and the king of men will see to me

Question 23

Now die! However the father of the gods and the king of men will see to me

Why is this ironic?

Answer 23

Because Mezentius was known for hating the Gods

Question 24

What does Mezentius do to finally silence Orodes?

Answer 24

Saying this he pulled the spear out of Orodes body.

Question 25

How does Virgil describe Orodes death?

Answer 25

Hard peace and iron like sleep pressed down on that mans eyes

Question 26

What happens when the sleep is pressed down on Orodes eyes?

Answer 26

The light of his eyes are closed to eternal night.

Question 27

conclamant socii

stylistic features

Answer 27

Alliteration of C to show the companions shouting

Question 28

autem exxprians

stylistic features

Answer 28

Breathing out his last breath = parallel death to Acron

Question 29

non me quicumque es inulto // victor

stylistic features

Answer 29

Direct speech from Orodes, and his words are in disjointed syntax to mimic the idea of him on his last breath

Question 30

// victor

stylistic features

Answer 30

victor starts a new line fro Emphatic first postion

Question 31

longum laetabere

stylistic features

Answer 31

The alliteration of L mimics a very breathy speech

Question 32

prospectant paria

stylistic features

Answer 32

Alliteration

Question 33

Tenebis

stylistic features

Answer 33

Clutching the same ground = metaphor for death

Question 34

mixta Mezentius

stylistic features

Answer 34

Alliteration of M and word order to show how Mezentius emotions are so distorted

Question 35

nunc morere. Ast de me divim pater atque hominum rex viderit

stylistic features

Answer 35

Dramatic irony, we know that Aeneas is coming for him and he is not protected

Question 36

Dura quies

stylistic features

Answer 36

Hard peace = oxymoron

Question 37

ferreus somnus

stylistic features

Answer 37

Metaphor of iron sleep pressing down

Sleep is personified

Question 38

lumina noctem

stylistic features

Answer 38

Light and night word order next to each other for oxymoron.

Metaphor of light leaving his eyes for death.