Virgil's Georgics: Lines 333-353 Notes Flashcards
This part of the epyllion is based on the Iliad book 18. How?
When Thetis hears Achilles’ cries and summons her nymphs
How does Virgil produce a highly pictorial scene here?
Slows the narrative down with long descriptive passages in which he employs his expertise at Greek words
What is special about the fleeces from Miletus?
The beauty of the fleeces from Miletus was legendary
How does Virgil exaggerate the number of nymphs present?
Polysyndeton
What is polysyndeton?
Many conjunctives used
Where did Virgil get the inspiration to list the sea nymphs?
Homer’s list of Nereids in Iliad book 18 though the names are different
Why are there square brackets around line 338?
This line is omitted by many scholars
Where do you also see line 338?
Aeneid book 5
How does Virgil create pathos on line 339?
Epanalepsis
What is epanalepsis?
Repetition of the same word with an intervening word in between
Explain the use of ‘Lucina’
Lucina is a goddess of childbirth so her name is synonymous with childbirth itself - do not know why Virgil decided to make this reference
What technique is ‘Oceanitides’?
Patronymic epithet
What is patronymic epithet?
Describing people by referencing their father
What profession was Arethusa before she became a sea nymph?
Huntress
Who else was a huntress before becoming a sea nymph?
Clio and Beroe
Who is Vulcan’s wife?
Venus
Clymene’s song is well-known. What is it about?
Mars seduced Vulcan’s wife, Venus
When would you sing Clymene’s song?
While weaving
What does ‘curam … inanem’ show?
Vulcan’s vain attempts to prevent Mars seducing his wife
What is Chaos?
The original state of the world before the Gods organised it
Where is there synchesis?
Line 349
What is synchesis?
Scattered words
What does the synchesis show?
The strong link between a child’s cries and his mother’s ears
What enforces the meaning of the word ‘obstipuere’?
The enjambment and strong break after it
