Virgil's Georgics: Lines 354-379 Notes Flashcards
The description of Aristaeus weeping on line 356 mirrors what?
Orpheus weeping on line 509
Virgil repeats the imperative ‘duc’ on line 358. Why?
To convey great urgency
Describe the image shown on line 361-2
The great wave embraces Aristaeus and takes him below the waters which is highly colourful and with a supernatural touch
Where is the idea of the wave embracing Aristaeus from?
Homer’s Odyssey and Ovid’s Metamorphoses
What does the phrase ‘accepitque sinu vasto’ suggest?
A nurturing of Aristaeus which is appropriate as he is going to his mother
What does Virgil stress by showing a catalogue of rivers? What does this link with?
The moist nature of Cyrene’s home. Links to the catalogue of nymphs earlier on; the heat of Proteus’ environment; and the coldness of Orpheus’ environment
How many rivers does Virgil mention in this catalogue?
8
How many nymphs does Virgil mention in the catalogue?
12
What does ‘mirans’ suggest?
Miraculous and fantastical setting
How is line 364 emphasised?
Alliteration of ‘l’ and ‘s’ sounds; Assonance of long vowels like ‘u’ sounds
Which line is a golden line? What is the meaning?
Line 366 to mirror the meaning that Aristaeus is surveying the landscape and everything individually
Where are the different rivers flowing?
Up to the world above
Where was the river Phasis?
In Colchis (Black sea) on the Eastern border in modern day Georgia
Where was the river Lycus?
In Asia Minor. Between the regions of Lydia and Phrygia just south of Hierapolis and south east of Troy
Where was river Enipeus and where did it flow?
Northern Greece (Thessaly) and flowed into the river Peneus
What helps to emphasise the number of rivers?
Anaphora of ‘unde’
Where is river Anio?
Near Rome. Splits off the River Tiber just North of Rome
What is the effect of the alliteration of ‘s’ sounds?
Replicates the sound of the water
Where was the Hypanis?
Scythia (modern iran) north east of Colchis (Black Sea)
Where was the Caicus?
In Mysia in Asia Minor south west of the black sea. East of Troad
How were river gods often depicted?
With bull’s faces
What is ‘auratus’ derived from?
The Roman practice of guilding the horns of sacrificial bulls
What is the river Eridanus now?
Italy’s River Po
How does Homer use the word ‘purple’?
The Greek equivalent is an epithet of the sea
What does the alliteration in lines 374-5 show?
The swinging or knocking of pumice rocks
Why are Aristaeus’ cries ‘inanes’?
Because Cyrene believes she can easily remedy the problem
How does Virgil use words like ‘curam’ and ‘inanem’?
To describe emotions
How is ‘Pancheis’ translated?
Incense-bearing
What does ‘Pancheis’ literally mean?
Fragrant with incense from Arabia (Where Panchaia was)
What does it mean sometimes if you have ‘ex’ at the front of an adjective e.g. exterrita?
Really …
What does ‘ad undam’ literally mean? Therefore…
‘To the waves’ it is used poetically
How do imperatives suggest urgency?
Short, direct, forceful and fast words suggests desperation
Which word on line 357 is used a singular when actually it’s plural?
‘nos’
What is interesting about the structure of line 361?
The word order curves round and then back into the middle like a wave
Why is ‘mente’ translated as ‘heart’?
It is an emotional scene
Which word/ part of a word in the catalogue of rivers shows polysyndeton?
‘que’
What is tricolon?
Anaphora in the form of three words that builds to a climax
How are famous rivers displayed?
They are personified ‘father’
What is the symbolism of purple?
Luxury, wealth, shiny
What else shows luxury?
The idea of refilling already-brimming cups to show a plentiful amount
What is a tradition when taking in guests?
Provide food, water, banquets, wash them before finding out why they are here
Which line has dactylic movement? Why?
Line 369 to show fast rushing of water
