Virgil's Georgics: Lines 411-444 Notes Flashcards
Give two examples of polyptoton
‘Quanto/ tanto’ and ‘talis/ qualem’
What is the effect of the polyptoton?
Emphasises the struggle back and forth between Proteus and his captors
What does Cyrene use to aid her son?
Divine intervention
What is ambrosia?
Food of the gods
How does Cyrene use divine intervention?
She invigorates him with the scent of ambrosia and carries him to Proteus’ cave
Why does Cyrene help Aristaeus in hiding?
Gods are not supposed to help with human affairs
Give two other examples of divine mothers helping their mortal children
Thetis with Achilles
Venus with Aeneas
Is ‘drenched’ a common meaning for ‘perduxit’?
No
Which line is a golden line?
Line 417
What is the effect of the golden line here?
Represent perfume wafting in front of Aristaeus’ face using chiasmus
What is the structure of chiasmus?
ABBA
What technique has been used with the word ‘dulcis’?
Spondee- it fills the whole first foot
Is the golden line acting as a clausula?
No
Where is there an abnormal, heavy pause on line 418?
Before ‘est specus ingens’
Where is there contrast on line 418?
Between the accent and ictus with ‘est specus’
What is accent?
The naturally stressed syllable based on normal pronunciation and it’s position in the line
What is ictus?
When the natural stress of a word is overruled by the position in the line, creating a clash between the way it would normally be pronounced and the way it has to be pronounced to fit the meter
State the sibilance on line 420
‘Sinus scindit sese’
What does the sibilance on line 420 represent?
The hissing of the shallow waves on the sand
What is Sirius?
The dog star
What does the first clause on line 425 refer to?
The time of year as the Dog Star is associated with the hottest weather
What does the second clause on lines 425-427 refer to?
The time of day as the sun being at midday or the time of year again being summer
On lines 425-427, there is a lexical field of what?
Heat - almost every word conveys the intensity of heat
What is the imagery of the moist sea scattering over the land a contrast with?
The previous description of dry, parched ground and intense heat
What two techniques are used in line 432?
Spondiac movement and sibilance
What is the effect of the spondiac movement on line 432?
The elongated, leisurely activity of Proteus and his seals
What is the effect of the sibilance on line 432?
Highlights the scorching sun on the seals’ and Proteus’ skin
Where else is the simile found about Proteus being a shepherd?
Homer’s Odyssey
What is the impact of describing Proteus as a shepherd?
Reminds us of the pastoral nature of the Georgics as a whole
What does bucolic mean?
Relating to the pleasant aspects of the countryside and country life
Where is it bucolic in this passage?
The tranquil description of animals and pastures
Where is there enjambment?
‘Occupat’
How does line 440 reinforce a sense of drama?
The rhythm of the dactyl continues after the end of the sentence which ends at the first foot
Where else is there an unusual pause? Why?
Line 416 after ‘perduxit’ to make a golden line on line 417
Why does Cyrene sprinkle ambrosia on Aristaeus?
To give him a pleasant aroma to make his meeting with Proteus more pleasant. Enhances his appearance
Why did Virgil use the word ‘breathed’?
They believed you breathed out your soul when you died so it shows the ambrosia is cleaning him in and out
Where is Virgil being poetic?
With ‘half its course’ rather than ‘midday’
Describing the hot weather is an example of what?
Pathetic fallacy
Where is there synecdoche?
‘Tecta’ meaning roof instead of home
Which word on line 435 is onomatopoeic?
‘Balatibus’
Who is Vesper?
Goddess of the evening
Why does Virgil mention Vesper?
Elaborate way of saying it is the evening
Why does Virgil use a simile of Proteus being a shepherd?
To make it more relatable for the audience
Where is polysyndeton present?
Line 442
Why is Vesper responsible for the calves coming in?
That happens in the evening
What idea is repeated?
Hiding in a mist
