Virgil's Georgics: Lines 411-444 Notes

Question 1

Give two examples of polyptoton

Answer 1

‘Quanto/ tanto’ and ‘talis/ qualem’

Question 2

What is the effect of the polyptoton?

Answer 2

Emphasises the struggle back and forth between Proteus and his captors

Question 3

What does Cyrene use to aid her son?

Answer 3

Divine intervention

Question 4

What is ambrosia?

Answer 4

Food of the gods

Question 5

How does Cyrene use divine intervention?

Answer 5

She invigorates him with the scent of ambrosia and carries him to Proteus’ cave

Question 6

Why does Cyrene help Aristaeus in hiding?

Answer 6

Gods are not supposed to help with human affairs

Question 7

Give two other examples of divine mothers helping their mortal children

Answer 7

Thetis with Achilles

Venus with Aeneas

Question 8

Is ‘drenched’ a common meaning for ‘perduxit’?

Answer 8

No

Question 9

Which line is a golden line?

Answer 9

Line 417

Question 10

What is the effect of the golden line here?

Answer 10

Represent perfume wafting in front of Aristaeus’ face using chiasmus

Question 11

What is the structure of chiasmus?

Answer 11

ABBA

Question 12

What technique has been used with the word ‘dulcis’?

Answer 12

Spondee- it fills the whole first foot

Question 13

Is the golden line acting as a clausula?

Answer 13

No

Question 14

Where is there an abnormal, heavy pause on line 418?

Answer 14

Before ‘est specus ingens’

Question 15

Where is there contrast on line 418?

Answer 15

Between the accent and ictus with ‘est specus’

Question 16

What is accent?

Answer 16

The naturally stressed syllable based on normal pronunciation and it’s position in the line

Question 17

What is ictus?

Answer 17

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

Question 18

State the sibilance on line 420

Answer 18

‘Sinus scindit sese’

Question 19

What does the sibilance on line 420 represent?

Answer 19

The hissing of the shallow waves on the sand

Question 20

What is Sirius?

Answer 20

The dog star

Question 21

What does the first clause on line 425 refer to?

Answer 21

The time of year as the Dog Star is associated with the hottest weather

Question 22

What does the second clause on lines 425-427 refer to?

Answer 22

The time of day as the sun being at midday or the time of year again being summer

Question 23

On lines 425-427, there is a lexical field of what?

Answer 23

Heat - almost every word conveys the intensity of heat

Question 24

What is the imagery of the moist sea scattering over the land a contrast with?

Answer 24

The previous description of dry, parched ground and intense heat

Question 25

What two techniques are used in line 432?

Answer 25

Spondiac movement and sibilance

Question 26

What is the effect of the spondiac movement on line 432?

Answer 26

The elongated, leisurely activity of Proteus and his seals

Question 27

What is the effect of the sibilance on line 432?

Answer 27

Highlights the scorching sun on the seals' and Proteus' skin

Question 28

Where else is the simile found about Proteus being a shepherd?

Answer 28

Homer's Odyssey

Question 29

What is the impact of describing Proteus as a shepherd?

Answer 29

Reminds us of the pastoral nature of the Georgics as a whole

Question 30

What does bucolic mean?

Answer 30

Relating to the pleasant aspects of the countryside and country life

Question 31

Where is it bucolic in this passage?

Answer 31

The tranquil description of animals and pastures

Question 32

Where is there enjambment?

Answer 32

'Occupat'

Question 33

How does line 440 reinforce a sense of drama?

Answer 33

The rhythm of the dactyl continues after the end of the sentence which ends at the first foot

Question 34

Where else is there an unusual pause? Why?

Answer 34

Line 416 after 'perduxit' to make a golden line on line 417

Question 35

Why does Cyrene sprinkle ambrosia on Aristaeus?

Answer 35

To give him a pleasant aroma to make his meeting with Proteus more pleasant. Enhances his appearance

Question 36

Why did Virgil use the word 'breathed'?

Answer 36

They believed you breathed out your soul when you died so it shows the ambrosia is cleaning him in and out

Question 37

Where is Virgil being poetic?

Answer 37

With 'half its course' rather than 'midday'

Question 38

Describing the hot weather is an example of what?

Answer 38

Pathetic fallacy

Question 39

Where is there synecdoche?

Answer 39

'Tecta' meaning roof instead of home

Question 40

Which word on line 435 is onomatopoeic?

Answer 40

'Balatibus'

Question 41

Who is Vesper?

Answer 41

Goddess of the evening

Question 42

Why does Virgil mention Vesper?

Answer 42

Elaborate way of saying it is the evening

Question 43

Why does Virgil use a simile of Proteus being a shepherd?

Answer 43

To make it more relatable for the audience

Question 44

Where is polysyndeton present?

Answer 44

Line 442

Question 45

Why is Vesper responsible for the calves coming in?

Answer 45

That happens in the evening

Question 46

What idea is repeated?

Answer 46

Hiding in a mist