Virgil's Georgics: Lines 445-452 Notes

Question 1

How can you describe ‘confidentissime’?

Answer 1

Polysyllabic superlative adjective

Question 2

What is the effect of the polysyllabic superlative adjective?

Answer 2

Instantly demeans Aristaeus

Question 3

What reinforces the demean of Aristaeus?

Answer 3

The coupling of his categorisation as ‘iuvenum’

Question 4

Where do you commonly find polysyllabic superlative adjectives?

Answer 4

Comedy

Question 5

Name two metrical techniques on line 448?

Answer 5

Diaeresis and trochee

Question 6

What is trochee?

Answer 6

An irregular foot consisting of one long syllable followed by one short syllable

Question 7

What is diaeresis?

Answer 7

The splitting of one syllable into two

Question 8

Which word has diaeresis?

Answer 8

‘Desine’

Question 9

Which word is trochee?

Answer 9

‘Velle’

Question 10

What is after the trochee on line 448?

Answer 10

A heavy pause

Question 11

Where is there trochee on line 450?

Answer 11

‘Fatus’

Question 12

What is after the trochee on line 450?

Answer 12

A sense pause

Question 13

What type of effect is created in the interchanging conversation of this section?

Answer 13

Staccato

Question 14

What case is ‘fatis’ in? So what does it translate as?

Answer 14

Dative so ‘for the fates’

Question 15

What are the fates doing here?

Answer 15

Speaking through Proteus

Question 16

‘Frendens’ here is the only example of it being used as a verb. What is the effect?

Answer 16

Adds to the imagery of Proteus’ oracular ecstasy

Question 17

Why would we translate ‘adire’ as ‘invade’ rather than ‘go to’?

Answer 17

Proteus is angry

Question 18

Give an enclitic word in this part of the passage

Answer 18

‘Quidve’

Question 19

Where is there chiasmus?

Answer 19

‘Est te fallere quicquam’

Question 20

What do we mean by ‘praecepta’?

Answer 20

Godly advice

Question 21

What is bathos?

Answer 21

Anticlimax

Question 22

Why is Proteus contorting himself and gnashing his teeth here?

Answer 22

He is going into a trance to prepare to give a prophecy