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Catullus . Nikki Begnal , Chris Robotham , Chris DeAngelo , Cal Pettinelli. Life of Catullus. Born in Verona, Cisalpine Gaul in about 82 B.C. Moved to Rome as a young man Wrote 116 poems that have been saved Knew Cicero as well as Caelius Rufus
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Catullus Nikki Begnal, Chris Robotham, Chris DeAngelo, Cal Pettinelli
Life of Catullus • Born in Verona, Cisalpine Gaulin about 82 B.C. • Moved to Rome as a young man • Wrote 116 poems that have been saved • Knew Cicero as well as Caelius Rufus • Became a member of the “Neoterics”
Catullus’s Style of Writing • Catullus often uses literary devices such as anaphora, as well as ellision and chiasmus • With this, the word order creates the images of his style
Catullus 49 The most eloquent of descendants of Romulus, However many there are and however many there have been, Marcus Tullus, And however many there will be in other years, Catullus, the worst poet of all, gives the biggest thanks to you, As much as he is the worst poet of all, As you are the best patron of all DisertissimeRomulinepotum, quotsuntquotquefuere, MarceTulli, quotque post aliiserunt in annis, gratiastibimaximas Catullus agitpessimusomniumpoeta, tantopessimusomniumpoeta, quantotuoptimusomniumpatronus.
Analysis of Catullus 49 Meter- Hendescallybic • Fuere- have been, 3rd person plural perfect of verb to be, signature move of Catullus where he takes off “runt” • Quot- anaphora, emphasizes the fact that it doesn’t matter how there are or have been, • Pessimusomniumpoeta- anaphora, emphasizes the fact he is the worst poet of all • Gratiastibimaximas Catullus- synchesis ABAB gratias and maximas mean “biggest thanks” and are the A in the formation, symbolizing the significance
Catullus 92 Lesbia mi dicitsemper male nectacetumquam de me: Lesbiame dispereamnisi amat. quo signo? Quiasunttotidem mea: deprecorillam assidue, uerumdispeream nisi amo. Lesbia always speaks ill of me, and is not silent at any time About me: may I perish if Lesbia does not love me. By what sign? Because they are the same with me: all the time I pray To be rid of you, but may I perish unless I love you
Analysis of Catullus 92 Meter- Elegaic Couplet • Me dispeream- May I perish iussivesubj • De me: clause, present 1st person singular 2nd conj • me- acc singular subject of dispeream • Mi- syncope, should be mei, changed for meter
Catullus 43 Salve, necminimopuellanaso necbellopedenecnigrisocellis neclongisdigitisnec ore sicco necsane nimiselegante lingua. DecoctorisamicaFormiani, ten provincianarratessebellam? TecumLesbia nostra comparatur? O saecluminsapiens et infacetum! Hello girl neither with the smallest nose Nor the pretty foot, nor a black eye, Nor a long finger, nor a dry mouth, Indeed not even an excessively elegant tongue, Mistress of the bankrupt Formiae. Does the province say that you are beautiful? Is it with you our Lesbia is compared? O boorish and foolish age!
Analysis of Catullus 43 Meter: Hendecasyllabic • sane nimiselegante lingua- nor indeed an excessively elegant tongue • sane- adverb, indeed • nimis- adverb, very • elegante- nominative singular I stem, modifies lingua • lingua- nominative singular feminine • Decoctoris- adjective, genitive single masculine • Essebellam- you are pretty? Indirect statement
Analysis of Catullus 43 • Bellam- accusative singular feminine, predicate nominative of esse in the indirect statement • Ten- syncope, e is taken off end for meter purposes subject of indirect statement • Nec- anaphora, emphasizes physical attributes she does not have • O saeclum- apostrophe, addressing age in general • TecumLesbia nostra comparator- chiasmus ABBA • Minimo- superlative of parvus, smallest
New Vocabulary • decoctor, decoctoris m. bankrupt (Catullus 43) • saeclum, i n. age (Catullus 43) • siccus, a , um dry (Catullus 43) • assidue adv. continually (Catullus 92) • totidemas many as, the same
Catullus-Style Poetryby Chris Robotham You say, my Lesbia, that it would be best if i rid myself of you You clearly must not understand the feelings of your passionate lover Now, Catullus, do not relinquish what you once had For what a woman says one day may hold no truth the next Why is it that I am unable to rid myself of you, Lesbia? It is neither your illustrious eyes, nor your salacious swag My Lesbia, I must profess that I do not know the cause But that is all the more why Catullus will not relinquish you.