Amores iii. 5 and 14 notes

Ovid Amores III.5Lines 1-10

Summary

• Ovid’s dream begins and the scene is set.

• A closely set grove of oak sits below a sunny hill.

• Below the grove is a grassy meadow.

• Ovid sits beneath the trees, trying to avoid the heat but is unsuccessful in doing so.

• Finally, a white cow halts in front of his eyes.

Style Points

• Idyllic, perfect scene set

“aprico” = sunny (line 3)

“viridissima” = very green (line 5)

“lene sonantis aquae” = gently sounding water (line 6)

• Indication of lurking danger

“in ramis multa latebat avis” = many birds were concealed in the branches (line 4)

Style Points

• Onomatopoeic effect created by “sonantisaquae” – “sounding water” used to convey the noise (line 6)

• Repetition of “aestum” – “heat” shows prevalence of love (lines 7-8)

• Use of “ecce” as exclamation at start of line 9 draws attention to the main character (white cow)

• “candida vacca” description shows how cow is otherworldly and dreamlike (line 10)

Amores iii – Poem 5 (Lines 10 – 20)

Summary

The cow was as white as fresh snow and recently squeezed milk from a sheep. She was with a Bull, her companion, and they lay down on the ground together. He continues to chew on his recently digested cud. However his head becomes heavy and sleep forces him to lay it on the ground .

Lines 10-20 Analysis

Comparatives “candidor nivibus” (whiter than snow) – emphasises how white the cow is and exaggerates its

appearance, making it seem so pure and perfect. This makes it seem more surreal and is in keeping with the on-going dream theme of the poem.

Imagery The description of the cow and the introduction of the Bull create a relaxed and peaceful scene.

Also he uses “teneram” (tender) to describe the ground. This adjective helps to create vivid imagery as it makes us engage with our senses and imagine the touch of the earth. Thus helping us to bring to life the images and themes explored in this section.

Personification In this section, Ovid personifies “somnus” (sleep) as taking it taking away the Bulls strength. The

personification helps to emphasise how dramatic the Bull’s need to lie down is and makes it seem a very physical visual image.

Summary: Amores iii.5 21-30

In this small passage we are recounted the vision of the crow coming down and pecking the cow’s chest, and then how the cow moving off to other bulls and pastures.

Analysis: Amores iii.5 21-30

The alliteration of “albentes abstulit” heightens the sense of worryand anger and confusion that Ovid’s persona is feeling.

The position of “fodit” as the first word emphasizes it and gives the pecking a more potent feel to it.

Terque= three times; happened 3 times

Petulanti; mischievous, almost sexual meaning

Bull and place; reflective of being left behind

Sed niger; brings out contrast/change

Tauros; at end of line; emphasized

Laeta; temptation

Gregibusque inmiscuit illis; inbetween those herds in word order

Ovid Amores V

Lines 31-45

Summary

• Ovid asks the interpreter of dreams to explain his dream

• The interpreter reveals that Ovid's lover is going to leave him

Analysis

• The use of the phrase “quicumque es” “whoever you are” when talking about the interpreter adds a sense of mystery and confusion to the section

• “expendens…..singula” “weighing up each word” the use of these words seem to make the subject matter seem to be much more serious

• The fact that Ovid has chosen to explain the dream may tell us something about who the poem is for, as it suggest that it is written for his love. In this case he has add this explanation so that he is sure that she will understand the message to is trying to put across.

More Analysis

• Ovid makes a big contrast in this section between the previously pure girl and the now adulterous girl by using white and black as symbolism for this.

• There is also another contrast made between the heat of love “aestus” and the cold bed that he will be left with “ frigidus”. Also the placement of “frgidus” at the beginning of the line emphasises the feel of emptiness that this image conquers

• The use of the word “lena” to describe the old woman shows a sense of the hatred that Ovid has for her.

• At the end of the poem Ovid becomes very melodramatic using both the image of his blood being drained of blood and the idea of darkness “nox” to show his immense fear.

Amores IIIPoem 14 lines 1-10

Summary

• Establishing she is allowed to sin as long as she doesn’t tell him.

• Not on a need to know basis

• Showing that anyone can sin but they shouldn’t tell anyone about it

• Uses an example

Lines 1-4

Non ego, ne pecces, cum sis formosa, recuso

I do not tell you to sin, since you are pretty

Sed ne sit misero scire necesse mihi;

But it shouldn’t be necessary for me to know, wretched that I am

Nec te nostra iubet fieri censura pudicam

Nor does my censure command you to become chaste,

sed tandem ut temptes dissimulare

But it does ask you try to pretend to bePersuading

woman calling her pretty and makes her sad

Two similar couplets each with the same start

Lines 5-8

Non peccat, quaecumque potest peccasse negare

It isn’t a sin for any girl to be able to say she hasn’t sinned

Solaque famosam culpa professa facit.

And only blame confessed gives her a bad reputation.

Quis furor est, qua nocte latent, in luce fateriWhat madness is it to own up in daylight things that lay hidden in darkness

Et, quae clam facias, facta referre pallam?

And to recount openly the things you might do in secret?

Alliteration: Punchy “p”s

Almost making her feel stupid or ridiculous for admitting that she sins

Contrasting day and night

Soft ‘f’ sound almost conveys secrecy

Lines 9-10

Ignoto meretrix corpus iuctura Quiriti

A tart going to join her body to some unknown son of Quirinus

Opposita populum submovet ante sera

Keeps the public out by locking the bolt beforehand

Using a relevant example to pack up his case.

Use of “Quiriti” a patriotic name for a

Roman, is part of him twisting the Roman

morales

Amores.III.14

Lines 11-20

Summary

• Don’t let your sins be exposed

• Act like you are innocent

• Deny that you have indulged in naughtiness

• There is a place – be naughty there!

• Leave your sins in that place

TU TUA PROSTITUTES FAMAE PECCATA SINISTRAECOMMISSI PERAGES INDIUMQUE TUI?

TU TUA – alliteration is punchy and makes it seem both inquisitive and accusatory

COMMISSI – (misdeed) emphasis at the start of line

COMMISSI + INDICIUM - legal vocabulary being used by Ovid while he is undercutting the laws of Augustus

SIT TIBI MENS MELIOR, SALTEMVE IMITARE PUDICAS,TEQUE PROBAM, QUAMVIS NON ERIS, ESSE PUTEM

MENS MELIOR – alliteration mimics the strength of the mind

PUDICAS – placement means emphasis on the fact that she herself is not modest

QUAMVIS NON ERIS – (although you are not) placement in-between what Ovid thinks shows how it is stuck in his mind and it is mixed up in his thoughts

QUAE FACIS, HAEC FACITO: TANTUM FECISSE NEGATONEC PUDEAT CORAM VERBA MODESTA LOQUI.

QUAE FACIS, HAEC FACITO – repetition = emphasis and almost a bit confusing and imperative shows desperation

NEGATO – imperative = desperation perhaps and placement emphasises as essentially this is the most important thing he wants her to do

NEC...LOQUI – turning morality on the head as due to roman morals, this was the opposite of what was meant to happen

Amores 3.14 lines 21-30

• Ovid is describing what ‘misdeeds’ his girl should allow in the bedroom

• Ovid asks her again to lie to him about these things

EST QUI NEQUITAM LOCUS EXIGAT: OMNIBUS ILLUMDELICIIS INPLE,STET PROCUL INDE PUDOR

DELICIIS – (pleasures) emphasis at beginning of line as to what this place is really about and enjambment heightens this

NEQUITAM – encouraging licentiousness and choice of vocabulary has very sexual connotations

PROCUL – (far away) heightens sense that Ovid really wants his girl to ‘go wild’ in this place

HINC SIMUL EXIERIS, LASCIVA PROTINUS OMNISABSIT, ET IN LECTO CRIMINA PONE TUO

SIMUL + PROTINUS – gives a sense of urgency and perhaps that he is getting worried as his girl is leaving the place and so he wants her to as quickly as possible stop being naughty!

ABSIT – emphasis at beginning of line as this is essentially the most important part of the sentence as he wants her to stop these things.

CRIMINA – legal vocabulary gives a sense of perhaps how awful the things she is doing are

IN LECTO – it is quite a sexual reference and it reminds us how Ovid is aware of what she is doing

illic nec tunicam tibi sit posuisse pudori

nec femori inpositum sustinuisse femur;

illic purpureis condatur lingua labellis,

inque modos Venerem mille figuret amor;

illic nec voces nec verba iuvantia cessent,

spondaque lasciva mobilitate tremat

“Illic..illic…illic” = There

Tricolon and anaphora

Gives impression that Ovid’s mind is lingering on these thoughts, and keeps coming back to it. Humour? Jealousy?

Undressing

Kissing…

Gradually getting more and moregraphic

Context:

Deliberately trying to provoke reaction

Esp. with recent introduction of LexJuliae, and Augustus’s reign of modesty

Love and passion‘Venerem amor’

Shows the love Ovid feels to be physical.May show why he doesn’t want her to leave him

Generally very graphic and descriptive language: femur…purpureis…lingua…lascivaCreates a vivid image from Ovids imagination

indue cum tunicis metuentem crimina vultum,

et pudor obscenum diffiteatur opus;

da populo, da verba mihi; sine nescius errem,et liceat stulta credulitate frui!

•Zeugma: put on physical + metaphysical, clothes representing chastity. Telling her to act appropriately for situation.

•Juxtaposition: PUDOR shame, OBSCENUM indecentshows the shame she should be feeling over these acts.

•Imperatives/Jussives: DA…DA…ERREM…LICEATShows Ovid is pleading with his girl for her not to tell him these things

•Ovid’s persona as elegiac lover : voice seems pathetic and obsessive

Lines 31-40 of AMORES 111 14

Summary \ implied meaning

• Why do you send and receive so many letters?• Why is the couch indented as if bodies have laid there?• Why is your hair a mess as you have not slept?• And your neck has a tooth mark on it?• Just make sure that you are subtle with your affair• If you protect your reputation, keep me ignorant of your

actions as well• Every time you confess what you have done I die and go

mad• And I feel cold at the prospect• I’m in love and can’t stop loving what I try and fail to hate• I would like to be dead as long as you are still with me.

ANALYSIS of lines 31&32

• Cur totiens video mitti recipique tabellas?

• Cur pressus prior est interiorque torus?


• Cur plus quam somno turbatos esse capillos

• Collaque conspicio dentis habere notam?


• Tantum non oculos crimen deducis ad ipsos

• Si dubitas famae parcere, parce mihi


• Mens abit et morior, quotiens peccasse fateris,

• Perque meos artus frigida gutta fluit


• Tunc amo, tunc odi frustra, quod amare necesse est;

• Tunc ego, sed tecum, mortuus esse velim.

• Nil equidem inquiram nec, quae celareparabis, insequar: et falli muneris instar erit

Ovid decrees he would never

investigate her indiscretions

• repetition of negatives inforce

• The short snappy ‘Insequar’ emphasizes the strength of the statement

• Si tamen in media deprensa tenebereculpa et fuerint oculis probra videndameis

He describes a situation in which he catches her in the act

• The idea that it ‘HAS’ to be seen by his eyes, otherwise he wouldn’t care

• He describes her deeds as wicked, but this shows he loves her, but detests only what she does

• Quae bene visa mihi fuerint, bene visa negato: concedent verbis lumina nostra tuis

He admits that a simple denial from her will prevail over what he has seen to be true

• The use of the word concede shows surrender and submission to her

• The repetition of ‘Bene visa’ foregrounds its meaning, which is that the act was ‘Clearly seen’

• Prona tibi vinci cupientem vincere palma est, sit modo ‘non feci’ dicere lingua memor:

Ovid describes how easy it would be for her to defeat him

• Again, he talks about defeat and submission on his part as shown with ‘Prona tibi’ (leaning forward to [her])

• The fact that the words in the second statement are all short show the simplicity of what she has to do

• Cum tibi contingat verbis superareduobus, etsi non causa, iudice vince tuo.

Ovid seems resigned when he describes how easily she can win, not through evidence and loyalty but through defeating his

• The blunt 3 worded final statements emphasize the finality and resignation of his submission to her

Summary

• He Continues to beg his wife to deceive him and to spare his feelings

• He adds how even if he does catch her in the middle of her sin he will

yield to her words.

• Stresses the fact that all he wants is to be blissfully ignorant and just

keep up appearances

Analysis

Nil equidem inquiram nec quae celare parabis

Insequar et falli munaris instar erit.

Ovid is adamant that he remain ignorant, negative repetition emphasises this.

“muneris” gift, All Ovid asks for from his wife his this single kindness.

He so fears adultery that he must make it absolutely clear that he will try his

hardest not to discover it.

• si tamen in media deprensa tenebere culpa

• Et fuerintoculis proba videnda meis

• “vivenda” have to be seen, Ovid here shows his persona as the elagiac

lover as he considers all possibilities.

• Quae bene visa mihi fuerint bene visa negato

• Concedent verbis lumina nostra tuis

• “bene visa” direct contrast between their implications, he wants her to

deny everything however obvious it was.

• “concedent” his eyes are inferior to her words.

• “tuis” your, at the end of the line adds emphasis.

• prona tibi vinci cupientem vincere palma est

• Sit modo „non feci‟ dicere lingua memor.”

• “Palma” palm of victory, pathetic elagiac lover, the notion of love as a

competition.

• “Vinci cupientem” wanting to be defeated, again pathetic elagiac

• “non feci” reference to legal vocabulary reinforces the idea that he is the

believing judge.

• Cum tibi contingat verbis superare duobus

• Etsi non causa iudice vince tuo.

“Caudsa iudice” cause judge, juxtaposition emphasises that even though her

case is damming Ovid will always turn a blind eye.

“Verbis duobus” two words, Ovid is trying to persuade her with the reasoning

that her task is pleasurable and easy.

“tuo” your, last word in the poem strongly emphasises that she can do anything

and that she is in control.

Themes

• Elagiac – notion of victory

• Fear, Ovid will do anything and believe

anything to allay his fears.

• Controvosy – why let your wife do wrong

before your eyes. Legal vocabulary spites

Augustus‟ reforms

Amores iii. 5 and 14 notes

Education

Transcript of Amores iii. 5 and 14 notes