Catullus' Poetry

Paper Summary:

The paper explains how and to what effect Catullus subverts existing genres of poetry to his own ends. Using the examples of his poems 63 and 64, it shows how the poet portrays the emotional states of Attis and Ariadne through devices such as prayers, speeches and narrative intrusion.

From the Paper:

"Catullus evokes much pathos in the poem, for different reasons in different sections. Aegeus' aforementioned farewell to Theseus evokes pathos in, for example, lines 219 to 220: "cui languida nondum lumina sunt nati cara saturata figura", a method Catullus uses to depict Aegeus as a pathetic old man. In Roman times and especially in the context of epic poetry, a young man going away to battle for the first time was a glorious rite of passage, and Aegeus, who should be a proud father, is actually a tearful, feeble and pitiable old man. Pathos also features in descriptions of the dazed, ditched Ariadne, such as "tum tremuli salis adversas procurrere in undas" (line 128)."

More papers on Catullus' Poetry:

• Essay # 84043 : "Catullus and Obscenity"
• Analytical Essay # 59883 : "Lesbia, Clodia and Cynthia as Textual Female Characters"
• Comparison Essay # 120057 : "The Apology for Poetry" and "Faerie Queene"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: