Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Catullus comment....

See poem 31 to answer: Describe the mood Catullus conveys here. Cite five(5) specific elements in the poem to support your statement.

13 comments:

Caroline David said...

In poem 31, Catullus describes his homecoming to the island of Sirmio in a rejoicing manner. He has been away from his home for quite some time and describes his home as the jewel of all islands, and explains how the best part of leaving home is returning home.

Catullus shows his admiration for Sirmio in the first line by claiming it to be the jewel of all islands. "Paene insularum, Sirmio, Insularumque ocelle."

In line 4 Catullus writes "quam te libenter quamque laetus inviso" sharing with the reader how happy he is to see the island again.

Lines 7-10 are used to portray the pleasure in returning from a great labor or long trip and having all burdens lifted and a familiar bed to rest in. "O quid solutis est beatius curis, cum mens onus reponit, ac peregrino labore fessi venimus larem ad nostrum, desideratoque acquiescimus lecto?"Here Catullus asks the reader if there is anything better, implying his intense love for his own home.

Catullus then states that homecoming is the prize for all great labors. "Hoc est quod unum est pro laboribus tantis." If a great labor is accomplished, then you may go home and rest in the peaceful familiarity of your dwelling.

Finally, Catullus outright states his elation. "Salve, o venusta Sirmio, atque ero gaude
gaudente." "Hello, oh charming Sirmio, and rejoice with the ultimate rejoicing." By the end of the poem, there is not a doubt in the readers mind that Catullus is excited and grateful to be home again.

Chrysanthe said...

In Catullus' ode to his beloved Sirmio, he conveys that his longing to be home has finally been replaced by joy at seeing the "jewel of all islands" (lines 1-2). The mood is definetly joyful, and also, in a way, relieved. Catullus says, in lines 7-10, "O quid solutis est beatius curis,cum mens onus reponit, ac peregrino labore fessi venimus larem ad nostrum,
desideratoque acquiescimus lecto?" How nice is it to come back to your favorite couch and relax after being in foreign lands. To see Sirmio is worth all his labors (line 11). In describing his beloved island, he uses words like "venusta (line 13)and says "quam libenter quamque laetus inviso te" (line 4)like he is talking to an old friend. He goes, in the beginning of the poem, from a sense of awe in the beauty of his home (perhaps it seems more beautiful since he has missed it so) to jubilation as he tells the island and the lake to laugh and celebrate with him.
Out of curiosity, where is this island? Is it in the middle of a lake? I know Lydia is part of Asia Minor, but I cannot seem to find a place called "Sermio" anywhere. Clarification please. (I looked at roman-empire.net, and a really good map was under "the empire" but I couldn't find Sirmio")

Chris Siefe said...

Poem 31 is written by Catullus about his ecstasy for returning to his home of Sirmio. This poem expresses a very happy and delighted mood. Although Sirmio is a place, Catullus almosts acts as if it is a person: a friend or a lover he is excited to see and come back to.
At the beginning of this poem, lines 1-2, Catullus refers to Sirmio as the jewel of all the islands, not just a place but something valuable and beautiful to him.
In line 4 Catullus says "quam te libenter quamque laetus inviso," simply saying how happy he is to see his homeland.
Catullus then writes about how even though he's worked so hard away from home, coming home ("venimus larem ad nostrum") and resting in his desired bed ("desideratoque acquiescimus lecto") makes it worth the work ("hoc est quod unum est pro laboribus tantis".
Even the way Catullus addresses Sirmio, oh charming Sirmio ("o venusta Sirmio"); you can tell Catullus is very happy and thankful for his homeland.
Finally in the end of this poem, Catullus tells the island itself to rejoice with him ("atque ero gaude gaudente"), again kinding of showing how much Catullus respects this place. He treats the island as if it were a person. This whole poem is written like a message to the island.
Although I kind of feel that maybe it's not so much the island he's happy about, but perhaps someone on the island. Perhaps this poem was written before Catullus' break-up with Lesbia (if she exists that is).

Kelsey said...

Those above me did a beautiful job of retelling the poem so I will forgo the summary. Catullus is obviously overjoyed about his return to Sirmio, and he goes right out and says it [quam te libenter quamque laetus inviso, line 4], How gladly and how happy I see you. He adores and borderline worships Sirmio as a whole, a destination, an island, and his home. He does seem to revisit the profound beauty of Sirmio a couple times throughout the poem, he chose to compare Sirmio to a jewel [Paene insularum, Sirmio, Insularumque
ocelle, line 1] which is a sign of beauty, as well as "in clear still waters and in a vast sea" [liquentibus stagnis
marique vasto, lines 2-3], this well used imagery creates a beautiful picture for the reader. As we touched on in class, Catullus did a wonderful job of expressing that feeling of coming back to your home, no matter how much fun you might have had on your cruise to Mexico with a buffet, exemplified with [vix mi ipse credens Thyniam atque Bithynos
liquisse campos et videre te in tuto, lines 5-6], scarcely to believe myself to have left, showing an almost incredulous tone to have left in the first place, but that just makes it all the better to come back.

Kristin said...

In Catullus’ poem he is conveying his deep love for the island of Sermio. He proves this by saying that the best thing about going away is the feeling you get when your return home, which is exactly how I feel every time I come home from vacation. In lines 1-2 he expresses the love he shows for his island by calling it the “jewel of almost all islands” (Paene insularum, Sirmio, Insularumque ocelle,). In lines 4-6 he tells the island that he doesn’t know why he ever left and that he is exceedingly happy to be back. He continues to say that he loves coming home, after a long journey, to lie in his own bed (ac peregrine labore fessi venimus larem ad nostrum, desideratoque acquiescimus lecto).
All in all, Catullus shows extreme adoration for his island Sermio and does a good job at showing it; he is not a very subtle man.

GenBen said...

As everyone else said, Catullus is grateful to have come home to Sirmio and to know upon his arrival that it's still safe. "vix mi ipse credens Thyniam atque Bithynos liquisse campos et videre te in tuto"

He then poses a rhetorical question, what is better than being set free, when the mind is free of burdens "cum mens onus reponit"

It's like Sirmio is his wife or something because he's happy to see the island kind of like a husband who misses his spouse.

The whole poem just says how he really misses his home and people can relate to what he says on lines 8-10 "ac peregrino
labore fessi venimus larem ad nostrum, desideratoque acquiescimus lecto"

On the first and last lines of the poem, Catullus shows how much he loves coming home for like the 10th time, but he describes Sirmio as the "jewel of islands" (Paene insularum, Sirmio, Insularumque ocelle) and then at the end he says oh charming Sirmio, rejoice with the master rejoicing..."Salve, o venusta Sirmio, atque ero gaude
gaudente"

Emma Lu said...

Catullus conveys a sense of relief as well as joy at his homecoming.

Sirmio is treated like a friend of his, addressed in the vocative- Paene insularum, Sirmio.
Like a friend long separated, Catullus says "quam te libenter quamque laetus inviso" Saying how happy he is to see his old friend Sirmio.

He relates the island to an old friend in line 6, saying "videre te in tuto". He can hardly believe he is coming home to Sirmio in safety. This implies he has worried about Sirmio in his travels and is now relieved the island is safe.

A different kind of relief is conveyed when he says "O quid solutis est beatius curis", asking what is better than having cares set free. He is relieved to be home at leisure, no longer working or involved in anything.

Catullus also has an introspective tone when he says, "Hoc est quod unum est pro laboribus tantis." This is the one thing equal to great labor. All work he has done is compensated in rest, and so he is relieved and joyful to be back at home in Sirmio.

Bryn said...

Catullus spends poem 31 writing about his favorite island, Sirmio. Calling it "insularumque ocelle" jewel of the islands. He is not writing this poem in a joking manner but in a form of, like Chrysanthe said, an ode. He is genuinely happy to see the island, "quam te libenter quamque laetus inviso" How freely and happily I visit you. He personifies the island throughout the poem, for instance; "atque ero gaude gaudente" rejoice in your master rejoicing, implying that Sirmio can indeed celebrate Catullus’ homecoming. He does not mind working the entire year to be able to see his beloved Sirmio because “hoc est quod unum est” this is of itself reward enough. From reading this poem, you can tell Catullus loves this island, and who can blame him? A place that puts the mind at ease from responsibilities “cum mens onus reponit”

Whit said...

The mood of Catullus 31 is of a feeling of joy and sweet comfort at his homecoming. After being away for quite some time it is clear that Catullus cannot keep in his eagerness and excitement.
quam te libenter quamque laetus inviso..." He is just happy to be home at last.
The reader gets the sense that although this homecoming is much wanted it is also bittersweet and full of pride for his home soil. Catullus emphasizes his joy of how happy he is that the fields are well kept.
"Thyniam atque Bithynos
liquisse campos et videre te in tuto."
The sense that this brings is that maybe there was some uncertainty associated with his returning home.The sense of pride that is represented in this poem is made clear when Catullus states that foreign soil is nothing in comparison to the soil that he has long treaded on.
"ac peregrino
labore fessi venimus larem ad nostrum..."
His pride also shown in how he describes that Sirmio is worth these great labors.
" Hoc est quod unum est pro laboribus tantis.
Salve, o venusta Sirmio..."
Finally at the end of the poem through the semi bitterness of fearing for his home and the pride associated with being on home soil, Catullus expresses once again the general mood of rejoicing in returning to a place that was left behind in the past.
"atque ero gaude
gaudente; vosque, o Lydiae lacus undae,
ridete quidquid est domi cachinnorum."

Adam said...

In Catullus 31, as Catullus makes his way home, he is in a very good mood. He tells the "clear still waters and the vast sea" that he is glad and happy that he is able to see it.

Catullus says, "quam te libenter quamque laetus inviso" (how gladly and how happy I see you). He is just restating how happy he is to be on this island.

In the first line of this poem, "Paene insularum, Sirmio, Insularumque ocelle" (Sirmio, the jewel of almost islands and islands), Catullus tells that Sirmio is the jewel of all of the islands which shows his appreciation for this island.

Again, Catullus expresses his love even further when he asks if there is anything better than, simply put, relaxing. He asks what could be better than a burden being lifted from your shoulders and comeing to sleep peacefully in your bed."O quid solutis est beatius curis, cum mens onus reponit, ac peregrino labore fessi venimus larem ad nostrum, desideratoque acquiescimus lecto?" (Oh what is more blessed than cares having been set free, when the mind sets down a burden, and tired by foreign labor we come to our home, and rest in a desired bed?)

In line 11, he says, "Hoc est quod unum est pro laboribus tantis." (This is the one thing which is for so great labors). This means that one should be rewarded for the hard labors that they have performed by taking a rest.

Overall, Catullus is very happy to be on the island of Sirmio, because he calls it the island of jewels. He also gives advice that those who accomplish hard tasks are entitled to a break and maybe a rest.

Emily said...

Catullus is clearly happy to return to Sirmio, so he adopts a more affectionate and rejoiceful tone (is that a word?) in 31, in sharp contrast to the bitterness that oozes from his other poems.
In line 2 he calles Sirmio an "ocelle." As the side notes point out, ocelle is an affectionate diminutive, showing that he adores his home. Line 4 "quam te libenter quamque laetus inviso" shows how glad he is to return home.
Catullus's use of larem (household god) to mean simply home shows that he worships his home like a god. His use of this synecdoche shows that Sirmio is as dear to him as a god.
In line 10 Catullus modifies lecto with desiderato, meaning desired, to emphasize how much he wanted to return home and how much he missed it.
Finally, Catullus admits that he celebrates his return home "atque ero guade gaudente." He tells the "charming Sirmio" to rejoice with the rejoicing master, for he was indeed glad to be home.

Filipp said...

In poem 31, Catullus is expressing his love for the island of Sermio. In lines 1-2 he shows his love for the island by calling it the jewel of all islands -Paene insularum, Sirmio, Insularumque ocelle,-. Lines 4-6 he tells the island that he doesnt know why he left and that he is happy to be back. He says that he loves to come home after a long journey and lie in his own bed - "ac peregrine labore fessi venimus larem ad nostrum, desideratoque acquiescimus lecto."
Catullus is very happy to be back home. In line 4, he says "how gladly and happy I am to see you" -quam te libenter quamque laetus inviso-.
Together, Catullus simply describes how nice it is to be back home. I am sure that we would have similar feelings after being away from home. There is nothing like coming home to the beautiful SB coast and to my soft bed after sleeping at a Motel 6. :)

Unknown said...

Hi sorry to slack harder than any senior, but here it is...

Catullus is rejoicing in his return to Sirmio. He must have felt very homesick, because the way he describes his home is the way he describes a beautiful woman. He glamorizes the island, and is relieved to return to it. He took his time illustrating the joy, care, and true love he has for his home.

1. "et videre te in tuto" in line 6 shows the reader how caring Catullus is about Sirmio. He is glad it is in safety

2. "quam te libenter quamque laetus inviso" in line 4 pretty obviously shows the happiness C is to be home

3. "Hoc est quod unum est pro laboribus tantis" in line 11 Catullus is writing how comforting it is to be in his own comfortable bed after a long and hard journey

4. lines 1 and 2 start out describing the island as the jewel of all other islands. It's a total dramatization, but dont we all feel that way about our home once we have been away from it for too long?

5. "Salve, o venusta Sirmio, atque ero gaude gaudente" line 12/13. Awesome lines that personify his beloved island. I love how he treats his home like a lover or a friend. It helps the reader feel how much he missed his sweet Sirmio.