Pyramus & Thisbe (walls)

So far and Pyramus and Thisbe, there are two types of walls that keep the lovers apart. There is a physical wall that keeps them apart and there is a figurative wall that keeps them apart. The physical wall that keeps them apart is the wall conjoining their homes with the small crack that makes it possible to communicate. Pyramus and Thisbe get frustrated with this wall that blocks them from seeing each other and being able to kiss. In line 73 they say: “Invide, paries, quid amantibus obstas” which translates into “Jelous wall, why do you oppose lovers?” They go on to say in line 76 however that they are not ungrateful; “nec sumus ingradi.” The figurative wall that keeps the two lovers apart in the story is their parents. Line 60-61 says: “Taedae quoque iure coissent, sed vetuere patres,” which translates to: “law would have brought them together in the bond of marriage but their parents forbid it.” The final wall in the story is the wall surrounding the city which Pyramus and Thisbe leave to be together. Outside these walls there is anarchy and no civilization. Pyramus and Thisbe have just left and have already run into a dangerous lion.

Pyramus & Thisbe (lines: 55-77)

So far in Pyramus & Thisbe, Ovid has used several Rhetorical devices, including:

1. In line 55 when Ovid writes, “iuvenum pulcherrimus alter” which translates to, “one the most handsome of young men.” This is a hyperbole that is used to get the point across that Pyramus is good looking. It is an exaggeration to say he is the most handsome of all men.

2. In line 68 when Ovid writes, “quid non sentit amor?” which translates to, “what does love not feel?” This is a rhetorical question which means it is a question that is not meant to be answered but rather is added in for an effect; to get the reader/listener thinking about something.

3. In line 73 when Ovid writes, “paries, quid amantibus obstas?” which translates to, “wall, why do you oppose lovers?” this is an example of personification because Ovid is giving in inanimate object (the wall) human characteristics by asking why it opposes lovers. A wall cannot oppose because it is an inanimate object.

Poem 75 (limerick)

Lesbia you have brought down my mind
And now in life I am very behind
So no matter how good u may become
Although it would be enough for some
For me, you are just too unkind

Poem 8

In this poem, Catullus is writing about someone trying to get over someone else that they once loved. Catullus again uses Lesbia as the woman and starts off the poem by telling himself that it is time to give up in line one. He then goes on to say that once things used to be good but now they are not and then goes on to the second half of the poem where he tells himself not to be week in line 9 and then builds up his confidence by listing all of the things she will be losing by giving him up. He asks questions like: “who will visit you?” and “who will kiss you?” to boost his own confidence. What makes this poem timeless and classic is the general theme of falling out of love and saying goodbye to an ex-lover. One modern day song that this poem reminded me of is “Take a Bow” by Rihanna. In the song, she uses the end of a show to describe breaking up with her lover. She says “you put on quite a show, really had me going” which is the idea Catullus had in line 3 when he wrote “once the sun shone bright on you”; the idea that at one time things were good. Then the song continues “but now its time to go, curtain’s finally closing” which is the same idea Catullus had when he wrote “goodbye girl”; which is the idea that things are over between us now. So the fact the this poem can be connected to a modern day song proves that it is classic and timeless.