CPLT

Posted: August 27th, 2021

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CPLT Final Essay

Part I. Exercise A

Fill in the blanks with the Roman names of the appropriate deity. (10 questions, 1 point each)

Troy had long since been leveled when, one day, __1Aphrodite__, the goddess of love, approached __2Zeus_ and said, “As king of the gods, you have the duty to protect my son Aeneas from your nasty wife _3Hera_. He’s always sacrificed and done everything right. He doesn’t deserve this treatment.” The father of gods and men said, “Daughter, please tell me what you’re talking about.” She replied, “Your wife got Aeolus to release the winds and raise a storm to scatter the Trojan fleet. Luckily, your brother _4Poseidon_ used his trident to save the ships.” The ruler of the gods ordered his messenger _5Hermes_ to find his wife and bring her to the council along with the other Olympians. When the messenger found her, she was talking with _6Athena_ about how much they had both hated the Trojans since they lost the beauty contest judged by Paris. Then_7Tithonus_, the shining, youthful god, walked in wearing his sacred laurel and playing his lyre. He looked at the goddesses and said, “The war’s over. Can’t you just drop it?” The messenger interrupted to summon all three of them and told them that also needed to find _8Artemis_, who was probably off hunting with her nymphs, and _9Orion_, who was undoubtedly at his forge. Everyone said okay, but they begged him not to go to the underworld to invite __10Osiris_, the grim-faced ruler of the dead, because he skeeved them out. They all then went their way and met up soon at the council.

Exercise B

These are questions on Greek texts. Where a name is called for, use the Greek version. (10 questions, 1 point each)

The Iliad is about the wrath of _Trojan War__.
_Lysander__ is the leader of the Greek army.
_Hector__ is the noblest and best Trojan fighter.
_Trojan Prince Paris_ abducted Helen.
Helen was the wife of _Menelaus_ before her abduction.
Near the end of the Iliad, Achilles feeds the Trojan king named _Achilles_ as a guest in his tent.
Euripides’ play that we read is called the Bacchae (or Bakkhai). Another term for bacchae/bakkhai is _the Bassarids___.
In the Bacchae, Pentheus dies in a sparagmos, or ritual tearing apart, performed by women, the leader of whom is his __mother__.
The Odyssey is a _Greek_, a word that means “homeward journey.”
Odysseus’s wife is named _Penelope_.


Part II. Analysis of a passage

Analyze this poem by the Roman author Catullus as thoroughly as possible, being sure to explain the functions, powers, and titles that he attributes to the goddess Diana. Draw on the analytical tools we have studied and developed this semester: interpretive models, terminology, etc. Be sure to consider why Catullus might give Diana so many other names. (35 points)

Catullus, Hymn to Diana

We are untouched boys and girls, entrusted to Diana.

We untouched boys and girls—let us sing about Diana.

O daughter of Latona, 1 great offspring of greatest Jove,

Whom your mother set down near the Delian2 olive tree

So that you might be the mistress of the mountains

And of verdant forests and hidden meadows and sounding rivers.

You are called Juno Lucina by women in the pangs of childbirth,

You are called powerful Trivia3 and Luna with your false light.

You, goddess, by your monthly course measuring the path of the year,

Fill the farmer’s rustic roofs with good crops,

May you be holy by whatever name you like,

And, as you have done from old, keep safe

The race of Romulus4 with your good aid.


1. The Roman equivalent of Leto, whom you will remember from the Hymn to Apollo

In the hymn to Apollo, Catullus makes magnificently goddess’ remarks to Diana for being the great offspring of the greatest Jove (Zeus). With the aid of a parallel comparison, Diana’s qualities are compared to her mother’s, Leto. Such comparison implies that Diana has the same powers and attributes that her greatest goddess ancestors once possessed. Her reference to Leto signifies that Dian possesses similar traits like motherhood, care, and, kindness. Therefore, Catullus associates all the pleasant things in life to Diana.

2. For example on Delos, the Greek island where Diana was born

Catullus makes poetic reference to Delos, the island that is associated with the acceptance of Diana’s mother after being betrayed by Zeus. Upon the arrival of Diana’s mother Leto while on labor, she sat under an olive tree. The reference of an olive tree signifies the power of beauty attached to the birthplace of Diana. Moreover, there is an element of symbolism where the Delian olive tree as Diana’s birthplace is used to symbolize the attributes of change and regionalism that had dawned on Diana immediately she was born.

3. The Roman equivalent of Hecate

The poet, in the hymn to Apollo, considers Diana as equivalent to Hecate, who is believed to possess special magical powers to solve life puzzles. Moreover, goddess Diana is believed to make of the same qualities as that of Trivia, who was gifted in deciding at crossroads. Consequently, goddess Diana is seemed powerful as the guardian of roads. The Roman terminology of Hecate is a metaphor that implies that goddess Diana was capable of perpetrating both good and evil deeds. For example, in Roman empire, Hecate could cause hell-hounds and ghosts during her magical practice.

4. The mythical founder of Rome

Catullus, in the hymn to Apollo, regards the twin goddess sister, Diana as the founder of Rome. For example, the poet praises Diana for her remarkable contribution to the race of Romulus. Catullus makes mythical allegations that the race of Romulus started with the goddess Diana, who has maintained the safety of the Romans.

Part III.

In a fully developed essay, with proper paragraphing and a thesis, explain how Virgil Romanizes aspects of Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey to suit his own thematic, literary, and/or ideological purposes. Be sure to include specific references to both the Roman and Greek texts that you discuss and to distinguish Virgil’s goals and perspectives from Homer’s. (45points)

Virgil romanizes the aspects of Homeric Iliad and Odyssey to suit his literary explanations because he intends to make the pursuit of fame and glory appear as a dishonorable thing to the Romans. Instead, he associates such pursuit of fame to the Greeks. Specifically, Virgil’s explanation on Aeneid occurs during the onset of the Golden Age of the Roman Empire, which is under the leadership of Caesar Augustus, Rome’s first emperor (Virgil 81). The purpose of Virgil’s wordings was to offer a mythicalreference to Rome’s origins that really stressed on grandeur. Indeed, the whole writing legitimizes the successes of an empire that continuously conquered the known world. From Virgil’s point of view, “The Odyssey,” which implies homeward journey, is politely related to “The Iliad” in its general proposition (Virgil 88). Notably, Virgil considers the former literary piece of art as a continuation of the latter one. Though these two poems were expressed in similar narrative forms, their use of third-person omniscient perspectives present two varying these. Whereas “The Iliad” discusses about wrath, destruction, and death, its counterpart poem, “The Odyssey” discusses about qualities of a man in many ways, ranging from mightiness to wisdom (Bowers 23). Above all, all these poems discuss about heroic deeds, manly weaknesses, and a stellar link between humans and the otherworldly supernatural forces. In short, Virgil makes references to the existence of Greek gods like Athene (the goddess of wisdom).

From Virgil’s perspective, he narrates about the character, Odysseus, who has an outstanding quality of a Homeric leader. With an intention to bring about a literary analysis of the major character Odysseus, Virgil regards the poem “The Odyssey” as a symbol of strength, nobility, and a thirst for glory (Virgil 223). As much as the analysis of Homer on “The Iliad” revolves around wrath, destruction, seek of glory, his counterpart Virgil portrays the character in pursuit of wisdom at the expense of mightiness. Apart from that, there is a common theme that unites both the Homeric Iliad and Odyssey. For example, the pervasive incorporations of the title “aristos Akhaiōn” implying the best of the Achaeans in all the two poems underscores the illustrations of common ground (Bowers 26). Equally, Achilles emerges as the rightful owner of the title “The Iliad” as much as Odysseus does the same in “The Odyssey.”From the viewpoint of Homeric Iliad, the telling of the Trojan War imperatively offers readers with the moral significance of having important leaders, who regularly treat their soldiers with utmost respect (Bowers 45). Likewise, readers understand how important it is for them to accept apologies on the basis of reinforcing family ties. In short, the keydivisionarising from the literary analysis of both Virgil and Homer is Aeneas’s purpose. Whereas Homer’s perspective is pegged on the pursuit of fame and glory, Virgil considers thequest for glory as a disgraceful and naive trait (Virgil 134). In summary, the literary perspectives of Virgil slightly differ from Homeric Iliad’s narrative since he does not objectify glory and fame. Rather, he chooses wisdom over might.

Works Cited

Bowers, Gwen. The Iliad, the Odyssey, and the Aeneid. Scholastic Teaching Resources, 2007.

Virgil. The Aeneid. Introduction by Bernard Knox (Deluxe Edition). Translated by Robert Fagles, Penguin Classics, 2006.