Poem 1

Theme in this poem

Love + Desire

This poem is the only..

complete poem we have of Sappho

Who would be performing this kletic hymn to Aphrodite?

Sappho’s thiasos

Sappho organised a group of her young female students into a…

Thiasos

What is a thiasos?

a cult that worshipped Aphrodite - a kletic hymn to her was for performance within the cult

The kletic hymn is used to

invoke the goddess to ask for her help within the pain of love

What is a regular topos found within Sappho’s work, which is demonstrated in this poem?

warefare of love - militia amoris

The four Homeric epithets make up a

tetiracolon

What does the tetiracolon show?

listed epithets within the prayer is an ackknowledgement of both superiority (flattering her, gaining her praise) and a demonstration of her need, through use of a plethora - reverence demonstrated - quite Homeric in tone and style

What are the 4 Homeric epithets in the tetiracolon?

1. goddess of embroidered throne

2. Daughter

3. weaver of wiles

4. Queen

What is the word used for Queen + what does it mean?

depoia - means powerful female

What do the imperatives (“do not” “come her”) seem+show?

contradictory to earlier display of reverence, although this is allowed within prayer (specifically kletic), show sense of urgency + necessity due to her desperation, and that Aphrodite can act from afar

What is the anaphora in this poem?

“if you ever” repetition heightens dispair

Aphrodite’s arrival: how is the image of Aphrodite’s approach a dramatic image?

the pace of the poem seems to increase - repetition of speed through language

“beautiful sparrows” - imagery and symbolism:

euphemism for penis - darker earth fertile and sparrow going to peck at it with diving wings

Scholar from The Maculate Muse about the “beautiful sparrows”

Jeffrey Henderson: “reminds us of the aroused penises hopping about”

What part of the poem makes gives a foreboding nature/effect?

“whirling” and “dark earth” - create a rich image which is graphic and intense

The rich colour imagery and use of Homeric style to describe the home of the goddess not only……

flatters her, but illustrates her oppulance and is fittingly beautiful

What does all this being in the conditional clause bring to mind?

brings to mind the various descriptive journeys made by the gods in Homeric poetry

How is the paradox of Aphrodite + Love demonstrated?

Aphrodite is described as ‘smiling’ however her lover has brough Sappho suffering=contradictory effects as in the absence of love brings only sorrow and harm

What is a Hypalige? (at least here?)

a transfered epithet

What is the Hypalige in this poem?

“Smiling all over your immortal face”

Talk about the shift of focus in the Hypalige

subtle shift of Sappho to Aphrodite draws attention as when you look at her you can tell she is immortal

What is reminded to us by the Hypalige and what is used to remind us of this?

unnatural language reminds us how it’s an unnatural meeting - having it with Aphrodite

What is the direct question in poem 1?

“what made me call you (next line) this time?” - voices would merge

What is the technique used with ‘desparing’ and ‘desperately’ called?

Figura Etymologica

What does the Figura Etymologica signify, and how would you put this in a sentence?

the verb ‘despairing’, related to the non-verbal ‘desperately’ repeats and emphasise the urgency needed

Time phraises: suggest a______ ___ ______ __________ creating a _______ _______ ___ _____

suggest a before and after scenario creating a continuous cycle of love

What do the time phraises shine light on, in the continuous cycle of love, seem unnecessary?

the conditional clause from beforehand seems unnecessary as Aphrodite has come her before

Time Phraises: “this time” “now” and a tricolon of “soon” illustrate:

how Sappho repurposes the poem to do the same job again and replies when she met with her before - shows clear purpose to get the love of Aphrodite

What effect do the time phraises “this time?”, “now” have?

droste effect - mise en Abyme effect - history which seems to go on forever and ever

What does the Direct Speech of(to?) Aphrodite mimic (in the poem) and why/how?

mimics Aphrodite’s arrival as the speech becomes more and more immediate as she ends up referring to Sappho directly in the last of the tripletted ideas

What else is Homeric in this poem? (besides tetiracolon, conditional clause, and vivid description/intense lang or imagery)

the use of goddess’ direct speech

Describe what is the Militia Amoris is in poem 1:

physical realm of pain from emotion - repetition of emotional distress ends in Aphrodite’s indirect speech asking who hurts her, demonstrating that she is wounded

Explain the last line of the poem; “Be my ally”:

within the Militia Amoris, Aphrodite is asked to fight with her as a partner- Summakhos = partnership in Greek

Where is the prohibition in poem 1 and what can you compare this to (in the poem)?

the negative command - “Come to me again, now” compared to “if you ever”

Accomplish for me

What my heart wishes to accomplish!

What is the name of the technique used here?

Epanadeplosis - starts and ends with the same word

What does the Epanadeplosis in poem 1 portray?

it gives the impression that it is almost as if Sappho and her heart are two separate entities, wishing on behalf of what Sappho vs. her heart wants. It also anticipates the closure of Aphrodite answering her appeals

Ring Composition Poem: It is a _____ poem

Chiasmic

How does the shift in narrative go in the ring composition?

ABBA, A= Sappho’s adress, B=Aphrodite, the shift in narrattive: A - A, B-B

What does Ruby Blondell think regarding this poem + why?

Thinks poem 1 is a parody of a scene in Iliad book 5, because of the strong Homeric language

What happens in the scene in book 5 in the Iliad (the scene which could be viewed as having parallels to this poem)?

Diomedes asks for Athena’s help against a hostile Aphrodite

Quotes of anaphora in poem 1: (hint there are two)

“But come her, to me, if you ever came before,”

“If you ever heard my voice before”

State the two back to back Indirect questions Aphrodite asks (anaphora + droste effect):

“Whom do you want me to bring back to you this time?”

“Who, Sappho, is hurting you now?”

Homeric, direct speech of Aphrodite are, immortal words…

made immortal by the poem

State the first two lines, of the first ‘soon’ in the tricolon, in the direct speech of Aphrodite

“If she runs from you, (next line) soon she will peruse;”

What is it, to have direct speech of the divine?

Homeric

State the 2nd set of two lines, which hold the second ‘soon’ in the tricolon, in the direct speech of Aphrodite:

“if she does not accept gifts now (next line) soon she will be giving them”

State the 3rd set of lines, which hold the third ‘soon’ in the tricolon, in the direct speech of Aphrodite, in poem 1:

“if she does not love you now, (next line) she will love you soon (next line) even if she does not want to

What comes after the Epannadeplosis?

“Be my ally”

The Prohibition is located in the ____ stanza

last

What is the first line of the last stanza, which is also the first line of the start of the use of Prohibitons?

“Come to me again now, Queen,”

What is the second and third line of the prohibition-filled (the last) stanza?

“Release me (next line) From this great distress;”

Before Sappho/her thiasos use direct speech mimicing Aphrodite, to ask “Whom do you want me to bring you back this time"?” they asked (from their pov about suffering):

“What was I suffering?

What quote shows that Aphrodite is magnicifent and obviously divine in poem 1?

“You, blessed woman, (next line) Smiling all over your immortal face,”

The first imperatives used in poem 1 are lines 4+5, which is:

“Do not overpower my heart with anguish, with affliction, (next line) But come here, to me, if you ever came before,”