ovid 8 marker lines 1-10

Point 1

By emphasising the lovers’ proximity.

Quote 1

‘contiguas tenuere domos’

Translation 1

lived in neighboring homes

Content 1

The fact they live in neighboring homes shows how close they are and gives the reader context about their situation, setting the scene.

Style 1

The chiastic arrangement mimics their closeness, enclosing them and pushing them together. This gives the reader an even greater sense of the lovers’ closeness which helps set the scene.

Point 2

By telling the reader where the story takes place

Quote 2

‘ubi dicitur altam coctilibus muris cinxisse Semiramis urbem’

Trans 2

where Semiramis is said to have surrounded the towering city with mud-brick walls

Content 2

This sets the scene because the context of Semiramis (queen of Babylon) and mud brick walls ground the story in a grand and exotic setting.

Style 2

The chiasmus starting with ‘altam’ and ending with ‘urbem’ adds to the image of surrounding walls as it literally surrounds the ‘coctilibus muris’ (mud brick walls). This surrounding image makes the setting of the city more vivid for the reader which sets the scene.

Point 3

By mentioning their fathers’ forbidding of P & T’s marriage.

Quote 2

‘sed vetuere patres: quod non potuere vetare’ -

Trans 3

‘but their fathers forbade it, [though this was] something they could not forbid

Content 3

This sets the scene because the fact that their marriage is forbidden provides context for the reader on the situation that will bring about the eventual tragedy.

Style 3

The polyptoton of ‘vetuere’ and ‘vetare’ highlights the conflict between the fathers’ authority and the lovers hearts. This foreshadows what will happen to them later and creates a vivid contrast between their desires that sets the scene for the reader.

Point 4

By writing about P and T’s passion towards each other.

Quote 4

‘ex aequo captis ardebant mentibus ambo.’ -

Trans 4

‘they were both on fire, their hearts captivated equally’

Content 4

This sets the scene because it shows the reader how both Pyramus and Thisbe felt very strongly for each other, strongly enough to do what they did later in the story. By mentioning their love, Ovid establishes the cause for the later tragedy.

Style 4

The use of the verb ‘ardebant’ (on fire) shows how Pyramus and Thisbe’s passion for each other was like fire. This shows how strongly they love each other as fire is usually quite a powerful natural force and it sets the scene. This also sets the scene by foreshadowing what happens later, as fire can be damaging, which implies that their love will also be damaging.

Point 5

By emphasising the hidden nature of their love.

Quote 5

‘magis tegitur, tectus magis aestuat ignis’

Trans 5

‘the more it is hidden, the more the hidden fire blazes’

Content 5

This sets the scene because it shows how their love was strong enough to grow even when hidden, and, the fact that their love is hidden acts as a cause for the later tragedy. This means that this information provides crucial context for the reade and sets the scene.

Style 5

The use of the chiasmus literally hides the thing inside, being their love. This adds to the vivid image of their love being secret and helps the reader imagine what their love was like, setting the scene.