Catullus Poem 50 Annotations

Annotations from my lessons, for GCSE OCR Latin Verse Literature Option B 2025

hesterno, Licini, die otiosi

• Use of grand word (hesterno) shows how yesterday was a great day, and gives more options for poetic exploration - as this form including ‘die’ enables the enclosing word order.

• Enclosing word order, shows how Licinius was central to his day - spent whole day with him - link to the idea of poetic experimentation

• Assonance of ‘o’ & ‘i’ links to Licinius and also creates a greater sense of friendliness emphatic position shows day was all about leisure

• Vocative used to show closeness and informal affection, creates a more vivid image

multum lusimus in meis tabellis

• Emphatic position at the start of the line emphasises amount of experimentation, along with the assonance of the ‘u’ sound

• Lots of repeated i, m, and s sounds create a flowing sentence and create a harmony that suggests the evening was friendly

• diminutive form of ‘tabula’ creates an informal tone, poems are unimportant, shows how they are relaxed

ut convenerat esse delicatos,

• ‘ut’ shows that the unplanned nature of the night, serendipitous atmosphere

• assonance of ‘e’ creates a playful sound

scribens versiculos uterque nostrum

• start of sentence has a ‘doing word’ in an emphatic position, these actions show the excitement and momentum of the evening

• sibilance shows the lively and energetic atmosphere

• diminutive (‘versiculos’) shows the unserious nature of the poems

• teamwork is emphasised at the end of the line, allowing us to imagine how they were writing the poems together

ludebat numero modo hoc modo illoc

• see note on doing words in prior flashcard - applies to this line as well

• polyptoton of ‘ludebat’ with ‘lusimus’ (line 2) gives the passage a playful tone

• assonance of long o sounds, creates a mock seriousness (long, dark sound) or possibly shows deep laughter

• alliteration of m/n - warning, dangerous sounds - links to the mock seriousness of the situation

• parallel phrasing at the end of the line, demonstrative pronouns (use of the deictic), creates a vivid image of movement, as if we are being pointed to actual tablets

reddens mutua per iocum atque vinum

• final doing word at start, creating sense of action

• literal word ‘reddens’ is used in a metaphorical sense to show passing of tablets

• ‘mutua’ shows equal contributions, showing they both are enjoying the day

• ‘per’ links all the ideas together to show they all contribute to enjoyment

• ellisions reflect mingling of poems, wine, words merging into each other

atque illinc abii tuo lepore

• energy and excitement from repeated vowels (glottal), reflected by the use of enjambment, energy spilling over the line

• ‘L’s show the link between Licinius and the charm

• ‘tuo’ shows how Catullus apppreciates Licinius’ contributions, which is reflected in the next line

incensus Licini facetiisque

• ‘incensus’ use of metaphor creates a vivid mental image, long syllables stressed to place emphasis on this

• more repeated vowels, link to point on prior line

• jokey tone created, lightweight and lighthearted experience

ut nec me miserum cibus iuvaret

• repeated use of ‘not’ in the last two lines creates a negative tone.

• nec here has both its literal meaning but also creates a mournful alliteration with all the m/n sounds

• ‘cibus’ - response is comfort eating, shows that situation is not that serious, and that the language is hyperbolic

nec somnus tegeret quiete ocellos

• metaphor, sleep portrayed like a sheet or blanket

• ‘ocellos’ - diminutive is used to generate pity or pathos

• again notice the placement of ‘nec’ in an emphatic position to create a negative tone in the last two lines