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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
