Cicero: Context and Style Notes for Pro Roscio Amerino
Context and Style Notes
Tautology and Pleonasm
- Terror… formido: This demonstrates tautology, where two words with similar meanings are used together, or pleonasm, which involves using more words than necessary.
- Cicero frequently employs this technique to highlight his arguments.
Alliteration
- Alliteration of 't': In the first line, there are 11 examples of the letter 't', emphasizing the theme of fear.
Case Introduction
- Cicero was asked to defend Roscius after the other orators declined due to the powerful nature of the opposite party, specifically Chrysogonus.
- Cicero comments on his selection with mock modesty, implying that he was merely the last resort, or a Hobson's choice.
Letter Positioning
- The word consulto is strategically placed to convey the secrecy of Cicero's selection by other advocates who suppressed the real motives behind their choice.
- Bona is placed at the beginning of the sentence to stress the significance of Roscius's father’s property, concluding with Chrysogonus to underscore his involvement in the case.
Concepts of Anaphora and Asyndeton
- Quae… quae: Cicero utilizes anaphora—the repetition of the initial word across clauses—and asyndeton, the omission of conjunctions to create a stark contrast with quoniam… quoniamque found in subsequent lines.
Use of Superlatives
- Phrases such as fortissimo et clarissimo reflect Cicero's habit of using superlatives not only for emphasis but also to flatter individuals such as Sulla to avoid antagonism.
Historical Context
- Sulla, also known as L. Publius Cornelia Sulla Felix, had engaged in significant land confiscations from those listed for proscription.
- The exaggeration of property value (e.g., debated value of two-thousand sesterces) serves to juxtapose the actual sale price, highlighting economic disparity (6 million sesterces sold at 3,000 times less).
Statements of Uncertainty
- Vel is used to imply probability, qualifying superlative adjectives to avoid accusations of exaggeration.
Character Background
- Chrysogonus, once a slave, freed by Sulla, gained immense power enabling him to monopolize auctions of lands owned by the proscribed.
Direct Addresses
- Direct addresses like a vobis iudices are common, occurring 76 times throughout the speech. This technique develops familiarity and trust between Cicero and the judges.
- Cicero strategically needs to keep older judges attentive due to the public forum's distractions.
Lexical Pairing
- Cicero's style leans heavily on the use of paired synonyms, as noted in phrases like obstare et officere and suspicionem omnem metumque that emphasize his disdain.
Etymology of Pecunia
- The term pecuniam derives from the Latin word pecus, indicating historical connections between livestock and currency, signifying the importance of property.
Juxtaposition
- The connection between pecuniae vita emphasizes the intrinsic link between Roscius's father's property and his own life, arguing that his murder was to eliminate interference with property dealings.
Chiasmus Example
- deleatis… metumque… tollatis is an example of chiasmus, which emphasizes the actions required against suspicions and fears surrounding Roscius.
Context and Style Notes
Tautology and Pleonasm
- Terror… formido: This demonstrates tautology, where two words with similar meanings are used together, or pleonasm, which involves using more words than necessary.
- Cicero frequently employs this technique to highlight his arguments.
Alliteration
- Alliteration of 't': In the first line, there are 11 examples of the letter 't', emphasizing the theme of fear.
Case Introduction
- Cicero was asked to defend Roscius after the other orators declined due to the powerful nature of the opposite party, specifically Chrysogonus.
- Cicero comments on his selection with mock modesty, implying that he was merely the last resort, or a Hobson's choice.
Letter Positioning
- The word consulto is strategically placed to convey the secrecy of Cicero's selection by other advocates who suppressed the real motives behind their choice.
- Bona is placed at the beginning of the sentence to stress the significance of Roscius's father’s property, concluding with Chrysogonus to underscore his involvement in the case.
Concepts of Anaphora and Asyndeton
- Quae… quae: Cicero utilizes anaphora—the repetition of the initial word across clauses—and asyndeton, the omission of conjunctions to create a stark contrast with quoniam… quoniamque found in subsequent lines.
Use of Superlatives
- Phrases such as fortissimo et clarissimo reflect Cicero's habit of using superlatives not only for emphasis but also to flatter individuals such as Sulla to avoid antagonism.
Historical Context
- Sulla, also known as L. Publius Cornelia Sulla Felix, had engaged in significant land confiscations from those listed for proscription.
- The exaggeration of property value (e.g., debated value of two-thousand sesterces) serves to juxtapose the actual sale price, highlighting economic disparity (6 million sesterces sold at 3,000 times less).
Statements of Uncertainty
- Vel is used to imply probability, qualifying superlative adjectives to avoid accusations of exaggeration.
Character Background
- Chrysogonus, once a slave, freed by Sulla, gained immense power enabling him to monopolize auctions of lands owned by the proscribed.
Direct Addresses
- Direct addresses like a vobis iudices are common, occurring 76 times throughout the speech. This technique develops familiarity and trust between Cicero and the judges.
- Cicero strategically needs to keep older judges attentive due to the public forum's distractions.
Lexical Pairing
- Cicero's style leans heavily on the use of paired synonyms, as noted in phrases like obstare et officere and suspicionem omnem metumque that emphasize his disdain.
Etymology of Pecunia
- The term pecuniam derives from the Latin word pecus, indicating historical connections between livestock and currency, signifying the importance of property.
Juxtaposition
- The connection between pecuniae vita emphasizes the intrinsic link between Roscius's father's property and his own life, arguing that his murder was to eliminate interference with property dealings.
Chiasmus Example
- deleatis… metumque… tollatis is an example of chiasmus, which emphasizes the actions required against suspicions and fears surrounding Roscius.