Works of Sappho and Catullus - 1135 Words

Sappho and Catullus Literature has the ability to reflect the society in which the piece was created and the cultural beliefs of that community. Ancient Greece and Rome have been thoroughly investigated by historical scholars. Some of the most beautiful art and literature, as well as some of the most intelligent science have come to the population of the world through the work of these ancient thinkers and artists. Ancient Greece and Rome were the homes of some of the worlds most beautiful architecture. What is known for a fact about Ancient Greek and Roman life is limited, but through the writings and artwork of those that lived so long ago, scholars can piece together an understanding of a truly unique society. Within the climate of those empires, women were primarily seen and little heard. Women were wives and mothers of children and their position in society was based on subservience to the patriarchy. Although women could achieve some power in the community, it was usually only possible through the alliances that they made through marriage. Sappho and Catullus, of Greece and Rome respectively, wrote thoroughly about the cultural climate in which they lived and the gender ideologies of their society as well. The former is perhaps the most well-known female poet of her period and both of the writers used the literary form of poetry in order to expound on the gender inequality of their society and how unfair this patriarchy was. They both discuss male-femaleShow MoreRelatedSimilarities Between Sappho And Catullus1064 Words   |  5 PagesColleen Thomassians Shinn Period 6 10/8/14 Compare and Contrast: Sappho and Catullus There are different forms of love, ranging from the lust of one another to a familial fondness. Two poets, Sappho and Catullus, each represent a different type of love in their respective poems. Sappho, a female poet born in the early sixth century B.C. on the Greek island of Lesbos, was said to be the tenth Muse and a supreme lyric poet of her time. Her life remains mostly a mystery, but through her poems itRead MorePoetry Of Sappho And Catullus1226 Words   |  5 PagesThe Ancient poetry of Sappho and Catullus has drawn many comparisons since their origins. In particular, Catullus’s poem 51 is a direct adaptation of Sappho’s 31. This symmetricality of the two poems allows for perfect comparison to highlight the ways in which the styles of the poets differ or resemble the other. While both Sappho and Catullus write of love, uncontrollable desire, and the overwhelming affect it has on them, Catullus brings a certain ego and self-centeredness to his poem, in turnRea d MoreEpic Poetry By Homer And Catullus Essay1805 Words   |  8 Pagesnecessary for developing the plot, or they were the reason the story began at all. The Romans however were very educated, and showed this in their works by referencing older Greek literature or authors instead of direct myths. Another drastic difference in the divergent genres, namely epics and lyrics, is the expression of love, which through Homer and Catullus, shows us how love can be expressed as erotic, familial, or as a love of place by the protagonists and secondary characters, despite whether itRead MoreImpact of Greek Culture on the Romans790 Words   |  3 Pagesheavily influenced by Greek philosophy, theology, literature, art, and architecture. Greek philosophy was renowned. So much so that the Romans modeled their philosophic beliefs around great Greek philosophers such as Aristotle and â€Å"absorbed the works of the Epicureans and the Stoics† (Fiero 143). Philosophy seeped through into other disciplines such as poetry, when Lucretius â€Å"popularized the materialist theories of Democritus and Leucippus† (Fiero 143). Stoicism was used not only to enforce RomanRead MoreThe Nature Of Love And Relationships Across The Many Works We Studied For This Course1942 Words   |  8 PagesThis paper will discuss the nature of love and relationships across the many works we studied for this course. Love can take many different forms, as we have learned this semester, and this drastically affects the dynamic of relationships across the board. This essay will explore female-dominated love, homosexual love, unrequited love and secret love and the affect this has on the characters relationships. Some relationships are q uite strong and can withstand the specific dynamic their love hasRead MoreCarl Orff : Music And The Study Of Movement703 Words   |  3 Pageslot of the works of Monteverdi to create many of his own songs. One such piece that was created by Orff used the poems of Gaius Valerius Catullus which recount the poet’s passion for his lover Lesbia who left Gaius for his friend. She later returned to him to get back together, but Gaius rebuffed her. Orff used this to write a choral piece called Songs of Catullus. Another piece created by Orff was â€Å"Triumph of Aphrodite† which mixed both the works of Gaius, the works of Greek poet Sappho, and theRead MoreWomen in Sappho and Gilgamesh1967 Words   |  8 PagesWomen in Sappho and Gilgamesh Works of literature are cultural reflections of the time and place in which they were created. At the times of the creation of the poems of Sappho and the Epic of Gilgamesh, women were primarily seen and little heard, unless they happened to be one of the ancient deities of that culture. Women were wives and mothers of children and their position in society was based on subservience to the patriarchy who were in charge in all things. Although women could achieve some