Compare and contrast the two love stories ("Peleus and Thetis"; "Ariadne and Theseus") in Catullus' Poem 64.

Compare and contrast the two love stories ("Peleus and Thetis"; "Ariadne and Theseus") in Catullus' Poem 64. Catullus' Poem 64 recounts the blissful marriage of Peleus and Thetis, the narration of which is interrupted by the recounting of another myth. This 'tale-within-a-tale' is the ekphrasis of a tapestry depicting Theseus' abandonment of Ariadne and telling of the ruinous consequences of this act for Theseus. It is this story of betrayed love that is woven into the coverlet of the matrimonial bed of Peleus and Thetis. Although it portends no such betrayal by either Peleus or Thetis, this vivid narrative tapestry dominates the poem and gives mythic idiom to a theme with which Catullus seems to have had much concern throughout his poetry of Lesbia.1 The lament of Ariadne is undoubtedly the centrepiece of the poem, and perhaps "puts into a woman's mouth the grief expressed elsewhere [in the poetry of] Catullus at his own abandonment by Lesbia."2 Theseus' lackadaisical absent-mindedness (made worse by the curse of Ariadne) causes his father's erroneous suicide, and may be indicative of the fecklessness of Lesbia.3 Perhaps then, the Peleus and Thetis narrative is merely a frame for the story of Ariadne.4 Yet, the extravagant wedding of Peleus and Thetis can be seen to represent an apex in the age of heroes - when the gods mingled with mankind. The disturbing

  • Word count: 2621
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
Access this essay

What do you find interesting about Shakespeare's presentation of deception in 'Much Ado About Nothing'?

Q. What do you find interesting about Shakespeare's presentation of deception in 'Much Ado About Nothing'? Shakespeare uses a wide range of effective devices in his presentation of deception through the course of "Much Ado About Nothing". These include strong elements of plot construction and characterisation, as well as effective imagery through various sound and visual techniques. The plot of "Much Ado About Nothing" is an intricate network of scandalous schemes and friendly trickeries. Deception is a rampant theme in the play - each of the major characters is involved in at least one deception - and Shakespeare uses this theme to advance character development through the play, as well as provide comic distraction from the more serious tone present towards the dénouement. Within the matrix of deception ploys in the play, there is also an underlying theme of self-deception, involving some of the most significant characters. Furthermore, all through the play, there is a subtle undercurrent of error. People are often misled by appearances; they make mistakes about others and themselves and can be quite wrong in their judgements of situations. Such failures in understanding are used by Shakespeare to consolidate the setting for plotting and trickery. Also, this theme of misconception is cunningly mirrored by the title of the play: in the context of the play, 'nothing' can be

  • Word count: 3254
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
Access this essay

What are the most effective aspects of Aristophanes' comic technique in :

What are the most effective aspects of Aristophanes' comic technique in : Aristophanes' play "Qesmoforiazogsai" ("The Poet and the Women") is an excellent comedy. Standing the test of time and the often diminishing process of translation into English it remains amusing today just as it doubtlessly was to its original Athenian audience. It is a well-controlled comedy with a fluent plot, striking dialogue and intelligent characterisation. But above all it passes the fundamental test of its genre in that it is funny. Aristophanes employs a rich and diverse array of comic techniques and devices to prevent the play from ever going stale; some are satirical; some are obscene; some are visual, for it is important to remember that "The Poet and the Women" is a play and hence meant for performance to a live audience. "The Poet and the Women", to use a modern term, is essentially a situation comedy. Much of the humour comes from the incredible and bizarre situations into which the protagonists are delivered. Creating an amusing situation, out of which comes the other humour, provides the backbone for the comedy. It is essential that the most amusing events occur to the most humorous character and the Old Man's (1) response and reaction to the predicament in which he finds himself is the mainstay of the comedy. The comedy of Aristophanes is on several levels. Of the higher, more

  • Word count: 2284
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
Access this essay

Mother Courage and her children by Brecht

Mother Courage and her children Exploration notes * Plot and sub-plot Anna Fierling is a canteen woman who bears the name, "Mother Courage" and travels in her wagon along with her children serving the Swedish Army during the Thirty Years War, (1618-1648 ). Although she has been warned that war can never be all take and no give she intends to make a living from the war whilst keeping her children out of it. > Sweden, spring 1624 A truce has occurred in the Swedish-Polish war, a recruiter and his Sergeant are seeking without success to enlist new troops for the Swedish campaign in Poland. The recruiting officer attempts to enlist Eilif, her son, into the army. Courage sees her brave son being seduced by the officer and demands he leaves her children alone. The Sergeant protests and asks why; since Courage wishes to live off the war should she not give it something in return. When Eilif admits he would like to sign up, Mother Courage tells the recruiter's fortune and then prophesises his early death. Manipulating the situation and installing fear into her children, Courage then draws black crosses out of the hat signifying her children's death, telling them that Eilif will die for his bravery, Swiss Cheese for his honesty and Kattrin for her kindness. As the play progresses we find this "prophesy" is fulfilled. Whilst Courage is distracted, the recruiter officer takes

  • Word count: 5101
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
Access this essay

To What Extent Is El Médico de su Honra principally a Play about Honour?

To What Extent Is El Médico de su Honra principally a Play about Honour? The Code of Honour was an unwritten set of rules referring to social behaviour, which was the regulator in all social groups. The King, as the head of society, governed the code of honour. Wilson claims that due to the social basis of the code, the thought one had to keep in mind was that it was 'not so much to be, as to be seen to be' that mattered. This is supported by Menéndez Pidal who exclaimed 'Mas aunque la honra se gana con actos propios, depende de actos ajenos, de la estimación y fama que otorgan los demás.' Honour is a principal theme in El Médico de su Honra and to demonstrate this, one need only look at the many examples featured in the play. The first breach of the honour code occurs before the start of the play, when Don Arias visits his wife to be at Leonor's house. Although it was a completely innocent act, on seeing Arias leaving Leonor's house at night, Gutierre felt that his honour had been damaged and so broke off the engagement. There is doubt as to Leonor's honour after this incident, and she spends the play fighting to regain her honour; 'ya que es imposible que yo cobre, / pues se casó, mi honor' (667-8). The King, Leonor and Gutierre are all very honest characters, guided by moral principles, which follow the code of honour. The integrity of them would be total, if they

  • Word count: 1107
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
Access this essay

Act II, Scene II - Analyse Friel's dramatic presentation in this scene and how the scene contributes to the themes of the play as a whole.

Translations Act II, Scene II - Analyse Friel's dramatic presentation in this scene and how the scene contributes to the themes of the play as a whole. - Adnan Abidali, 27th November 2003 The second scene of Act II plays a crucial role in underpinning the core concepts and ideas which Friel presents in this play. The stage directions are more explicit and convey particular signals. Whereas in the previous scenes language is employed to portray meanings, here we see paralinguistic elements (such as Maire's nodding, pg 62) being utilised in establishing a form of communication which is independent of language and the meanings which words signify. Firstly we see Yolland and Maire come away from the dance and this is dramatically presented in the stage directions as: "Maire and Yolland are now down front, still holding hands and excited by their sudden and impetuous escape from the dance". This signifies far more than just their escape from the local festivities; Friel is emphasising a more profound point here. Yolland and Maire are escaping from their respective cultural and historical backgrounds, enjoying the exhilaration of being "outside" those parameters, which is also accentuated by the lighting directions thus: "This scene may be played in schoolroom, but it would be preferable to lose - by lighting - as much of the schoolroom as possible, and to play the scene down

  • Word count: 1484
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
Access this essay

Theme of Love and War.

Theme of Love and War Satire is the "biting exposure of human folly which criticizes human conduct, and aims to correct it" (Di Yanni 839). Moliere was the French master of satiric comedy, and Shaw has been hailed likewise--as the "Irish Moliere." In Arms and the Man, Shaw demonstrates his genius for satire by exposing the incongruities of life and criticizing the contradictions in human character. Arms and the Man is quite possibly Shaw's most popular play. The success of Arms and the Man has been consistent right from its first production in 1894. The original staging of the play was so well received that Shaw's reputation as one of the greatest wits in the London drama scene was almost instantly established. Shaw himself, present at the opening performance, was actually dissappointed in the response of the audience. It is true that Arms and the Man is a comedy, but it is also about war. The setting of the play is in war-torn Bulgaria, and focusses not only on the romance between the young people of the play, but the atrocities that go on during war times and the ability of people not so very far removed from these atrocities to ignore them completely. Coming just a few years before the start of the Great War, Shaw's play turned out to be sadly prophetic. When war was declared, young men literally flooded the offices in order to sign up. These men carried with them the

  • Word count: 2154
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
Access this essay

Much Ado About Nothing … and love and wit and men and women…

Much Ado About Nothing: ...and love and wit and men and women... Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing is just as applicable to the relationships of men and women today, as it was four hundred years ago. While the behaviour of Claudio regarding Hero might seem out of date - and indeed, offensive to some - the interaction of Beatrice and Benedick seems all too familiar. This 'sub-plot' outgrows it's intended purpose early on in the play; and it's conclusion is far more rewarding to it's audience than that of the 'main plot'. There is much to be learnt in the language of these two characters so obviously made for each other about love and men and women. Upon our introduction to the ensuing 'much ado', we first encounter Beatrice as she asks about Benedick returned from the war: 'I pray you, is Signior Mountanto returned from these wars or no?' (Act I;Scene i;22) Her immediate inquisition alludes to a relationship of some sort between them. Her reference to Benedick as 'Signior Mountanto' implies not only her berating opinion of Benedick, but to her use of irony in her vernacular. Shakespeare would not have introduced her to the audience with a remark as such were he not trying to establish a very definite character type: intelligent, strong-willed and confident. In the ensuing scene, Beatrice and Benedick trade remarks and insults, the 'merry war' as Leonato describes (I; i;

  • Word count: 1537
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
Access this essay

Look at Act 1 Scene 1 again of 'Much Ado About Nothing' by William Shakespeare. How does Shakespeare establish the central themes in this opening scene?

Look at Act 1 Scene 1 again of 'Much Ado About Nothing' by William Shakespeare. How does Shakespeare establish the central themes in this opening scene? Through studying Shakespeare's play 'Much Ado about nothing' It quickly becomes apparent that Shakespeare has written the play with three main themes in mind. These themes are love, honour and deception and these form and underpin the entire basis of the play. Throughout the play much of the problems that arise are due primarily to deception of some degree whereas Honour directly ties into the patriarchal society that we are dealing with in Shakespeare's time and the suggestion of 'male honour and pride.' Love is shown throughout the play through inter-character relationships however in very different forms for each. It could be argued that in the play some forms of love shown seam to be more genuine than others. We will explore how these three themes actually link together and affect each other in different ways. The first insight we get into a major theme included in the play comes extremely early on. It is in fact hidden in the title 'Much Ado about Nothing.' We can study this title and extract many different meanings which in a way shows strand of an Appearance versus reality situation. This is because we could look at the title simply how it appears and take it's meaning at face value or we could look at it as a

  • Word count: 2551
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
Access this essay

To what extent is “El médico de su honra” principally a play about honour?

To what extent is "El médico de su honra" principally a play about honour? Honour was one of the prominent issues in the Spanish Golden Age dramas of which Calderón and Lope de Vega were the main exponents. Indeed, the play is called a "drama de honor". The very fact that Calderón chose to include the word 'honra' in the title of the play 'El Médico de su Honra' indicates that indeed a certain element of honour must be present within. One must find out whether honour is the principal cause of the play or if other themes hold more importance. In the "Diccionario de Autoridades" - the first dictionary of the Spanish language, "honor" is described as: "Se toma muchas veces por reputación y lustre de alguna familia, acción u otra cosa...Se toma assimismo por obsequio, apláuso o celebridad de alguna cosa. Significa tambien la honestidad y recato en las mugéres." "Honra", while interchangeable with "honor" in many regards, has been said to impart honour with a more interior connotation, as in "respect for personal worth": "Reverencia, acatamiento y veneración que se hace á la virtúd, autoridad ò mayoría de alguna persona...Significa tambien pundonór, estimacion y buena fama, que se halla en el sujeto y debe conservar...Se toma tambien por la integridad virginál en las mugéres ." Despite using "honra" in the title, Calderón uses "honor" far more frequently

  • Word count: 2151
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
Access this essay