tyteus + horace

Question 1

background/context of tyrtaeus

Answer 1

• he is a spartan poet writing pro war propaganda for spartans
• this is not a past recount like the epic poems, its in the present urging for war
• he wrote this in the era of the helot rebellion where sparta was under quite genuine threat
• we dont know much about his life except he may have been a commander
• theres an emphasis in the glory of war and dying in battle- its mot about the deeds of a hero but the courage of an unamed individual

Question 2

genre of tyrtaeus poems

Answer 2

• its written in elergy, this is in modern day used as a lament for death but in greece it could be about any major topic. these poems are always written in an alternating meter of hexameter followed by a pentameter
• these poems are designed to be listened to, they were often performed at religious festivals and public occasions
• they were often accompanied by an oboe

Question 3

key features of the poem, tyrtaeus

Answer 3

• could be two separate poemsthats why its split into stanzas
• they both have a clear juxtaposition from the beginning and ending lines and the middle lines which depict what and what not to do

Question 4

what is depicted in the first paragraph of tyrtaeus poem

Answer 4

• very focussed on the honour of fighting and dying in battle rather than returning from war defeated
  -the opening line appeals to the young soldiers and asks them to die gracefully in battle
• this is then heavily juxtaposed by imagery in the middle that depcits an ex soldier who abandoned in battle; he is forced to beg on the steets, hes cursed and hes embarrased his family
• the final line juxtaposes this again as an appeal to give your life, the contrast between his appeals and the reality of betraying his asks make soldiers far more likely to listen out of fear

Question 5

What’s depicted in the second half of the fallen warrior poem

Answer 5

• again the first part is a direct appeal to the young men, this message is to be brave and not fear death
• immediately juxtaposes with imagery of an old man dying- something unnerving and shameful. This warns the youth what will happen if they don’t do their duty and encourages them to take the place of the elders.
• ‘shameful’ is repeated throughout giving an emphasis on the extent of embarrasment on both the individual and on Sparta for breeding this
• Spartans cared deeply and respected their elders so this is particularly worrying to see
• again direct juxtaposition when tyrteas states that a younger man’s death is ‘beautiful’ and emphasises the Spartan propaganda of avoiding being a tresante and being noble

Question 6

Background of Horace’s life

Answer 6

• born in troubled Italy during the Roman civil war to ancrée man
• when he was studying in Athens he was recruited to brutuses army, fought and lost against Octavian but was given amnesty by him
• when he returned to rome he met Maeceanas, octavians advisor and patron of the arts, who was in charge of promoting Octavian in the publics favour. He wanted Horace in his circle of poets to make pro octavian propaganda
• Horace became a poet for augustus post Actium- the most powerful man alive- so had to write very patriotic pieces

Question 7

The odes overview

Answer 7

• three published in 23 bc, fourth a decade later
• in the style of Greek lyric poetry which was personal poetry to be performed with a lyre, unlikely Horace wanted it w mysic
• focuses on relevant themes such as love, friendship, war and religion

Question 8

Overview of odes 3.2

Answer 8

• focuses on war and politics
• divided into eight stanzas of four lines

Question 9

Stanzas 1 of the odes

Answer 9

• rich youths in rome should have tough military training
• this is so they can fight well and also have the strong mindset to fight to the death bravely
• the opening stanza shows us this, augustus himself opened a training program for rich Roman teens to serve well in the army. Therefore augustus is using this as propaganda to stress importance of his training program
• he also does this through linking the importance of training/ mindset with beating the parthians whom rome had had a crushing defeat to, hits perpsnally to home

Question 10

Stanzas 5-6 of the odes

Answer 10

• the mentality and courage of the army reflects on perosnal life
• ‘virtue’ is personified, this does not come from wealth or political status but a perosnal conduct. Many think this is signalling the likelable charafter of augustus.
  -men with this strong militaristic courage and ‘virtue’ will be met with the gods after their death. This again suggests he’s discussing augustus as emporers we’re seen to go to become gods

Question 11

Stanzas 7-8 of the odes

Answer 11

• not all romans can have the training and militaristic mindset for greatness
• but all can serve the state by loyalty and discreetness in silence
• the idea of silence is alluded to by references to the ‘rites of cerces’ which was a cult that swore to secrecy all parts of the cult- the empirer was a member and was known to be discreet.
• those without this will be punished and their crimes will catch up to them: Horace strates be will avoid them and urged others to do the same.
• punishment is personified
• main ideas; all romans can serve the state well, relating to the growing service post civil war. Also educated romans had to be loyal and secretive and he could be threatening them into doing so, or he could be discussing himself and how he is in his job

Question 12

Major ideas in the odes

Answer 12

• qualities in military life such as discipline and courage shapes you as a person in your civilian life- the army is incredibly important for your character
• death and punishment will catch you up if you act un loyalty or indescreetly

Question 13

Stanza 2-4 of the odes

Answer 13

• next stanzas look from a female perpective. Gives us direct ideas from a vicyim of war who is not in the army and her fear towards the romans
  -gives us the impression that even non fighting opponents recognise the threat of rome.
  -Gives us pathos as we know hee fiancé will die
• also uses a metaphor to describe the Roman as a lion- king of jungle and v powerful
  -illudes to the illyad through women and lion imagery
• fourth stanza imitates the fallen warrior- tells us death in battle is ‘sweet’ which is similar to tyrarueses ‘beautiful’
• emphasises death is inevitable by personifying it as an avidly moving being and so shows the shame of abandoning war

Question 14

Three personifications in the odes

Answer 14

• death; death persues the soldier who is abaonding battle which shows that it is embarrassing to run as it is inevitable hou will die
• ‘virtue’; shows virtue is applicable in all areas of life, and it is measured. In your charafter not your personal achievements. Men will become gods who are virtuous (augustus)
• punishment; like death it is shown as physically perusing man in the form of Jupiter and so the divine will always punish you for your wrongs. You may be affected if innocent so you need to steer clear of anyone unloyal.

Question 15

Portrayal of Augustus in the odes

Answer 15

• he was a member of the cult of the rites of cerces and was known for his indiscretion, all should emulate him
• he also uses the idea of being in the inner circle as very important to remain secretive and loyal to augustus like himself
• in the personification of ‘virtue’ it is augustus who is most likely to take the form of a god post death, and so it’s likely he that is described as the virtuous character
• augustus managed to beat the Parthian empire- something that is seen as very difficult and in need of skilled men, showing augustus raised a powerful army