Carmina (Masterplots, Revised Second Edition)
At a glance:
- Author: Catullus
- First Published: 50
- Type of Work: Poetry
- Genres: Poetry, Lyric poetry
- Subjects: Love or romance, Poetry or poets, Adultery, Greek or Roman times, Yachts or yachting, Rome, Tombs or graves
- Locales: Rome, ancient
Critical Evaluation:
Catullus, greatest of the Latin lyric poets, was born in Verona in northern Italy, only a few years after it had been taken from the Celts. Some scholars believe him to have been Celtic, not only because of his name but also because of his use of such Celtic words as basium (kiss) instead of the Latin osculum.
Catullus was one of the so-called New Poets, whose leader was Valerius Cato. Beginning about 90 b.c.e., these writers revolted against the conservative poets who treated only wars, history, and mythology. Instead, they...
[The entire page is 1694 words long]
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