Waiting for the Barbarians (Masterplots II: Poetry, Revised Edition)
At a glance:
- Author: Konstantionos Petrou Kabaphes
- First Published: 1904
- Type of Work: Narrative
- Genres: Poetry, Narrative poetry
- Subjects: Power, personal or social, Law or legislation, Politicians, Public speaking, Government, Wealth, Greek or Roman times, Law enforcement, Heads of state, Night, Orators or orations
The Poem
Constantine P. Cavafy’s “Waiting for the Barbarians” is a thirty-five-line poem composed of questions (in fifteen-syllable lines) and answers (in twelve- and thirteen-syllable lines). Although the speakers are not identified, they are clearly citizens of a city in the Roman Empire speculating on a public event and trying to assess its importance by observing the behavior of their public officials. Each stanza of the poem contains one or more questions, followed by a brief answer.
The first question about why people have gathered in the forum is given a...
[The entire page is 1433 words long]
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