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How to Write a Critical Essay on Latin Poetry

by Linda Montross

1. SOUNDS

   How do the sounds of the words contribute to the meaning and effect? Is there
   -alliteration
   -assonance
   -repetition
   -rhyme
   -onomatopoeia?

   Sound effects may be accidental, of course, but, if they contribute in a noticeable way, they are definitely worth examining.

   Certain words are considered to have suggestive associations:

     - b, d, g, and p, t, k are called stops; obvious repetition of one or more of these in a line might suggest hardness, abruptness, harshness

     - s, f, z, h are called spirants; these are softer and might describe whispering, breezes, hissing, danger, sleep

     - m and n are called nasals; these may indicate moaning, humming, sadness

     - l and r are called liquids; they often describe flowing streams, falling rain, smoothness, trilling, laughing, or singing

     - o and u are often used for sad, majestic, or monumental utterances.

   To check whether there is a poetic use of sound in the verse, it is always ESSENTIAL to read it aloud! What do you hear? Ancient Latin poetry was written to be read aloud! Listen to its music, think about what you hear, and respond to it.

2. WORD ORDER

   The first place in the line (or sentence) and the last are places of particular importance.

   The distance between a noun and its adjective may be significant.

   If there is a series of words, phrases, or sentences, what effect is produced?
   Is there an emotional build-up? let-down? climax?

   The following are relevant figures of speech/poetry and their possible effects:

     - juxtaposition, oxymoron: surprise, "double-take"

     - asyndeton: non-stop action, no time for reflection

     - polysyndeton: heaping things one upon another

     - ellipsis: speed, confusion, economy

     - chiasmus: balance, completeness, embracing

     - synchesis: often interlocked meanings; also impressionistically

     - framing: words actually surround central objects, e.g. vasto rex Aeolus antro

     - anastrophe, tmesis, hysteron proteron: interruption, overturning, reversal, emphasis

     - anaphora: demands attention, brings special emphasis to passage

3. WORD CHOICE (DICTION)

   Note any unusual words- exotic, archaic, foreign- or the unusual use of ordinary words.

   Are there any phrases or words from law or religion used?

   Do you recognize verbal echoes of other passages?
   (The notes are usually very useful in calling your attention to rare words.)

4. IMAGES

   What pictures form in your mind as you read? Consider any colors, landscapes, animals, battles, waves, nightfall...any images that the poetry suggests.
   Look for similes, metaphors, hyperbole, description, contrast.

5. MOOD

   What feelings or impressions come through? Is the passage joyous, tragic, prophetic, frightening, formal, ironic, foreboding? Look at how the diction contributes to the mood, and how the metrics complement it.

6. TONE

   Tone refers specifically to the attitude of the author toward the characters and action. For example, we will sense Vergil's outrage at the killing of Priam, his compassion for Dido, his amusement at Venus' and Juno's trickery.
   Tone is inferred from the author's actual comments to the reader, or in his diction.

7. THEME

   How does the passage relate to the overall theme(s) of the whole work? Does it state, restate, or suggest the philosophical beliefs or objectives of the author?

8. ALLUSIONS

   What mention is made of specific myths, Roman customs, history, geography? How are these significant? What do they add to the passage? Allusions can add a sense of romance, faraway places, solemnity, substance, and patriotism by the mere mention of commonly held items of the readers' heritage.

Special thanks to Linda Montross for sharing this information at ACL 2000.

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