8/12/2019 72 75 85 test

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 Nomen: ____________________________________________ Hora: _____________________

Catullus’ Carmen 72, 75, 85 

Reading Comprehension Test [12-15 marks]

Poem 72Dicebas quondam solum te nosse Catullum,Lesbia, nec prae me velle tenere Iouem.

dilexi tum te non tantum ut vulgus amicam,

sed pater ut gnatos diligit et generos.nunc te cognovi: quare etsi impensius uror,

multo mi tamen es vilior et levior.

qui potis est, inquis? quod amantem iniuria talis

cogit amare magis, sed bene velle minus.

Poem 75

Huc est mens deducta tua mea, Lesbia, culpaatque ita se officio perdidit ipsa suo,

ut iam nec bene velle queat tibi, si optima fias,

nec desistere amare, omnia si facias

Poem 85

Odi et amo. Quare id faciam, fortasse requiris.

nescio, sed fieri sentio et excrucior.

A. Translate Poem 85 [3 marks] 

B. Scans line 1-2 on poem 75 [2 marks] 

C. In poem 75, explain what Catullus is trying to express to Lesbia.Cite evidence or words from the text. [2 marks]

D. Describe the type of love Catullus feels towards Lesbia in poem 72, and explain howhis remarks made in the last half of the poem describe his new feelings after

their break-up. Use evidence from the text. [3 marks]

E. How does Catullus’ use of many conjunctions and verbs express his changingfeelings about Lesbia in all three of the poems? Cite any of the poems as

evidence for your answers. [3 marks]

F. What is the main theme connecting all three poems? [1 mark]

8/12/2019 72 75 85 test

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Answer Key

A. I hate and I love. Why I do this, perhaps you ask.I do not know, but I feel it happening and I am tormented.

B.hūc ēst mēns dēdūctă tŭā mĕă Lēsbĭă cūlpā. 

ātqu(e) ĭtă s(e) ōffĭcĭ\ō/ pērdĭdĭt īpsă sŭ\ō/ 

C. Catullus is saying that even if Lesbia does something very wrong, he would still love her, but

if she does something good, he is not able to wish her well. He can’t respect her, but he can’t

stop loving her. Lines 3-4 are pretty much the answer:”that now it neither is able to wish youwell, if you should become the best, nor is it able to stop loving, if you should do everything.” 

D. His love towards Lesbia is like that of a father to a child, not the love of a common man to his

girlfriend. Catullus cannot love or respect Lesbia no matter how good she becomes or if she does

all the bad things she possibly could.

E. Catullus says “I love and I hate”, which implies that he both loves and hates Lesbia (has

mixed feelings) due to their prior happiness and current troubles.

In the last two lines of 72, Catullus says that he cannot stop loving Lesbia even if she doessomething completely bad, nor respect her even if she does something wholly good.

Catullus’ explanation of his love for Lesbia in poem 72, (not as a common man loves his

girlfriend but as a father loves his children) which is clear distinction.

In Poem 85, Catullus’ use of 8 verbs in two lines gives insight into the multiple emotion he isfeelings after their breakup.

F. Catullus’ changing feelings for Lesbia after their break up, compared to the love they shared before.