Serpent&Flame TK's guidingQuestions2012.pdf - Episcopal Academy

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and explain the significance of the word insinuat. It echos the word sinuat which V. used just 20 linesearlier to describe the snakes approach, and which is a stock phrase to describe serpents. And while insinuare iscommon in other authors, it is a word Vergil uses only this once.11. Translate as literally as possible [p.385]: a) rotarum lapsus a gliding of wheelsb) inlabitur urbi it glides into the cityExplain why Knox thinks these unusual phrases is “violently incongruous” with the movement of a horse, andwhy that incongruity is symbolic. The description of the Trojan efforts to bring the horse into the city suggestanything but the ‘frictionless speed’ which such a phrase implies. Instead, we see the horse pulled with greateffort (accingunt operi, scandit fatalis machina muros) stumbling over the debries of the broken wall, which 4times jerks to a halt when it reaches the threashold. …not at all a smooth entry!12. Translate Servius remark: labi proprie serpentum est [p.386] to glide is the special characteristic of the serpent.13. Why does Knox cite Propertius’s use of serpere ? [p.386] Because P. was describing the same event (ie. themovement of the horse into Troy) and the fact that he too used clearly snake like imagery for the horse supportsKnox’s contention that such an unusual image wasn’t too much of a stretch for a Roman poet.14. Knox summarizes the parallels between the serpents suddent arrival and the arrival of the Greek fleet. [p.387]Complete the chart below:The approach of the snakes from Troygemini a Tenedotranquilla per altapariterad litora tenduntThe approach of the Greek fleet…a Tenedotacitae per amica silentia lunaeinstructis navibuslitora nota petens15. Explain how sleep (l.253) is an echo of the snakes in 214ff.Sopor fessos complectitur artus - the image of the swerpent appears again: for this phrase is a complex echo ofthe words which describe the death of Laocoon’s two boys 35 lines earlier.16. Knox observes that the use of the word dono in lines 268-9 forshadows the disaster to come. Translate theselines and explain what is unusual about the word donum in book2. [p.388]Tempus erat quo prima quies mortalibus aegrisincipit et dono divum gratissima serpit.It was the time when first slumber begins for weary mortalsAnd it creeps most grateful as a gift of the gods.The word donum, “gift” should have positive connotations, but in every time Vergil has used it thus far in thebook, it has referred to the horse, and has a menacing feel.17. What does Knox mean when he says of “serpens” that it is the “vox propria” of the serpent? [p.389]That the verb serpo (and its participle serpens) is an essential quality and particularly belonging to the serpent.18. For what reason does Knox discuss examples of sleep descriptions from the poet Seneca and others? [p.389]Seneca and others describe sleep with more traditional vocabulary – repere. Therefore Vergil’s unusual choiceof serpere is an intential effort to strengthen the snake metaphor.19. What word, according to Knox, links the flames which destroy Troy to the serpents? [p.390] supero20. What are the 5 “principal instruments” of the Trojan downfall?
21. What about the name SINON links him to a snake? Knox suggest the similarity to the critical word sinuo issufficient to link him to the snakes. He points out also that the unusual word delitui is used of the concealmentof snakes and that Sinon used it himself in his description of his own escape.22. List the ways that Androgeos and his encoutner with Aeneas is similar to the description of Laocoon. [p.391]Androgeos is the first killed of the Greek invaders just as Laocoon is the first Trojan to die. Both are killed bysnakes (since Aeneas who is compared to a snake). Also verbal echo in the lines 40 & 370 that introduce eachcharacter: “magna comitante caterva”23. Explain how Aeneas and the Trojans behave like serpents after they kill Androgeos. [p.392] The becomeviolent and strike from concealment24. Translate the simile l.471-475: …like a snake buried the whole winter long under frozen turf, swollen tobursting, fed full on poisonous weeks and now it springs into light, sloughin its old skin to glisten sleek in tisnewfound youth, its back slithering, coiling, its proud chest rearing high to the sun, its triple tongue flickeringthrough its fangs.Explain how the final appearance of the serpent in Bk2 differs from the earlier appearances & what symbolismdoes Knox attach to that difference. The simile presents the serpent as a symbol of rebirthWhat specific elements of the final snake simile does Knox claim to be symbols of rebirth. [p395] The cycle ofwinter hibernation and spring renewal, new, youth , skin-shed25. What does the Pyrrhus’ name mean in Greek? FireWhat does Neoptolemos ( + ) mean in Greek? New war26. What distinction does Knox point out between Achilles & his son Pyrrhus? that Achilles while merciless at hisworst, had a better side when he revered the grieving Priam – he was likened to a lion. Pyrrhus on the otherhandis pure evil and thus a snake.27. How is the simile comparing Pyrrhus to a snake anticipate Priam’s taunt later on? [p395]Because Achilles was a lion28. According to Knox, the flame which appears around Iulus’ head continues the metephor of the snake. Whatwords does he cite to support his assertion? [p.396] lambere – to lick, pasci – to feed, tactu innoxia – harmelssto touch (by contrast to mala tactu in Georgics)28. What does innoxia mean? harmless29. Who is Silius Italicus? One of Vergils most sedulous imitators30. For what reason does Knox cite Silius’ passage from Punica XVI ? [p397] to support the contention that thedescription of the flame contains the dominant metaphor of the serpent.31. How does the separation of serpentes from ignes support Knox’s argument? [p.397] because at first one mightthink that he was referring to an actual snake rather than a flame.32. What adjectives modifying the flame ignis, does Knox claim signifies that the flame over Iulus’ head hastransformed from an agent of destruction to a symbol of rebirth? [p398] here the flame is sacred, sactos ignis,as well as harmless innoxia.33. What parallels were pointed out to Knox regarding Iulus and Lavinia? [see footnote: p398] That both have theomen of flame around their head and both are the cause of war.34. How does the flame over Lavinia’s head in book 7 differ from that over Iulus’? [footnote: p398] While theflame around Iulus is descovered to be a positive omen (Anchises is laetus), the flame around Lavinia is
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