Good Example Of Critical Thinking On Scholarly Personal Narrative Writing

ANALYSIS OF A ROMAN POET’S (CATULLUS) WORK

Considering the works of a Latin poet Gaius Valerius Catullus, it is worth making mention that he drew special attention to the issue of his love for Lesbia as well as the friendship for various (male) friends. Reading his short poems, it becomes apparent that Catullus’ awareness of both love and friendship has much in common. The thing is that the concentration on these two themes proves the poet to have a vivid trait of romanticism; however, analyzing the relationship between love and friendship from the perspective of Catullus, one cannot but encounter the fact that regardless of a number of similarities, there are also particular differences between these emotions.
While focusing on the lines of Catullus’ works dedicated to Lesbia, which is considered as the literary pseudonym utilized by the discussion Roman poet, it is possible to emphasize the unquestionable evidence of his absolute love for her. In the poem How Many Kisses: to Lesbia the readers can collide with the poet’s complete longing for this woman. Catullus appeals to Lesbia through the lines of his short poem.

Lesbia, you ask how many kisses of yours

would be enough and more to satisfy me.
Taking a view of these lines, it becomes clear that the poet regards Lesbia as much appreciated even though inaccessible. Apart from the prevailing theme of love, Catullus also gets focused on the notion of friendship for male friends; and this theme emerges to be partially similar to the previous one. The point is that the poet demonstrates the delicacy of his relationship with, for instance, a Roman poet Calvus. In the poem Yesterday: to Licinius Calvus, Catullus makes mention of their harmony.
we played with my writing tablets,
harmonising in being delightful
The abovementioned lines appear to have rather a deep context in terms of its sensuality; this very feature makes both the theme of love and friendship similar to some extent. However, apart from the signs of similarity, it is possible to come to understanding that Catullus’ feelings to his male friends and Lesbia are much dissimilar. In order to elucidate this fact, one should be absorbed in Catullus’ poetry. Looking into his attitude towards Lesbia and his male friends in detail, one can eyewitness a significant difference, which lies in the fact that love for Lesbia contains more imaginary character; as for his male friends, the poet uses more definite tone.