Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and problems for Latin

Walt Whitman: The Poet of America

He was known as the city’s poet. Whitman moved to Washington D.C. to be closer to the conflict of the Civil War, where he notably helped in the hospitals.

Leaves of Grass (1855)

• Published in 1855, this work went through 9 editions during his lifetime.
• Whitman continuously added and changed poems, dying without finishing the collection.

Symbolism in the Title

The title itself holds significant meaning:

• Grass: Represents the micro-level (journalist jargon for small, discarded writings) and the little things that were not considered news. Whitman rescues these ideas.
• Leaves: Represents the macro-level.
• The title signifies the unity of multitude, relating nature and literature.

Poetic Innovation: Free Verse

Whitman is credited... Continue reading "Walt Whitman and Emily Dickinson: Pioneers of American Poetry" »

Tirant lo Blanch stands as one of the most significant books written in Valencian. Penned by Joanot Martorell in the 15th century, this remarkable work is an unusual chivalric novel, distinguished by its naturalistic and satirical character. It also appears to contain a strong autobiographical component, offering a unique glimpse into its author's world.

The Adventures of Knight Tirant lo Blanc

The novel recounts the feats and adventures of Knight Tirant lo Blanc from Brittany. Intriguingly, the narrative often parallels the life and exploits of Roger de Flor, the prominent leader of the mercenary Company of Almogàvers. This historical company fought extensively in Asia Minor and Greece, both for and against the Emperor of Byzantium.

Historical

ADDITION

Moreover, beside, furthermore, in addition (además), and also (y también), likewise (asimismo), as well as (como también), not only...but also (no solo...sino que también), further (mas aun), another (otro), still another (aun otro), last but not least (ultimo pero no menos importante).

RESULT

so (asi que, entonces), therefore (por lo tanto), hence (de ahí que), thus (asi), consequently, as a consequence (como consecuencia), for this reason (por esta razón), as a result (como resultado), so that (de manera que), that’s why (por eso es que), accordingly (por consiguiente), so...that (tan...que), such (a)...tan (tan...que), nevertheless (no obstante).

PURPOSE

in order to (con el fin de), in order that (con el fin de que), for the... Continue reading "Connecting Words and Phrases in Spanish - A Comprehensive Guide" »

Vocabulary Definitions

• Annular - (adj) ring-shaped
• Apiary - (n) a place where bees are kept and tended
• Apocalyptic - (adj) relating to a revelation
• Apostasy - (n) abandonment of faith or dedication to basic beliefs
• Append - (v) to attach, add
• Auspices - (n) patronage, sponsorship
• Brusque - (adj) abrupt, rough in speech or manner
• Bucolic - (adj) of the countryside
• Cabal - (n) a group of people engaged in intrigue
• Cache - (n) a secret place for hiding supplies, food, etc.
• Cairn - (n) a heap of stones marking a special site
• Codicil - (n) a supplementary statement, especially as in a will
• Dissimulate - (v) to mask or confuse by false appearance
• Dissipate - (v) to cause to disappear; to scatter
• Eclectic - (adj) chosen or selected from various sources
• Ecumenical

The Roman Republic (509-27 BC)

Political Changes and Institutions

During this period, Rome became a republic. Power was divided among three main institutions:

• Comitia: Comprised of all Roman citizens, its functions were to pass laws and elect the magistrates.
• Magistrates: Elected annually, these officials held specific roles:
  • Consul: Commanded the army.
  • Praetor: Oversaw justice.
  • Censor: Maintained the list of citizens.
  • Aedile: Managed the police and public works.
  • Quaestor: Handled taxes.
  • Plebeian Tribune: Defended the rights of the plebeians.
• Senate: Composed of 300 former magistrates, its functions were to approve laws passed by the Comitia, control the magistrates, and decide on foreign policy.

Initially, only patricians held political rights. The plebeians... Continue reading "The Roman Republic and Empire: From Senate to Emperor" »

Expand your lexicon with this curated list of 40 key terms, covering nouns, verbs, adjectives, and expressions. Each entry includes the part of speech and a clear definition, ensuring accuracy and clarity.

Words 1–10: Nature and Confinement

1. Twig (n.): A small branch or stem of a tree or plant.
2. Crumpled (adj.): Crushed or wrinkled.
3. Mound (n.): A small hill, especially one that has been made.
4. Clump (n.): A group of trees or plants growing very close together.
5. Ordeal (n.): A prolonged, painful, or horrifying experience.
6. Dense (adj.): Crowded, closely packed together.
7. Ape (n.): A large, tailless primate of a group.
8. Snare (n.): A trap for catching animals.
9. Captive (adj.): Imprisoned, having no freedom.
10. Smuggle (v.): To move goods illegally into or out of

Theory of Criticism

He believes that criticism should be descriptive (tries to describe), interpretative (tries to give the meaning), and objective. A criticism that engages the text directly without personal or historical influences, trying not to add anything of your own personality.

If I form the subject, it will be subjective. So it has to form itself. The critic has not to form the judgment, but it can’t form itself. So knowing that the critic, at the end, is the one able to form the judgment, he has to do it objectively, giving the appearance that it was formed itself.

The critic should “communicate first knowledge and let his own judgment pass along with it”. He assumes it is impossible that your judgment is not yours, but don’t... Continue reading "Objective Literary Criticism: Theory, History, and Race" »

The Distinctive Title of Tristram Shandy

A Parody of Traditional Novel Titling

The title of Tristram Shandy parodies the tradition of titling novels like ‘Of Lives and Adventures’. The novel’s title, in which a romance given name is undercut by a commonplace, even comic or satirical, surname, had other kinds of precedent in recent fiction.

The Oxymoronic Nature of the Title

The title itself is an oxymoron: a rough summary, in its satirical incongruity, of the mode of writing known as anti-romance or comic romance.

Sterne's Experimental Prose and Comic Romance

Instability of 18th-Century Narrative Terminology

The instability of terminology for long fictions during Sterne’s lifetime was one symptom of the experimentalism of prose narrative during... Continue reading "Laurence Sterne's Tristram Shandy: Satire and Narrative Form" »

Troy was a city situated in the far northwest of the region known as Asia Minor, now known as Anatolia in modern Turkey, near the southwest mouth of the Dardanelles Strait and northwest of Mount Ida. There were up to 20 cities around Troy. The present-day location is known as Hissarlik. It was the setting of the Trojan War described in the Greek Epic Cycle, in particular in The Iliad, one of the two epic poems attributed to Homer. Homer is a master of narrative. He is the greatest author that has ever lived. His work is classical, but he had some things that are incredibly modern.

The Troy of Homer is Troy 7. It came to a violent end around 1270 BC; houses were burnt, and the city was sacked. The king of Troy was Priam (non-Greek). He was the... Continue reading "The Historical Significance of Troy in Greek Mythology" »

Homer: Author of Ancient Epics

Homer is the name ascribed by the Ancient Greeks to the semi-legendary author of the two epic poems, The Iliad and The Odyssey, central works of Greek literature. Many accounts of Homer’s life circulated in classical antiquity, the most widespread being that he was a blind bard from Ionia, a region of modern-day Turkey. However, modern scholarly consensus holds that these traditions lack historical value.

The Homeric Question & Authorship

The Homeric Question—by whom, when, where, and under what circumstances The Iliad and The Odyssey were composed—continues to be debated. Broadly speaking, modern scholarly opinion on the authorship issue falls into two main camps. One group holds that most of The Iliad... Continue reading "Homer's Enduring Legacy: Unraveling the Epic Poet" »