Tristia


 * Analysis**

1 & 2. Tristia was an elegy written by Ovid while he was an exile from Rome. The Lament (the poem) was written in the first person and in this case refers to the hardships of Ovid as he experienced them throughout his exile.


 * Why would Ovid write a poem about his own exile when he hated some of the inhabitants of Rome. What did and what does exile mean to a person?**

3 & 4. The argument and structure of the excerpt from Tristia go hand in hand. The argument is the concern of exile by Ovid. He goes back in forth in his writings speculating how much happier he would be back in his homeland while also criticizing many of the so called barbarians that reside back in Rome, thus creating internal conflict within the main character. The structure of the poem also contributes to the conflict. Very structured and formal paragraphs depict both reasons for being upset with exile and reasons for being upset with political figures within Rome.


 * What other famous writers use rhythm and structure to create a specific effect in their writings?**

5 & 6. The poem makes use of imagery and setting by painting a picture first of the authors feelings then a physical description of what he is going through. He speaks of winters and long days at sea, days that never get any shorter. This reflects his mind set and gives the reader a mental picture of what the exile is going through. Then the setting takes place and barbarians and wicked people are set within the walls of a guarded hillside town, and alongside those who are to be loathed are those which the character loves, clearly illustrating the feeling and setting of an exile, in this case Ovid.


 * What kind of feelings does this picture of a gated wall connote to the overall feel of the palace shown?**

9 & 10. The use of language is very important within this poem. Certain key words give understanding to the way the reader is supposed to react whenever he or she reads it. For example "Whenever you least expect it, like a bird the enemy gathered In a dense mass flies past us and, scarce seen, drives its booty along." This metaphor and use of language shows the perspective of the writer, also previous selections on Rome and exile if read directly relate to the understanding and mood of this poem.

11. This poem evokes a sense of self-awareness in the reader. The main character in Tristia realizes that he was at fault and in this awareness creates a well thought out self-analysis. While the poem is melancholy and perhaps cynical in nature it has a conflict that makes the reader think.

12 & 13. This poem is very different from today's day in age because we are not currently facing exile as a gigantic threat. Because this punishment does not exist the poem is not directly related to this day in age. The world view however is extremely relevant and that has to do with self-consciousness and righteousness, two extremely important factors. Also the poem directly relates as all laments do, with a need to belong.


 * If becoming an exile was a threat today, how would we react differently. How does this relate with other punishments today such as jail time?**

[|**Analysis Questions**]