Ovid Amores 3.2 lines 43-end
1. In what situation does Ovid imagine himself in this poem?
[1]
watching a chariot race at the Circus Maximus and chatting up the girl he is sitting
next to.
2. Lines 45-50. Show how Ovid makes the gods and goddesses he mentions here
relevant to himself. You should refer to both the content and the style of the Latin
and support your answer with three examples from the Latin text. [6]
Victoria, Victory with outstretched wings ie victorious; he prays to her for victory in
his own race; Neptune, god of the sea, O prefers the land (pelage .... terra); Mars,
god of war, O prefers peace, but there is a pun here as O sees himself as a soldier
in Love's war; amor ... amor repetition.
3. Translate lines 51-58. [15]
4. Lines 59-64. Show how Ovid succeeds in switching the focus back to the girl. [6]
Venus has nodded assent to his prayer. O now addresses the girl and asks for her
assent too. She is the greater goddess. O swears by all the gods/goddesses in front
of him that he will be faithful to the girl (dominam) alone. Then he gets personal
again and suggests that she rests her legs by putting them up on the bars in front.
5. Lines 65-74. How does Ovid convey the excitement of the race? You should refer
to both the content and the style of the Latin and support your answer with three
examples from the Latin text. [6]
address to charioteer quid facis, quid facis infelix; 65-6 word order - confusion at the
start; instructions to charioteer 72 and crowd 73-4; short sentences; humour of
horses knowing that girl wants them to win.
6. Lines 77-84. Show how Ovid relates the events of this race to his own situation.
You should refer to both the content and the style of the Latin and support your
answer with three examples from the Latin text. [6]
the favoured charioteer wins 81; the girl's prayers are granted 81; the winner
receives the palm 82. O has yet to win and prays for victory 80; his prayers are yet to
be granted 81; he has yet to receive his palm 82.
7. 'Ovid is an expert at creating a believable situation enlivened by touches of
humour.' Discuss, with reference to the whole of this poem. [10]
visual setting, excitement of race, plenty of detail; constant undermining of
seriousness of situation with humour eg 83-4, 75-6, 63-4; refer to first half – O as
charioteer catching sight of the girl; the sight of her legs; the fan; erotic tone.