Catullus: Genius or just obscene?

[guy]

 

Catullus is one of the ancient poets who still resonate with us today. First, some of the background information from Wikipedia:

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Gaius Valerius Catullus (c. 84 – c. 54 BCE), often referred to simply as Catullus, was a Latin poet of the late Roman Republic who wrote chiefly in the neoteric style of poetry, focusing on personal life rather than classical heroes. His surviving works are still read widely and continue to influence poetry and other forms of art.

Catullus's poems were widely appreciated by contemporary poets, significantly influencing Ovid and Virgil, among others. After his rediscovery in the Late Middle Ages, Catullus again found admirers such as Petrarch. The explicit sexual imagery which he uses in some of his poems has shocked many readers. Yet, at many instruction levels, Catullus is considered a resource for teachers of Latin.

Catullus' style is highly personal, humorous, and emotional; he frequently uses hyperbole, anaphora, alliteration, and diminutives. In 25 of his poems he mentions his devotion to a woman he refers to as "Lesbia", who is widely believed to have been the Roman aristocrat Clodia Metelli. The most famous of his poems is his 5th, which is often recognized for its passionate language and opening line: "Vivamus, mea Lesbia, atque amemus" ("Let us live, my Lesbia, and let us love").

 

Here's a good article on the works of Caullus:

 

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Catullus certainly knows how to attack people: he mocks people for their dental hygiene, taste in girlfriends, body odour, toilet habits, refusal to fulfil a promise, flatulence, hairy buttocks, and their propensity to sell their bodies for personal gain. He uses foul language to describe poetry and people (Naso, Gellius, Mamurra, Memmius) whom he does not like. In a literal translation some of this reads as simply uncouth and puerile. Is this poetry or just graffiti? Does it deserve to be read at all, let alone used as a school set text? How can a poet who writes this sort of stuff be called a genius? 

 

Catullus: Foul-mouthed Genius? – Antigone (antigonejournal.com)

 

Catullus - Wikipedia

 

[caldrail]

How many us write great poetry? Mine is downright awful and basic. For historical interest and insight into Roman culture, yes, of course Catullus should be read and preserved. 

[Crispina]

My poetry is consists of greeting card texts. 😄  I do think I'm pretty good at it tho.

[caldrail]

Just think, in two thousand years some students could be studying 21st century greeting cards messages