A Comparative Study Of The Sentiments In The Works Of Sappho And Catullus
Lyric poetry in itself is a bold shift that was made from the practice of the more influential Epic Poetry in Ancient Greece. A legendary lyric poet, who actually pioneered the very concept of lyric poetry was Sappho. And her Roman counterpart (across a sea and a few centuries) was Catullus. But, with the difference in time and space, we see how lyric poetry had progressed and diversified over the years. This note however, focuses more on a particular poet (Catullus) and his works in comparison with Sappho's work(to understand things better). To understand this best, we must spot the difference in the attitude that the poets showed in their works. It is what essentially affected the themes and span of their repertoire. In Sappho's poems we see her sacrificing, or passive nature, in which, despite her longing for companionship, she manages to let them go (finishing school concept). However, Catullus' poems bear a selfish attitude in them. He's always found to be asking...