| Author | Message |
| | Posted on Thu Apr 28, 2005 06:02:44 | |
| | I'm not so sure this is an error, but I do believe that the first and last lines of Carmen 36 could use a revision in, um, word usage.
The use of 'pooped papers' and 'crapped on paper' present a sharp dichotomy that I don't think Catullus intended... correct me if I'm wrong? Would not 'defecated' or 'soiled' be better? | |
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| | Posted at Fri Dec 16, 2005 23:03:49 | Quote |
| | | I think it's more 'waste' paper (as in the poetry is worthless) | |
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| | Posted at Sat Jan 14, 2006 22:54:08 | Quote |
| | | I know when i translate it i use the word shitty to describe the papers | |
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| | Posted at Tue Feb 06, 2007 00:05:57 | Quote |
| | | I think it would be best translated as "with shitty papers". It is an ablative of absolute. Basicly saying with shitty, or poorly constructed (grammatically) papers, perhaps. | |
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| | Posted at Tue Mar 27, 2007 02:50:29 | Quote |
| | | No, cacata carta is not an ablative absolute construction, as is clear from the meter - the -a on cacata must be short, therefore it cannot be the ablative singular of the perfect passive participle, but must rather be nominative. The phrase is in apposition to the nominative Annales. Literally - "having been shat sheets". | |
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| | Posted at Wed Mar 28, 2007 21:56:38 | Quote |
| | | "Shitty sheets" is actually how most scholars and college professors translate it. He's really not trying to sugarcoat or be polite, so "soiled papers" would be pointless. | |
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| | Posted at Wed May 14, 2008 22:29:06 | Quote |
| | I, being almost Catullian in my immaturity, have devised a portmanteu perfect for the occasion:
Shiterature.
It seems to do the trick with my teacher. | |
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| | Posted at Sat May 24, 2008 00:13:10 | Quote |
| | | Catullus is not trying to cover the obscene. By using "defecated," you really take away the crudeness he is trying to envoke. | |
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| | Posted at Sun Oct 19, 2008 21:59:52 | Quote |
| | shat on sheets or shitty sheets keeps the alliteration  | |
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| | Posted at Tue Oct 28, 2008 01:49:56 | Quote |
| | | Yes, it is important to keep the alliteration, so I suggest using either shitty sheets or polluted papers | |
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| | Posted at Sat May 16, 2009 05:49:13 | Quote |
| | | I think it is better to preserve the dignity and eloquence of the poem rather than the alliteration. | |
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| | Posted at Mon Oct 24, 2011 15:09:57 | Quote |
| | | In my class, we call the "shitty papers" "shiterature" | |
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