Catullus, the fiery Roman poet of the first century BC, renowned for his passionate love poems and scathing invectives, reserved a special kind of disdain for Bad Poets. This exploration delves into Catullus’s world, examining his pointed critiques of poetic mediocrity and the cultural context that fueled his ire.
Contents
Catullus reading his poetry
Catullus’s disdain for bad poetry wasn’t merely a matter of personal taste; it reflected a broader literary landscape marked by evolving aesthetics and fierce competition. The rise of neoteric poets, who embraced Hellenistic influences and shorter, more polished forms, clashed with the traditional epic style favored by earlier Roman poets. Catullus, firmly in the neoteric camp, saw the clumsy verses of his rivals as an affront to true artistry.
The Saturnalia Gift: A Case Study in Bad Poetry
One amusing anecdote highlights Catullus’s aversion to poetic mediocrity. In Poem 14, he recounts receiving a dreadful collection of poems as a Saturnalia gift from his friend Licinius Calvus, a prank orchestrated by the poetaster Sulla. Catullus’s exaggerated reaction – claiming he nearly died of boredom – underscores his low tolerance for subpar verse. He retaliates by promising to inflict equally awful poetry upon Calvus.
Favourite poet
While Catullus doesn’t dissect the specific flaws of these poems, his comments hint at metrical inadequacies and a general lack of refinement. He labels these poetasters as “pests of the period” and their poetry as “poisonous rubbish,” linking bad poetry with disease – a theme echoed in Poem 44, where reading a poorly written speech induces a cough.
Suffenus: The Charming Man, The Terrible Poet
Suffenus, another target of Catullus’s criticism, presents a fascinating paradox. Described as charming, witty, and urbane in person, he becomes a rustic bore when he puts pen to paper. Catullus mocks Suffenus’s prolific output, his uncritical self-admiration, and the sheer volume of verses he produces, implying that quantity doesn’t equate to quality.
A glimpse of Catullus?
Suffenus’s poetic failings, according to Catullus, stem from his adherence to outdated conventions, likely those of the earlier Roman epic poet Ennius. This stylistic clash reinforces the divide between the traditionalists and the neoterics, with Catullus championing a more refined and concise approach.
Volusius and the “Shitty Sheet”
Volusius, author of the Annales, earns even harsher criticism. Catullus dismisses his work as cacata charta – a “shitty sheet.” The Annales, likely a long, conventional poem, exemplifies the rustic and vapid style Catullus detested. In Poem 36, he demands Volusius’s work as part of a vow to Venus, to be burned as an offering – the ultimate insult for a poet.
Mamurra: The Politician Turned Poet
Even powerful figures weren’t immune to Catullus’s poetic barbs. Mamurra, a wealthy politician associated with Julius Caesar, apparently dabbled in poetry, much to Catullus’s amusement. In Poem 105, Catullus depicts Mamurra attempting to scale the “Pimpleian mountain” (Olympus), only to be hurled down by the Muses.
The first poem
This image not only mocks Mamurra’s poetic aspirations but also alludes to the literary feud between Callimachus and his critics, positioning Catullus within a larger tradition of poetic rivalry. The Muses’ rejection of Mamurra symbolizes his lack of talent and his presumption in attempting to join the ranks of true poets.
Mount Olympus
The Legacy of Catullus’s Critique
Catullus’s relentless attacks on bad poets provide a fascinating glimpse into the literary world of ancient Rome. His critiques weren’t merely personal attacks but reflections of a dynamic period of poetic innovation and stylistic debate. While the works of his targeted “bad poets” are largely lost, Catullus’s witty and often brutal assessments offer a valuable perspective on the ever-evolving standards of poetic excellence.
Otus and Ephialtes