Homework Assignment: Exploring Horace's Roman Odes and Carmina

This homework assignment centers on the analysis of Horace's Roman Odes. The student is tasked with describing their performance and sharing their perspective on the Roman Odes. The assignment involves a discussion of the carmina, specifically focusing on the third book of Odes. The scenario places the student in a peristylium, where they are prompted to engage with the text and discuss their understanding of the poems. The assignment likely requires a close reading of selected odes, potentially including the second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth, and provides an opportunity to engage with the text and provide a critical assessment of Horace's work. The student needs to offer their viewpoint about the content.

Operation FABULA AMORIS 2019TSTT
In tablīnō domūs Recentiae< Eunikos is bustling along behind you, puffing a bit. "The master said you could find him
in the. . ."
Required: Describe your performance and tell Gaius what you think of Horace's Roman Odes, specifically or generally.
"Peristylium," says avunculus Gaius, stepping in from there. "But of course these fine young kinspeople of mine came
to the tablīnum, just as they were taught. And they're carrying the volūmina" (he points at the papyrus-rolls of
Horace's third book of odes you're carrying) "their patrēs gave them. And, I don't doubt, they're sure I'm the leading
representative of the profānum volgus, the common crowd of rich, uncaring Rōmānī."
He looks into both your eyes, one after the other, with a piercing expression that you remember he used to fix on
your parents, but which you don't think he's ever turned on you before. Wordlessly, he gestures to you to follow him
into the peristylium, a breathtaking space that, though smaller than you remember it, is still your idea of what
patrician Roman living is like.
You are sitting in the peristylium, gathered around Gaius.
Gaius says "Your parents made me promise that I wouldn't let you leave the house until you had read those songs. I
think that's silly, but I also think you need to know your enemy. So let's take a look at them."
He accepts a volūmen from Eunikos; when he unrolls it a little, to the right, you see
QUINTIHORATIIFLACCICARMINUMLIBERTERTIUS--it's the same book you have.
"What do you know about these carmina? What do you think of what you know? If I know my family, you've
probably read one or two, because your parents kept reminding you about it for a few hours; then you stopped,
because they forgot. So take your time to read here with me; Octaviana, you may read the second and third to us;
then, Bellator, the fourth and fifth; I'll read the sixth, because it's, er, kind of awesomely gloomy and I love that stuff."