Neil+Sareen

media type="youtube" key="_comGBmnYew" height="243" width="392" Vergil’s //Aeneid// tells the story of a Trojan whose destiny it is to found Rome and begin the Roman race. The sense of nationalism portrayed in the //Aeneid// can be seen in many modern movies. //The Patriot//, tells the story of Benjamin Martin, a French-Indian war hero, who is haunted by his past, and wants to take no part in the American Revolutionary War. Both Aeneas and Benjamin are forced to leave their homes. Aeneas must flee from Troy, which was burned to ground the Greeks. Likewise, Benjamin must also leave his home and seek revenge on the British, after they burned the Martin plantation to the ground. Aeneas is fated to leave the Trojan War, travel to Latium, and ultimately founded Rome. Similarly, some could say that Benjamin was fated to take part in the American Revolution. As a famous war hero, fighting wars is an inescapable past for Benjamin, and he ultimately finds himself being part of the birth of a new ambitious nation. Both characters encounter many obstacles out of devotion to their country. Aeneas encounters both devastating storms and Juno’s rage. Benjamin encounters British soldiers and the ruthless Green Dragoon cavalry, and must overcome these obstacles for sake of his country. Benjamin must free his son, Gabriel, and kill Col. Tavington. General Cornwallis provides Benjamin with many obstacles, just like Juno provides many obstacles for Aeneas. Clearly, both characters exhibit a remarkable amount of patriotism as well. Aeneas is dedicated to his people and his country, and ultimately must leave his wife behind on his jouney, to fulfill the wishes of his people. Benjamin depicts his patriotism by fighting in the Revolutionary War, and forcing General Cornwallis to retreat. Both journeys may vary in the times they took place in, however, the patriotism they exhibited were essentially the same. Both characters endured overwhelming obstacles, and overcame these hardships for the sake of their country.
 * Quarter 4, Assignment 1:**

The story of Pygmalion and the Statue in Ovid's Metamorphoses is very similar to the Walt Disney movie, Pinocchio. According to Ovid's Metamorphoses, Pygmalion is uninterested in mortal women, because he is disgusted by their disgraceful behavior, and therefore decides to live alone without their company. He feels that he can never fall in love with a mortal woman, so he decides to make a statue of a woman. He becomes so captivated by the statue that he carves, that he ends up falling in love with it. Ultimately Pygmalion asks the goddess Venus to turn his statue into a mortal woman. In the 1940 classic Disney film, Pinocchio, the transformation instead involves a wooden doll which is turned into a real boy. Geppetto is a wood carver, who lives a lonely life much like that of Pygmalion. Geppetto asks the Blue Fairy (wishing star) to turn Pinocchio into a real boy, so that he no longer has to live alone. In both stories, a higher being has the ability to transform the statue and doll into real human beings. However, neither do so until Pygmalion and Pinocchio have proven themselves worthy of this transformation. Until Venus or the Blue Fairy believes they deserve it, the transformation is not completed. Venus decides to transform the woman statue after Pygmalion gives multiple offerings, and Pinocchio is turned into a real boy after he proves himself selfless, truthful and brave. As we take a deeper look into both stories, there are many notable similarities. First and most obvious, both Pygmalion and Geppetto are sculptors (statues and wood). Both Pygmalion and Geppetto desire a companion to make up for their loneliness. Both do not simply have their wishes handed to them, and instead must earn them (Pygmalion's offerings, and Pinocchio's quest in the real world). These transformations are granted by mythological and supernatural powers. Interestingly enough, both Pinocchio and the woman statue are loved greatly by their creators even __before__ they are transformed into human beings.
 * Quarter 3, Assignment 2:**

**Quarter 3, Assignment 1:** The story of Midas and the Golden Touch in Ovid’s Metamorphoses is very similar to the movie Bruce Almighty. According to Ovid’s Metamorphoses, Midas was a king of Phrygia, who had received great recognition by the god Bacchus for freeing a captured satyr (part man part goat). The satyr was actually Silenus, a right-hand satyr to the god Bacchus. When Bacchus heard of this news, he was extremely pleased that Midas had treated Silenus with dignity. Because of this, Bacchus offered to grant whatever Midas wished for. Without much hesitation, Midas asked that everything he touched be turned to gold. Although at first Midas found this gift to be a great thing, he eventually realized that his wish only caused more trouble. Midas was unable to eat food and interact with people, for everything he touches turns to gold. Realizing that his greed had only led to misfortune, he begs Bacchus to “save [him] from this costly evil”. Bacchus ends up forgiving him, and Midas is able to rid himself of the gold touch by purging himself in a river. In Bruce Almighty, Bruce also receives recognition by God instead for his bad luck in life. Bruce is granted all the powers that a God would possess, and takes on such a great responsibility with arrogance and greed. He finds this supernatural gift to be amusing and beneficial at first, but soon realizes that it causes a great deal of problems. Bruce is unable to answer the prayers of people, cannot stand the voices that lurk in his mind, and ends up ruining his relationship with his girlfriend (Grace). Ultimately, Bruce begs God for forgiveness, and apologizes for underestimating the power of God. After returning to his normal self, Bruce learns to love his ordinary life and gets back together with Grace. Obviously, a similarity lies in the fact that both King Midas and Bruce are granted supernatural powers. In both scenarios, the characters are granted supernatural powers, and are transformed. Midas and Bruce receive recognition from their respective gods, while underestimating the strength of these powers. Both characters display a sense of arrogance in the face of God, and end up paying the price by not taking such powers seriously. Both characters are amused by their powers, as these transformations seem to be beneficial at first. Ultimately, these transformations end up resulting in misfortune for both King Midas and Bruce. However, in the end each character learns a valuable lesson, and learns to appreciate their mediocre lives.



Horace goes on to saying that one should “auream mediocritatem diligit” (line 5) or “prize the golden mean”. In this stanza Horace feels that whoever can maintain a perfect balance in his/her life, can avoid the dangers of living a life that is too extreme. Horace represents these extremes when by portraying a “rundown roof” (“sordibus tecti” (line 7)) and a “mansion to be envied” (“invidenda aula” (lines 7-8)). Horace implies that wealth is of materialistic value, and though it is beneficial, it can also cause problems in one’s life. This “golden mean” is something that **most people** fail to realize, and instead people feel that if given the choice, a life with luxuries and riches is the best one to choose. Therefore, Horace feels that one should be different from the common people and choose the path that is more moderate. Robert Frost exemplifies a similar scenario in his poem. When analyzing the paths he notices that one of the paths was “perhaps the better claim because it was grassy and wanted wear”, meaning that the path traveled by the majority of travelers seems to be the better choice. Standing in the woods it’s time for him to make a decision, a decision that will impact the rest of his life. He wants to follow the path that others have followed, but he questions whether that path is the right one to follow. He goes on to say that he “took the one less traveled by”. Symbolically speaking, the path he chooses to follow is the one that other people haven’t chosen to follow, the path that has made him a person who is different from the rest.
 * Quarter 2, Assignment 2:** When looking for a modern-day poem that reflected the themes expressed in Horace’s Odes II.10, I found Robert Frost’s “The Road Not Taken” to be a perfect match. Odes II.10 and “The Road Not Taken” share a strong connection because both speak of choosing the right path to ensure a brighter future. Horace first expresses this meaning at the beginning of his ode when he states “neque altum semper urgendo neque, dum procellas cautus horrescis” (lines 2-3) or “neither by always sailing on the deep sea nor by hugging too much the dangerous shore”. Here, Horace effectively addresses Licinius by giving him **two** options, neither of which are the right options. Horace implies that Licinius should not take the dangerous path, which is bountiful of many risks in order to achieve one’s destination, nor should Licinius take a safer path. Instead, Horace feels that Licinius should maintain a balance between both, and this meaning is reiterated in the next few stanza’s of Horace’s poem. Similarly, Robert Frost starts of his poem with “**two** roads diverged in a yellow wood” (line 1) as a means to symbolically represent the choices one makes in life. He says that he cannot “travel both” (line 2) as each path makes all the difference in one’s life.

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**Quarter 2, Assignment 1:** The song “Betrayed” by Avenged Sevenfold relates directly to the poem Catullus 77. The two pieces talk about being betrayed by a close friend, and the consequences of that betrayal. Both pieces not only speak of being betrayed, but also **criticize** their friends. In the song “Betrayed”, lead singer Matthew Sanders is deeply troubled after being betrayed by his close friend who “took away the only thing [he] loved”. As the song develops, it can be assumed that the "only thing he loved" was in fact his girlfriend. Therefore, Sanders criticizes his friend for betraying him, and for ending their friendship. In poem 77, Catullus similarly rants on his friend Rufus, who had “ei misero eripuisti omnia nostra bona” (Catullus 77, 4) or “snatched away all our good things from miserable me”. Basic knowledge of Catullus’ life allows the reader to infer that Catullus is really alluding to Rufus’ affair with his beloved Lesbia. Both speak of how strong their friendship was prior to the incident, when Sanders states “As time went by faith in you grew” whereas Catullus states “Rufe, mihi…credite amice” (Catullus 77, 1) or “Rufus, believed friend to me”. Clearly, both Sanders and Catullus trusted their once close friends, and criticize their friends for betraying them at a time where they trusted them so much. Therefore, the faith and trust they shared for their friends gives Sanders and Catullus room for even deeper criticism. Both Sanders and Catullus do an excellent job of expressing the extent to which they are hurt, by invoking feelings of passion and upset. Sanders states that he “feels it burn inside, burn in [him] like the rising sun”, whereas Catullus feels that the betrayal has caused a “atque intestina perurens” (Catullus 77, 3) or a “burning at [his] inner organs”. Both invoke feelings of passion by directly referring to a **burning** sensation that has formed inside of them. For an entire stanza of the song, Sanders focuses on criticizing his friend, by stating that he doesn't deserve to be betrayed like this ("I'm not your enemy, I don't deserve to fall this way). Similarly, Catullus tries to gain sympathy from the reader, by stating that he is "misero" (Catullus 77, 4) or "wretched". Towards the end of each piece we see a true ending of Catullus' relationship with Rufus, and an ending of Sanders' relationship with his once close friend. Sanders states that "together we were destined, but now I know what's best for us in the end", whereas Catullus states that "heu heu nostrae pestis amicitiae" (Catullus 77, 6) or "alas alas the plague of our friendship".

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**"Bye, Bye, Bye" by 'N Sync (Lyrics from www.azlyrics.com)**

(Hey, Hey) Bye, Bye, Bye Bye, Bye... Bye, Bye... Oh, Oh..

I'm doin' this tonight, You're probably gonna start a fight. I know this can't be right. Hey baby come on, <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I loved you endlessly, <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">When you weren't there for me. <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So now it's time to leave and make it alone <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I know that I can't take no more <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It ain't no lie <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I wanna see you out that door <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Baby, bye, bye, bye...

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Bye Bye <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Don't wanna be a fool for you <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Just another player in your game for two <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">You may hate me but it ain't no lie, <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Baby, bye, bye, bye... <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Bye Bye <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Don't really wanna make it tough, <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I just wanna tell you that I had enough. <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It might sound crazy, <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">But it ain't no lie, <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Baby, bye, bye, bye

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">(Oh, Oh) <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Just hit me with the truth, <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Now, girl you're more than welcome to. <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So give me one good reason, <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Baby come on <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I live for you and me, <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And now I really come to see, <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">That life would be much better once you're gone.

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I know that I can't take no more <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It ain't no lie, <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I wanna see you out that door <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Baby, bye, bye, bye... <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Bye Bye <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Don't wanna be a fool for you <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Just another player in your game for two <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">You may hate me but it ain't no lie, <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Baby Bye, bye, bye... <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Bye Bye <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Don't really wanna make it tough, <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I just wanna tell you that I had enough (ooh ooh) <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It might sound crazy, <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">But it ain't no lie, <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Baby, bye, bye, bye

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I'm giving up I know for sure <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I don't wanna be the reason for your love no more <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Bye Bye <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I'm checkin' out <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I'm signin' off <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Don't wanna be the loser and I've had enough

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Don't wanna be your fool <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In this game for two <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So I'm leavin' you behind <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Bye, bye, bye...

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I don't wanna make it tough (wanna make it tough) <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">But I had enough <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And it ain't no lie (Bye, bye baby...) <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Bye, Bye <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Don't wanna be a fool for you <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Just another player in your game for two (I don't wanna be your fool) <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">But it ain't no lie <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Baby bye, bye, bye...

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Don't really wanna make it tough (don't really wanna make it tough), <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I just wanna tell you that I had enough (that I had enough). <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Might sound crazy, <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">But it ain't no lie, <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Bye, bye, bye

In the first line of Catullus 8, Catullus says that he should “stop being foolish and count [their relationship] as lost” (//Miser Catulle, desinas ineptire, et quod vides perisse perditum ducas//). In the same way, Justin Timberlake (the main singer) expresses a similar situation by saying, “Don’t wanna be a fool for you, just another player in your game for two”. Both authors portray this idea of being “fooled around with” and no longer wish to be a part of a relationship in which their lovers are not **fully committed**. Both Catullus and Timberlake impose this idea of saying “bye” to their lovers, as a means to forget about their past relationships. Timberlake emphasizes this with the use of repetition, “Baby, bye, bye, bye… Bye, Bye, Don’t really wanna make it tough, I just wanna tell you that I had enough.” Whereas Catullus simply says, “Bye, girl! Catullus now stands firm” (//Vale puella, iam Catullus obdurat//). Clearly, both illustrate this idea of wanting to end their relationships. After saying “bye”, they both back up their strong statements by implying that their actions are irreversible and completely justified. Catullus says that he will “remain firm” (//obdurat// which is repeated in lines 12, 13, and 20), and Timberlake says that he is “checkin’ out, signin’ off, don’t wanna be the loser and [has] had enough”. Both authors effectively emphasize this idea of no return, and the true ending of their love relationships.
 * Quarter 1, Assignment 2:** To my surprise, I found out that Catullus 8 and ‘N Sync’s hit song “Bye Bye Bye” do share many contextual connections. In both scenarios, the main character seems to be plagued by their previous love relationships. In Catullus 8, Catullus attacks Lesbia as a way to comfort himself from the pain he has experienced as a result of his relationship with Lesbia. We know that Lesbia is having affair, and Catullus is tired of being part of a double relationship, and ultimately wants Lesbia’s undivided attention.

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In Catullus 5, when Catullus says, “we must sleep one continuing night”, I think that he wants to overcome what others think of their relationship and finally be faithful to Lesbia (just as she should be to him). Similarly, Jack wants Rose to forget about what others think and do what she thinks is best for herself. Both relationships are restricted by the society they live in, and Catullus makes note of this in Poem 5. The use of repetition, assonance, and hyperboles (//da mi basia mille… deinde centum//) allow Catullus to truly express his feelings for Lesbia. Similarly, we see this sort of expression throughout Titanic, specifically during the scene in which Jack is trapped when the ship starts to sink (he repeatedly exclaims that he loves Rose). I think it is also important to note the beginning of Poem 5, in which Catullus says, “Let us live, my Lesbia, and let us love”. From this quote, we see that Catullus wants Lesbia to live life freely, and love him disregarding the social biases around them. In Titanic, Jack feels the same way, and instead teaches Rose how to live and love to the fullest, though her marriage has already been arranged.
 * Quarter 1, Assignment 1:** In my opinion, Catullus 5 and the movie Titanic share multiple parallels. Obviously, I won’t be comparing the epic iceberg scene and the sinking ship with Catullus’ portrayal of love. Instead the connections I found focus on love story of Jack and Rose. The movie’s main characters, Jack and Rose, fall madly in love with each other, and do so against the will of Rose’s mother and future husband (Cal the fiancé). In Catullus 5, we see a similar connection. Catullus, who loves Lesbia deeply, does so against “all the rumors of the strict old men”. Not only do Catullus and Lesbia come from different social classes, but Lesbia is also married. Similarly, Jack comes from a lower class, and Rose comes from a higher class.