Activity

Clodia, a midwife ahead of her time

Characters:

Clodia Metelli (Lesbia)

Theme: The situation of women in Rome

Competencies

Competence in Linguistic Communication

Personal, social and learning to learn competence

Competence in cultural awareness and expressions

Subjects and year by Educational System

Spain > Classical culture > 3rd ESO > Classical roots of today's world. Everyday life

Enunciation

<img title="Women's Legacy logo" src="//inclusion.womenslegacyproject.eu/images/LogoWL.svg" /><hr />Read these two literary versions about Clodia, an unconventional Roman matron who lived in the 1st century BC., and answer the questions.
1.- In these three poem fragments, comment on the moment of the romantic relationship that is described:
A.- Vivamos, querida Lesbia, y am&eacute;monos, 
y las habladur&iacute;as de los viejos puritanos&nbsp;
nos importen todas un bledo.&nbsp;
B.- Odio y amo. Tal vez preguntes por qu&eacute; lo hago. 
No lo s&eacute;, pero siento que es as&iacute; y sufro
C.- &iexcl;Adi&oacute;s, amor! Ya Catulo se mantiene firme: 
ya no te cortejar&aacute; ni te buscar&aacute; contra tu voluntad. 
Pero t&uacute; lo sentir&aacute;s, cuando nadie te corteje. 
&iexcl;Malvada, ay de ti! &iexcl;Qu&eacute; vida te espera!&nbsp;
2.- Answer:
a. Who is the author of the verses?
b. Who is the target audience?&nbsp;
c. Which poetess does the pseudonym refer to? Make a brief review of it.
d. What would the real woman he was hiding look like?
3.- The poet does not believe in conventions; however, he does not accept that a woman would abandon him. Look up the verses that demonstrate both contradictory positions.
4.- The above fragments of poetry were addressed to Clodia, a beautiful, well-positioned, intelligent Roman matron, but ahead of her time. Now read the excerpt from a short historical novel in which Clodia is the main character and answer the questions posed.
If you had ever loved me, as you swore so many times, you would not attack me in your verses... The one who loves does not insult, nor vilify, nor seeks to do harm, even when he is no longer corresponded...
I was born free, in case you don't remember. And there are no laws to force me to love. I am the owner of my feelings and my actions and I will not give up managing them as I please.
[Our own translation from: Isabel Barcel&oacute;. La muchacha de Catulo, p. 53]
a. &nbsp;What kind of love does Clodia defend?
b. &nbsp;Would her words still be valid today? Justify your answer.
c. &nbsp;Does her life have anything to do with the exemplary model of the univira, domiseda and lanifica matron? Give reasons for your answer.

Observations and context

She was a contemporary of great women like Aurelia and Atia who influenced the education of their children, just like Cornelia did a century before. But her profile corresponds more to that of Fulvia or Servilia, women who knew how to pull the strings in politics, and also to that of Sulpicia, who freely expressed her feelings.

Clodia, a midwife ahead of her time

Enunciation

Observations and context

Description

Answer

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