Former Head of Classics challenges students to think about the power of word

The topic of Catullus' language was widely discussed at the most recent Classics Lecture. 

The bleep button was (almost!) needed last Friday for the first Classics lecture of the year. No, it wasn’t the pupils - or the staff, for that matter. The Classical Society hosted Dr John Godwin, former Head of Classics at Shrewsbury School, to give a lecture on ‘Catullus; foul-mouthed genius?’.

Dr Godwin has written a number of books on the infamous poet (c.84 - c.54 BC) who was one of the poetae novi - the ‘fast set’ of poets in first century BC Rome who broke the traditional boundaries of artistic literary convention. Catullus’ work defies easy classification, but a good deal is profane, vulgar and at times comically shocking. He is also an author being studied at A level by Salopian Latinists this year.

Dr Godwin asked the provocative question of what effect Catullus’ often racy and risqué style of language had on his poetry; are any words off limits, and to what extent does the rude - but not the crude - enhance or invalidate the beauty of the verse? The audience was challenged to think about how they, as a 21^st century audience, should react to words in general and evaluate their power.

Classics pupils, along with English students, enjoyed an entertaining and funny 40 minutes. Thanks to Dr Godwin for reminding us to ‘keep on reading’.

Paul Fitzgerald

Head of Classics