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Aeneid 3.655-691: A Poetic Analysis
Polyphemus is likely one of the most well-known of the ancient Greek "monsters." Born the one-eyed giant son of Poseidon and Thoosa, the...
Alexei Varah
Sep 14, 202510 min read


Ode 3.30: A Poetic Analysis
The phrase "Your digital footprint is forever," or some comparable variant, has likely been ingrained in our brains by now. However,...
Alexei Varah
Sep 7, 20258 min read


Catullus 3: A Poetic Analysis
After someone close to you dies, there is an unacknowledged pressure to make your grief a spectacle. Whether it be in the form of...
Alexei Varah
Aug 31, 20259 min read


Epigram 1.115: A Poetic Analysis
Love in the 21st century is, quite frankly, painful. Loving others has never been more challenging, with dating apps commodifying organic...
Alexei Varah
Aug 24, 20257 min read


Catullus 51: A Poetic Analysis
The term "summer love" is one that current popular culture is absolutely obsessed with. Whether it be the name of your Pinterest mood...
Alexei Varah
Aug 17, 20258 min read


Epigram 10.2: A Poetic Analysis
All artists, whether in ancient Rome or 2025, find themselves asking, at least once, the same question: what will make my art stand the...
Alexei Varah
Aug 10, 20257 min read


Ode 2.14: A Poetic Analysis
As we begin to make the transition from July to August, it is difficult not to mourn the inevitable end of summer. Although the air is...
Alexei Varah
Aug 3, 20258 min read


Aeneid 6.724–751: A Poetic Analysis
As we advance towards the end of the beloved "dog days of summer", in which a sun that refuses to set lingers just a little less every...
Alexei Varah
Jul 27, 20258 min read


Amores 1.1: A Poetic Analysis
This past week, as the French and others around the world commemorated Bastille Day, the world was reminded that protesting and...
Alexei Varah
Jul 20, 20258 min read


Martial: An Introduction
A brief introduction to the life and work of Roman poet Martial (~40 - 105 CE).
Alexei Varah
Jul 15, 20253 min read


Ode 1.11: A Poetic Analysis
Let me guess, when you were (or if you still are) a Latin novice with zero knowledge of the language, you still knew the phrase " carpe...
Alexei Varah
Jul 13, 20257 min read


Ode 3.2: A Poetic Analysis
This past Friday, my fellow Americans and I celebrated more than just the July 4th date; we celebrated the ideals of liberty, freedom,...
Alexei Varah
Jul 6, 20258 min read


Catullus 50: A Poetic Analysis
Much like a 21st-century summer afternoon, Roman summers were playful, sun-washed, and idyllic. Catullus 50 illustrates not just the...
Alexei Varah
Jun 29, 20257 min read


Ode I.38: A Poetic Analysis
As the Western world gears up to fully embrace the summer months, many of us have felt our workload lighten and the possibilities of...
Alexei Varah
Jun 22, 20256 min read


Meter: An Overview
Unlike most modern free-verse poetry, Latin poetry almost always followed the rules. Meant to be sung or recited, nearly every piece of...
Alexei Varah
Jun 21, 20254 min read


Catullus: An Introduction
A brief introduction to the life and work of Roman poet Catullus (84 - 54 BC).
Alexei Varah
Jun 21, 20252 min read


Ovid: An Introduction
A brief introduction to the life and work of Roman poet Ovid (65 BC - 17 AD).
Alexei Varah
Jun 20, 20253 min read


Virgil: An Introduction
A brief introduction to the life and work of Roman poet Virgil (70 -19 BC).
Alexei Varah
Jun 20, 20253 min read


Horace: An Introduction
A brief introduction to the life and work of Roman poet Horace (65 BC - 8 BC).
Alexei Varah
Jun 19, 20253 min read


Rhetorical Devices: An Overview
Why are rhetorical devices important? Just like poets today, Latin poets used rhetorical devices to communicate the subtext of their...
Alexei Varah
Jun 18, 20254 min read
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