Key Quotations (OCR A-Level English Literature): Flashcards
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Disease imagery ('scabs', 'itch') effect on plebeians
Disease imagery ('scabs', 'itch') effect on plebeians
Dehumanises them as infected sores on Rome's body politic
'Souls of geese' animal imagery meaning
'Souls of geese' animal imagery meaning
Denies plebeians' humanity; links them to cowardice & foolishness
What wounds represent for Coriolanus
What wounds represent for Coriolanus
Private honour, not public spectacle or political currency
Volumnia's reaction to son's battle wounds
Volumnia's reaction to son's battle wounds
Rejoices - 'I thank the gods' - sees them as proof of honour
Effect of Volumnia's militarised motherhood
Effect of Volumnia's militarised motherhood
Shaped his rigid values; martial honour above all else
Purpose of Menenius' body politic metaphor
Purpose of Menenius' body politic metaphor
Shows politics requires skilful rhetoric, not just force
Coriolanus' view of political rhetoric
Coriolanus' view of political rhetoric
As lying/dishonourable - 'base tongue' vs 'noble heart'
'Sup upon myself' cannibalistic metaphor meaning
'Sup upon myself' cannibalistic metaphor meaning
Self-destructive fury; his anger consumes him from within
'I melt' metaphor significance
'I melt' metaphor significance
Shows vulnerability; acknowledges shared humanity for first time
Tragic irony of Coriolanus sparing Rome
Tragic irony of Coriolanus sparing Rome
His moment of greatest humanity becomes his fatal error