‘Coriolanus implored by his family’, as imagined by Heinrich Friedrich Füger (1751-1818). It was not only William Shakespeare who picked up on the story; Austrian playwright Heinrich Joseph von Collin (1771-1811) brought it to the stage in 1804, a production which inspired Ludwig van Beethoven’s Coriolan overture, premiered in 1807 along with his Symphony No. 4 in B flat.
Introduction
The story of Gnaeus Marcius Corolianus tells of a Roman nobleman forced to choose between his own life and the wishes of his family. How much of it is legend remains a matter of debate, though historians seem satisfied that the background (it is set in the late 490s BC) is plausible enough. At any rate, William Shakespeare found the tale sufficiently appealing to turn it into a play, in about 1607-8.
CORIOLANUS was a Roman patrician who had distinguished himself in an attack on the Volscii,* when he took Corioli,* one of their principal towns, from which he derived his name of Coriolanus.
Having disgusted the people by inciting the senate to severe measures against them,* he was condemned by the tribunes of the people to be thrown headlong from the Tarpeian rock,* the usual punishment for criminals; but upon a second trial this was reduced to perpetual exile. Coriolanus received his sentence with calm indifference, and, after bidding adieu to his family and friends, and committing them to the care of Heaven, sought amongst the enemies of his country that refuge which had been denied him at home. This was offered him by Tullus Attius, king of the Volscians, the very people whom he had formerly assisted to conquer.
Tullus, desirous of regaining those places which had been wrested from him by the Romans, raised an army, of which Coriolanus and Tullus became generals.
* The Volscii or (more commonly) Volsci were a tribe dwelling in the plains to the south of Rome: Antium (Anzio) was their chief town.
* Corioli has so far defied scholarly attempts to pinpoint it on a map. It lay somewhere south of Rome and north of Antium (Anzio).
* That is, against the people of Rome. In 491 BC, so ancient tradition has it, there was a poor grain harvest, and grain had to be imported from Sicily. Coriolanus took the line that the general public (the plebs) should be refused any relief until political concessions made to them in 494 BC, after they abandoned Rome in a mass protest, had been reversed. This use of humanitarian relief as political leverage was thought to be beneath a Roman statesman, and Coriolanus was shown the road.
* A cliff close to the southwestern corner of the Capitol in Rome. It was the traditional place of execution for murderers and traitors. The fall was of some 80 feet, roughly equivalent to a six-storey drop.
Précis
Gnaeus Marcius was a Roman general whose capture of the Volscian town of Corioli brought him the surname Coriolanus. Much emboldened, Coriolanus tried to use his standing (and a food shortage) to repeal concessions made to the Roman public, provoking outrage and almost getting himself executed. Banished from Rome, he found refuge with his former enemies, the Volscians. (58 / 60 words)
Gnaeus Marcius was a Roman general whose capture of the Volscian town of Corioli brought him the surname Coriolanus. Much emboldened, Coriolanus tried to use his standing (and a food shortage) to repeal concessions made to the Roman public, provoking outrage and almost getting himself executed. Banished from Rome, he found refuge with his former enemies, the Volscians.
Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 65 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 55 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: although, besides, despite, if, just, must, whether, who.
Word Games
Jigsaws Based on this passage
Express the ideas below in a single sentence, using different words as much as possible. Do not be satisfied with the first answer you think of; think of several, and choose the best.
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