Volcano1985 Posted 17 years ago
Grammar
Full of the classics
A man with his belly full of the classics is an enemy of the human race.
1) What is full of the classics?
2) What does the sentence mean?
1) What is full of the classics?
2) What does the sentence mean?
Top answer
"The classics" usually refers to "masterpieces" of early Greek and Roman literature. It can also refer to painting and sculpture, but "belly full" implies that such a man has read a great many of these books. I'm afraid I'd have to know a bit about the author of this sentence before I could comment on what he might have against the classics.
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"The classics" usually refers to "masterpieces" of early Greek and Roman literature. It can also refer to painting and sculpture, but "belly full" implies that such a man has read a great many of these books.
I'm afraid I'd have to know a bit about the author of this sentence before I could comment on what he might have against the classics.
The implication is that if a lover of the
I'm afraid I'd have to know a bit about the author of this sentence before I could comment on what he might have against the classics.
The implication is that if a lover of the
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Volcano1985What is full of the classics?His belly, that is, his stomach.
Volcano1985What does the sentence mean?A man who has read the classics (books regarded as the best throughout history) to excess is a foe of mankind in general.
CJ
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In British English a 'belly full', usually written 'bellyful', means 'too much'.
"I've had a bellyful of your nonsense, so stop it!"
'A man with his belly full of the classics ...' - a man who has studied the classics too much.
"I've had a bellyful of your nonsense, so stop it!"
'A man with his belly full of the classics ...' - a man who has studied the classics too much.
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Avangi"The classics" usually refers to "masterpieces" of early Greek and Roman literature. It can also refer to painting and sculpture, but "belly full" implies that such a man has read a great many of these books.
I'd also include: Shakespeare, Chaucer, Goethe, Faust, Melville, Tolkein....
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Two well-chosen images!
Classic and classical will always mean different things to different people, as will the consequences and/or benefits of a full belly.
If we're going to expand our view beyond the classical concept of classical, where shall we begin? Where shall we end?
Classic and classical will always mean different things to different people, as will the consequences and/or benefits of a full belly.
If we're going to expand our view beyond the classical concept of classical, where shall we begin? Where shall we end?
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cwtchI'd also include: Shakespeare, Chaucer, Goethe, Faust, Melville, Tolkein..Faust?
How about Cervantes, Dickens, Hawthorne, Dante, Tolstoy, Voltaire, Joyce, Kafka, and Proust?
CJ
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Let us not overlook the great classicist Henry Miller, who authored this quote.
CalifJim Faust? R. I. P.Why only westerners, CJ?
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Absolutely...I was recently admonished (gently and humorously) for too long a list so I kept it short.
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"We do not talk - we bludgeon one another with facts and theories gleaned from cursory readings of newspapers, magazines and digests. " - Henry Miller.
That's very astute for a man who never heard of forum trolls.
That's very astute for a man who never heard of forum trolls.
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