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Study Guide
Bibliography
Course Hero. "Coriolanus Study Guide." Course Hero. 16 Mar. 2018. Web. 8 June 2023. <https://www.coursehero.com/lit/Coriolanus/>.
In text
(Course Hero)
Bibliography
Course Hero. (2018, March 16). Coriolanus Study Guide. In Course Hero. Retrieved June 8, 2023, from https://www.coursehero.com/lit/Coriolanus/
In text
(Course Hero, 2018)
Bibliography
Course Hero. "Coriolanus Study Guide." March 16, 2018. Accessed June 8, 2023. https://www.coursehero.com/lit/Coriolanus/.
Footnote
Course Hero, "Coriolanus Study Guide," March 16, 2018, accessed June 8, 2023, https://www.coursehero.com/lit/Coriolanus/.
Coriolanus is criticizing the citizens who are revolting, particularly about him. He reproaches them for complaining too much about the current food shortage.
The gods, not the patricians, make it, and / Your knees to them, not arms, must help.
Menenius is admonishing the crowd for trying to solve the food shortage problems with violence. He advises them to pray instead.
The breasts of Hecuba / When she did suckle Hector, looked not lovelier / Than Hector's forehead when it spit forth blood / At Grecian sword, contemning.
Volumnia compares her pride in having a strong, aggressive son with the Trojan queen Hecuba whose son, Hector, would grow up to be a fierce warrior.
If any think brave death outweighs bad life, / And that his country's dearer than himself; / Let him alone, or so many so minded, / Wave thus to express his disposition / And follow Martius.
Coriolanus is rallying his fellow soldiers to attack the Volscian city of Corioles with a willingness to sacrifice their lives for victory.
Sicinius is insulting the aristocracy and Coriolanus by stating the plebeians can recognize who represents them and who is against their interests.
More of / your conversation would infect my brain, being / the herdsmen of the beastly plebeians.
Menenius is reproaching the tribunes for fomenting riots.
He had rather venture all his limbs for honor / Than one's ears to hear it.
Menenius is honoring Coriolanus by saying no sacrifice would be too great for him for Rome, but he would not want to be the object of praise.
His nature is too noble for the world. / He would not flatter Neptune for his trident / Or Jove's for power to thunder.
Menenius describes Coriolanus's lack of humility by saying he would not stoop to honor the gods to have their power.
The service of the foot, / Being once gangrened, is not then respected / For what before it was.
Sicinius is saying that no matter how important one's deeds have been they can be forgotten due to one transgression.
Coriolanus is telling the Roman citizens he is breaking from them and will find a new place that will respect who he is.
Coriolanus comments to Volumnia, Virgilia, Menenius, and Cominius how the destructive citizens have exiled him wrongly.
Volumnia is reproaching Sicinius for plotting against Coriolanus.
Coriolanus is unsettled by the emotions created by seeing Volumnia, Virgilia, and Valeria come to appeal to him.
This is Coriolanus's admission he is not above having the feelings of others.
Aufidius has released his feelings of having been used by Coriolanus and now laments the loss of one he admired and fought with and not just against.
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