Trollope's Apollo: A Guide to Classics in the Barsetshire Novels of Anthony Trollope

The Small House at Allington Chapters 19 to 21	• chapter list
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Chapter 19 The Squire Makes a Visit to the Small House
Apollos do not come this road every day Bell and Mrs. Dale pick up Lily's original Apollo reference from Chapter 2 in this conversation. [EB]

Chapter 20 Dr. Crofts
Another string to his bow Lord De Guest makes this comment about Crosbie's suspected dalliances at Courcy Castle while speaking with Dr. Crofts. There are two possible classical figures being alluded to with this phrase. Cupid, the son of Venus, incited love in people by shooting them with his arrows. Also, although Lord De Guest has not been privy to the Dales' private joke of referring to Crosbie as "Apollo," this comment subtly references their allusion, since Apollo was associated with archery. These references may show how other characters perceive Crosbie to be a flashy "Apollo" that lacks real substance, or a "Cupid" that pursues multiple women's affections. [EB]

Chapter 21 John Eames Encounters Two Adventures, and Displays Great Courage in Both
Sitting sternly to their long tasks Mrs. Dale and Bell here help Lily prepare household items for her to take to her new home after marriage. The Dales' behavior parallels the ideal of the virtuous Roman woman who is dedicated to her household tasks. This is exemplified by Livy's story of Lucretia in Book 1 of History of Rome, who is considered the best of wives because she is working late in the night while other women feast with guests. [EB]
A man will talk of love out among the lilacs and roses Here Lily Dale tries to encourage Johnny Eames to come inside with her, since he is perhaps less likely to idealize his feelings for her in a more mundane setting. Eames' unrequited love is reminiscent of classical pastoral poetry. References to this poetic form help root Eames in a familiar tradition of lovelorn young men, making his fascination with Lily more recognizable, and making Johnny's connection to this poetic form gently humorous. [EB]
Into the middle of his discourse Here Eames rushes straight to the point of asking Lily about her impending marriage while trying to tell her how he feels. This phrase is reminiscent of the Latin phrase originally used by Horace in line 145 of Ars Poetica, in medias res, or "in the middle of things," which often refers to the way that epics tend to begin in the middle of significant events in the plot and later explain them. The use of this phrase draws a humorous contrast between the epic tradition and Eames' unsuccessful attempts to articulate his feelings. [EB]
To carry off all the laurels of victory This phrase describes the earl's unwillingness to provoke the angry bull he is facing. The laurel, previously mentioned in Chapter 2, was a plant associated with Apollo that was traditionally given to the winners in the Pythian games. The inclusion of this phrase here is interesting since Eames proves himself deserving of "laurels" by assisting the earl here, while "Apollo" Crosbie repeatedly shows his less worthy character. http://www.bartleby.com/81/9984.html [EB]
Rocks of adamant Adamant is a legendary stone that was extremely hard and indestructible. The name is derived from the Greek adamas meaning "invincible," and throughout classical literature it was used to refer to a variety of hard stones and metals. Trollope refers to it when drawing a comparison between the bull that is turned away from pursuing Eames and Lord De Guest by brambles, and the way that humans will turn away from small obstacles but continue to "[break]…our hearts against rocks of adamant." The reference, and the comparison as a whole, has a humorous function here as the dramatic statement about human nature seems irrelevant in this anecdote about the bull. [EB]
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