Essay Questions

What is the significance of Virgil in this poem?

Robertson was largely inspired by Virgil in written this piece, however, she also makes it clear that this epic is a departure from the standard epic. For example, she writes about how "Virgil recedes into the distance," while Debbie becomes the focus.

What does Debbie represent?

Overall, Debbie represents femininity and the introduction of the feminine into the epic narrative. Although Debbie is given some individual traits, she is often abstracted in order to represent concepts and ideas. For example, in one poem, Robertson writes: "Gentle colleagues, imagine yourselves as Debbie... Debbie learns the word loveliest, feeds the future to our capsized mouths."

What does the library represent?

In one poem, Robertson introduces the setting of the library. This setting is significant, as it represents the canon of established literary texts, from which some voices have been excluded. Robertson writes about how Virgil "strolls among the deep shelves of the paternal library," confirming his place among the great figures of literature.