Vōx in Tenebrīs
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Reading level
The author’s introduction states that this novella is for learners in their second or third year of study. As of this writing, it has not been rated by Comprehensible Antiquity.
Diverse & Multicultural Identities
For information about how representation of multicultural and diverse identities is analyzed in LNDb, see here.Parallel cultures
Features a depiction of Greek culture: Lucanus, a Roman citizen, travels to the city of Larissa in Greece, and learns of the superstitions there.Gender
Features one cis male main character (Lucanus). Features no cis female main characters or transgender main characters.Sexual identity
Features a depiction of heterosexual identity: the dead man was married to a woman, who was also cheating on him with his own brother.SES/class
Lucanus is poor and does not have the money to complete his journey or to go home; this is why he accepts the job of guarding the dead body.Religion
No depictions identified.Disability
No depictions identified.Language Statistics
Vocabulary
Word List
A complete word list for Vōx in Tenebrīs can be found here.
Glosses
This novella contains glosses in the form of sidenotes with English translations.
Of the 465 unique words (not counting proper nouns) used in the text, 136 of them (29.2%) are glossed at their first appearance in the text. Of the 3719 total words in the text, 264 of them (7.09%) are glossed.
Of the 465 unique words (not counting proper nouns) used in the text, 136 of them (29.2%) are glossed at their first appearance in the text. Of the 3719 total words in the text, 264 of them (7.09%) are glossed.
Glossary
This novella contains a Latin-English glossary, with every form of each word listed separately. The glossary is incomplete; some words used in the text are not found in the glossary. There are also some words found in the glossary that are not used in the text.
Syntax
The ratio of complex sentences indicates what proportion of the total sentences are complex sentences, on average. A complex sentence is defined as a sentence with one or more subordinate clauses or verb phrases.
Summary
Genre & Sources
This novella is in the genre of historical (Classical) with fantasy elements..
It is an adaptation of the story of Thelyphron, found in Apuleius’s Metamorphoses (2.21–30).
It is an adaptation of the story of Thelyphron, found in Apuleius’s Metamorphoses (2.21–30).
Complete Plot Summary
CONTAINS SPOILERS
Lucanus is a Roman citizen traveling in Greece. He hears that he can earn money by guarding a dead body for one night, because witches will come at night and steal parts of the body. Unafraid, Lucanus accepts the job. He is brought to the house of the widow of the man whose body he must guard. The widow explains that Lucanus will be paid if the body is still intact the next morning. Lucanus tries to stay awake, but falls asleep, hearing a faint voice calling his name. The next morning, the body is found to be intact, and Lucanus is paid. As he is leaving town, he sees the funeral procession for the dead man taking place and stops to watch. An old man interrupts the procession and explains that the dead man was poisoned by his wife, who secretly loved the dead man’s brother; the wife denies it. To settle the dispute, an Egyptian wizard is summoned who brings the dead man back to life. The dead man explains that what the old man said was true, and his wife had been unfaithful. Then, he accuses Lucanus of falling asleep while guarding his body, and explained that witches did come into the room the night before. They stole Lucanus’s nose and ears, replacing them with wax. At this point Lucanus touches his nose and ears, and they fall off. Then, the dead man explains that the witches stole Lucanus’s heart as well, replacing it with a sponge. Lucanus notices a wound in his chest and pulls out a sponge. He collapses and dies on the spot.
First 100 Words
Underlined words are glossed in the text."ūnum nummum, duōs nummōs... trēs nummōs."
Lūcānus trēs nummōs in mēnsā posuit. nummōs vidēns, dolōre commōtus est.
ēheu! Lūcānus sēcum cōgitāvit. trēs nummōs habeō. pauper sum. multum pecūniae nōn habeō.
Lucanus erat iuvenis quī in Ītaliā habitābat. ad Graeciam iter faciēbat ad lūdōs Olympicōs spectandōs.
via ad Olympum longa fuerat, et pecūnia eī fuerat parva.
nunc sedēbat in popina Lārissae. Larissa erat oppidum parvum in Graeciā.
in popīnā sedēns Lūcānus vīnum bibit et nummōs in sacculō numerāvit.
trēs nummōs! nōn est multum pecūniae!
nōn possum ad Olympum īre. nōn possum domum redīre. volō Lārissā abīre, sed pecūniam nōn habeō.
Supplementary Materials
If you have resources for Incitātus and would like to share them on LNDb, please contact me.Presentation
| Illustrations? | yes |
| Illustrator | Andrew Olimpi |
| Macrons? | yes |
| Font | Palatino, 13.5 pt |
| Pages of story | 94 |
| Total pages | 117 |
| Chapters | 19 |
Key Information
| Publication date | March 20, 2020 |
| Publisher | Comprehensible Classics |
| ISBN | N/A |
| ISBN-13 | 979-8620196357 |
