The Index Verborum for Erucula: Fabula Metamorphosis

Although Bombax Press typically includes both indices and dictionaries for Latin novellas, Erucula: Fabula Metamorphosis differs from this precedent. Erucula: Fabula Metamorphosis contains an Index Verborum, and some words are grouped together in order to conserve space and reduce the cost of printing in color. This then reduces the overall cost of the book. The complete Index Verborum for Erucula: Fabula Metamorphosis is reproduced here. The Index Verborum provides readers with the opportunity to look up any word form that is unfamiliar.

Unlike other Bombax Press novellas, a goal of Erucula: Fabula Metamorphosis was to utilize the vocabulary that Maria Sibylla Merian herself used to describe metamorphosis in her book Metamorphosis Insectorum Surinamensium. As such, high frequency vocabulary was less of a priority. For example, Merian uses praegrandis and exiguus more commonly than she uses magnus or parvus. To capture her vibrant, descriptive style of writing, choices about vocabulary erred more on words that she used than on high-frequency vocabulary. In addition, the novella uses several related words. For example, both macula and maculata are used to describe insects.

Although several words may be unfamiliar to your students, the addition of color pictures on each page, including several pages devoted to introducing common vocabulary in the novella, will assist students in reading and understanding Erucula: Fabula Metamorphosis.

If you would like a preview of the novella, you can read a selection of the story here. You can review more detailed information about the novella here.

Index Verborum for Erucula: Fabula Metamorphosis