Final answer:
Catullus introduced to Rome the elegant, learned poetry of Hellenistic Greece, combining it with a personal and provocative style that reflected the political and emotional complexity of the Late Republic.
Step-by-step explanation:
Catullus attempted to bring the elegant, learned poetry of Hellenistic Greece to Rome. Integrating the aesthetic sensibilities and poetic forms of the Greek tradition, Catullus produced works that reflected Roman cultural dynamics yet diverged significantly in style and substance. His poetry managed to capture the political unrest and the personal emotional landscape of the Late Republic, serving as a lens into the societal norms and disruptions of his time.
Catullus's poetry stood apart due to its complex blend of sophisticated rhetoric, directness, and at times, a provocative nature that challenged the mores of the era. In expressing overt sentiments of love, passion, and even dissent against figures like Julius Caesar and Sulla, Catullus broke the mould of traditional Roman stoicism. His approach to verse was avant-garde, encompassing resentment towards established power structures and an unabashed declaration of personal feelings, thus bringing a fresh perspective to Roman poetry.