The Challenge of Epic: Allusive Engagement in the Dionysiaca of NonnusNonnus once vied with Homer for popularity; today his "Dionysiaca" languishes in obscurity. "The Challenge of Epic" offers a literary critical rehabilitation of Nonnus' fifth-century AD poem. It argues that modern neglect stems from a failure to appreciate the central position of allusion in late-antique poetry. Attention first focuses on intertextual allusion. It is argued that the poet draws on a plethora of allusions to the cycle of Greek mythology in order to imbue his specific narrative with a universal significance. Focus then shifts to metapoetic allusion: the way in which Nonnus alludes self-consciously to the process of writing, and develops parallels between himself and his subject, Dionysus. Through an appreciation of Nonnus' alllusive strategies, the modern reader can again engage with the mind-bending challenge of the "Dionysiaca," |
Contents
The Challenge of Epic | 7 |
The Cycle of Dionysus | 25 |
The Poet of Dionysus | 113 |
The Dionysiac Experience | 207 |
Bibliography | 215 |
| 229 | |
| 240 | |
Other editions - View all
The Challenge of Epic: Allusive Engagement in the Dionysiaca of Nonnus Robert Shorrock No preview available - 2001 |
The Challenge of Epic: Allusive Engagement in the Dionysiaca of Nonnus Robert Shorrock No preview available - 2001 |
Common terms and phrases
Achilles Achilles Tatius Ampelus Aphrodite Apollod Athena attempt Bacchus battle beginning Book 37 Book 48 Botrys Brongus Cadmus Callimachus chariot Chuvin Collart Cypria Cyrus death Deriades described Dionysiac Cycle Dionysiac poetic Dionysiac song Dionysiaca Dionysus divine enarratio epic poet episode epyllion erotic Europa father Zeus fight funeral games genre Greek mythology Harmonia Hecale Hector Hera Hermes hero Homer Hopkinson 1994b horses Hydaspes Icarius Iliad Iliadic narrative imitation Indian ISBN 90 Keydell literary Lycurgus mythological cycle narrative of Dionysus Nicaea Nonnian Nonnos Nonnus Odyssean Odysseus Olympus parallel pastoral Patroclus Phaethon poem poetry Proclus proem reference relationship scene seen shield Staphylus story of Dionysus suggests Thebes thunderbolts tion Titanomachy Trojan Trojan War troops Troy Typhon Vian victory wine Zagreus Zeus's ἀλλὰ γάρ δὲ Διὸς εἰ εἰς ἐν ἐπὶ ἐς ἔχων Ἰνδῶν καὶ μὲν μετὰ οἱ οὐ παρὰ περὶ τὰ τε τὴν ὡς