Inconsistency in Roman Epic: Studies in Catullus, Lucretius, Vergil, Ovid and LucanHow should we react as readers and as critics when two passages in a literary work contradict one another? Classicists once assumed that all inconsistencies in ancient texts needed to be amended, explained away, or lamented. Building on recent work on both Greek and Roman authors, this book explores the possibility of interpreting inconsistencies in Roman epic. After a chapter surveying Greek background material including Homer, tragedy, Plato and the Alexandrians, five chapters argue that comparative study of the literary use of inconsistencies can shed light on major problems in Catullus' Peleus and Thetis, Lucretius' De Rerum Natura, Vergil's Aeneid, Ovid's Metamorphoses, and Lucan's Bellum Civile. Not all inconsistencies can or should be interpreted thematically, but numerous details in these poems, and some ancient and modern theorists, suggest that we can be better readers if we consider how inconsistencies may be functioning in Greek and Roman texts. |
Contents
Section 1 | 18 |
Section 2 | 32 |
Section 3 | 33 |
Section 4 | 34 |
Section 5 | 41 |
Section 6 | 44 |
Section 7 | 47 |
Section 8 | 55 |
Section 12 | 85 |
Section 13 | 91 |
Section 14 | 104 |
Section 15 | 108 |
Section 16 | 114 |
Section 17 | 118 |
Section 18 | 121 |
Section 19 | 123 |
Section 9 | 56 |
Section 10 | 69 |
Section 11 | 77 |
Section 20 | 128 |
Section 21 | 131 |
Section 22 | 136 |
Other editions - View all
Inconsistency in Roman Epic: Studies in Catullus, Lucretius, Vergil, Ovid ... James J. O'Hara No preview available - 2007 |
Inconsistency in Roman Epic: Studies in Catullus, Lucretius, Vergil, Ovid ... James J. O'Hara No preview available - 2007 |
Inconsistency in Roman Epic: Studies in Catullus, Lucretius, Vergil, Ovid ... James J. O'Hara No preview available - 2007 |
Common terms and phrases
Achilles Aeneas Aeneid Alexandrian alludes allusions ambiguous Apollonius apparent argues argument aspects attempt authority begins Book Callimachus calls Catullus 64 chapter character cited claim conflict contradictions contrast critics death deliberate described detail discussed earlier effect epic Epicurean example explain first follows further gods Greek Helen Homer human Hymn idea inconsistency interesting Italians Italy Jupiter Jupiter’s kind later least lines literary look Lucan Lucretius meaning mentioned myth mythological narrative narrator nature notes notion numerous O’Hara Odyssey offered Ovid Ovid’s passages Peleus perhaps philosophical play poem poem’s poet poetic poetry position possible present problem proem prophecy question reader reading recent references Roman says scholars seems seen sense ship similar song speaker speaking story stress suggests tells thematic Theseus Thetis things Thomas tradition Trojans underworld unity variants Venus Vergil virtutes voice Wheeler whole