Applying the latest narratological theory and focusing on the use of anachrony (or 'chronological deviation'), this book explores how Statius competes - successfully - for a place within an established literary canon. Given the tremendous pressure on poets to render familiar stories in unfamiliar and novel ways, how did he achieve this?
When Statius elected to sing of the quarrelsome sons of Oedipus he was acutely aware that this was a well-trod road, one frequently reproduced in a variety of genres - epic, drama and lyric poetry. Despite this highly varied corpus against which he sought to contend, he boasts that his epic has novelty and proudly declares that he is now counted among the 'prisca nomina', or ancient names, that sang of Thebes.
And indeed precisely the fact that there were so many story-versions (a greater number survive for comparison than for any other work from antiquity, rivaling even the popularity of the Trojan legend) means that the story is conveniently positioned to offer a unique exploration into how Statius creates a compelling story despite working within a saturated and overly familiar mythic tradition. This book argues that it is chiefly through the use of narrative anachrony, or non-chronological modes of narration, that Statius manipulates states of anticipation, suspense, and even surprise in his audience.
Rezensionen / Stimmen
An incredibly inspiring study on narrative techniques used by Statius ... A novel and original reading of the Thebaid ... Its publication should be met with joy. * Electrum * A remarkable step forward in the context of the studies on Statius' Thebaid. * The Classical Review *
Sprache
Verlagsort
Verlagsgruppe
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Zielgruppe
Für höhere Schule und Studium
Maße
Höhe: 234 mm
Breite: 156 mm
Gewicht
ISBN-13
978-1-350-19139-6 (9781350191396)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Klassifikation
Robert Simms teaches classics at Sage Ridge School in Reno, USA.
Autor*in
Postdoctoral Fellow in ClassicsUniversity of Oslo, Norway
Introduction: Notum iter ad Thebas
Prisca Nomina
An Audience for the Thebaid
Suspense, Anticipation, and Surprise
Epic and Drama
Chapter 1: Beginning with the End
They call me Jocasta
The Thebaid's Prologue
Chapter 2: Portentous Beginnings
Argos and the Seeds of War
The Wedding Portents
The Necklace of Harmonia
Argia's Unease
Amphiaraus and the Flight of Birds
The Bacchant and the Necromancy
Chapter 3: Hypsipyle and the Army at Nemea
Hypsipyle's Lemnian Narrative
The Death and Funeral of Opheltes
Funeral Consolations
Chapter 4: Jocasta
Tisiphone's Fears
Jocasta and Polynices
Jocasta and Eteocles
Chronology and Suspense
Strategies of Elision
Jocasta's Hope and Death
Chapter 5: Iam Pater Est
The Curse
Anticipation
Outcome
Chapter 6: Portentous Ends
Amphiaraus
Tydeus
Hippomedon
Parthenopaeus
Capaneus
Adrastus
Menoeceus
Chapter 7: Hic imperat, ille minatur
The Anonymous Critic
Polynices
Eteocles
Chapter 8: Concluding the Thebaid
The Idalian Doves
The Edict of Creon
The Choices of Oryntus
Ubi incluta fama Antigone?
The Twin Flames
Choosing Theseus
Fidissime Phegeus
Bibliography
Index
