Author Description
A Strikingly Innovative Account Of Propertius' Relationship With Virgil Paints A Remarkable Picture Of Poetic Rivals. Examination Of Their Use Of Greek Mythology Uncovers Sustained Polemics Concealed And Couched In Meta-literary Allusions, Forcing A Reshaping Of Our Understanding Of Poetic Interaction Within The Circle Of Maecenas.: 1. Lover's Mockumentary -- Searching For Gallus -- Patronage And Politics -- Umbrian Callimachus -- Text Of Propertius -- Aphrodite's Underwear (2.2) -- Horace, For Example (carm. 1.8) -- Deviant Exemplarity (2.22a) -- 2. Programmatics -- Of Apples And Arcadia (1.1) -- Myth And Ornament (1.2) -- Objectifying Gaze (1.3) -- 3. Myth And Genre -- Against Iambic (1.4) -- Antigone And Elegy (1.7) -- Amphion Vs Orpheus (1.9) -- Medea And The Mayfly (1.12) -- Love And Money (1.14) -- Hysterical Heroines(1.15) -- Nasty Nereids (1.17) -- Love And Death (1.19) -- Real Gallus (1.13) -- 4. Against Pastoral -- Tender Feet (1.8) -- Et In Arcadia Echo (1.18) -- Settling For Second Best (2.4) -- Hylas Descending (1.20) -- Virgil's Orpheus -- 5. Return Of Orpheus -- Herdsman, Ploughman, Soldier, Sailor (2.1) -- Eurydice Recovered (2.7) -- Missed Connections, Lost Property (2.10) -- Orpheus And Adonis (2.13) -- Resurrection Of Orpheus (2.27) -- Muse's Child (2.30) -- Various Poets (2.34) -- Resurrection Of Adonis -- 6. Ennius Redivivus -- Troy Or Rome? (3.1) -- Polyphemus Paradox (3.2) -- Nightmare On Helicon (3.3) -- Hypocritical Epicurean (3.5) -- Poet And Patron (3.9) -- 7. Conclusion. Peter J. Heslin. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 271-292) And Index. Also Available In Electronic Format.
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
This work investigates the complex, often antagonistic relationship between the Roman poets Propertius and Virgil, specifically through their divergent applications of Greek mythology. Peter J. Heslin, a scholar of classical literature, utilizes a rigorous analysis of meta-literary allusions and intertextual references to argue that Propertius engaged in a sustained, coded polemic against Virgil. By examining the specific ways these poets manipulated mythological tropes, Heslin demonstrates that their interactions were not merely collaborative but served as a sophisticated battleground for poetic authority within the circle of Maecenas.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- Detailed analysis of Propertius' elegies and their relationship to Virgilian pastoral and epic.
- Examination of specific mythological figures including Orpheus, Eurydice, and Adonis.
- Methodological focus on meta-literary allusion and the politics of patronage.
Scope Limits
- The study focuses primarily on the specific rivalry between Propertius and Virgil rather than a comprehensive history of the Maecenas circle.
- It does not provide a general biography of either poet, focusing instead on their textual interactions.
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
Scholars in the field of classical studies recognize this text as a significant contribution to the understanding of Augustan poetic rivalry and intertextuality. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which requires a strong foundational knowledge of Latin poetry and the specific works discussed.
Page Count:
320
Publication Date:
2018-01-01
ISBN-10:
0192524305
ISBN-13:
9780192524300
Poetry
In literature
Latin poetry
Criticism and interpretationPropertius Sextus
Virgil
Mythology
Literary Criticism
English
English & College Success