Statius' Thebaid and the Poetics of Civil WarThis study focuses on ways in which Statius' epic Thebaid, a poem about the civil war between Oedipus' sons Eteocles and Polynices, reflects the theme of internal discord in its narrative strategies. At the same time that Statius reworks the Homeric and Virgilian epic traditions, he engages with Hellenistic poetic ideals as exemplified by Callimachus and the Roman Callimachean poets, especially Ovid. The result is a tension between the impulse towards the generic expectations of warfare and the desire for delay and postponement of such conflict. Ultimately, Statius adheres to the mythic paradigm of the mutual fratricide, but he continues to employ competing strategies that call attention to the fictive nature of any project of closure and conciliation. In the process, the poem offers a new mode of epic closure that emphasises individual means of resolution. |
From inside the book
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Page 16
... Poet's Voice. Cambridge. Gildenhard, I. and Zissos, A. (2000) 'Ovid's Narcissus (Met. 3.339–510). Echoes of Oedipus', AJP 121: 129–47. Gossage, A. (1972) 'Statius', in Dudley (1972): 184–235. Gransden, K. W. (1984) Vergil's Iliad ...
... Poet's Voice. Cambridge. Gildenhard, I. and Zissos, A. (2000) 'Ovid's Narcissus (Met. 3.339–510). Echoes of Oedipus', AJP 121: 129–47. Gossage, A. (1972) 'Statius', in Dudley (1972): 184–235. Gransden, K. W. (1984) Vergil's Iliad ...
Page 17
... Poetic Closure. A Study of How Poems End. Chicago. Hershkowitz, D. (1997)'Parce Metu, Cytherea: “Failed” Intertext Repetition in Statius' Thebaid',MD37: 35–52. (1998a) The Madness of Epic. Oxford. (1998b) Valerius Flaccus' Argonautica ...
... Poetic Closure. A Study of How Poems End. Chicago. Hershkowitz, D. (1997)'Parce Metu, Cytherea: “Failed” Intertext Repetition in Statius' Thebaid',MD37: 35–52. (1998a) The Madness of Epic. Oxford. (1998b) Valerius Flaccus' Argonautica ...
Page 18
... Poetics of Ekphrasis', Word and Image 4: 209–17. Hollis, A. S. (1982) 'Notes on Callimachus' Hecale', CQ n.s. 32 ... Poetic Narrative. Cambridge. Klinnert, T. (1970) Capaneus-Hippomedon. Berlin. Knaack, G. (1880) Analecta alexandrino ...
... Poetics of Ekphrasis', Word and Image 4: 209–17. Hollis, A. S. (1982) 'Notes on Callimachus' Hecale', CQ n.s. 32 ... Poetic Narrative. Cambridge. Klinnert, T. (1970) Capaneus-Hippomedon. Berlin. Knaack, G. (1880) Analecta alexandrino ...
Page 19
... Poetics in the Aeneid. The Frame of Book 6. Bari. Kytzler, B. (1955) Statius Studien. Beitrage zum Verstandis der Thebais. Berlin. (1986) 'Zum Aufbau der statianischen “Thebais”. Pius Coroebus, Theb. I 557– 692', ANRW II.32.5: 2913–24 ...
... Poetics in the Aeneid. The Frame of Book 6. Bari. Kytzler, B. (1955) Statius Studien. Beitrage zum Verstandis der Thebais. Berlin. (1986) 'Zum Aufbau der statianischen “Thebais”. Pius Coroebus, Theb. I 557– 692', ANRW II.32.5: 2913–24 ...
Page 20
... Poetic Temple. Silvae 3.1', CQ 41: 438–52. (2002) Statius' Silvae and the Poetics of Empire. Cambridge. Newmeyer, S. (1979) The Silvae of Statius. Structure and Theme. Leiden. (1984) 'The Triumph of Art over Nature. Martial and Statius ...
... Poetic Temple. Silvae 3.1', CQ 41: 438–52. (2002) Statius' Silvae and the Poetics of Empire. Cambridge. Newmeyer, S. (1979) The Silvae of Statius. Structure and Theme. Leiden. (1984) 'The Triumph of Art over Nature. Martial and Statius ...
Contents
Gods humans and the literary tradition | 25 |
Beginning | 50 |
Nemea | 76 |
Middle | 97 |
Heroic deaths | 124 |
End | 152 |
Epilogue | 178 |
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Achilles adjective Adrastus Aeneas Aeneid Aetia aetiological aetion alludes allusions Altar Amphiaraus Apollo Argia Argive Argos arma Asopus Augustan Augustus Barchiesi battle benefit Callimachean Callimachus calls attention Cambridge Capaneus catalogue Catullus chthonic civil clementia closure conflict Coroebus created Cyclopes Delarue delay depiction discusses divine ekphrasis Ennius epic episode Eteocles Feeney fight figure final first flame Flavian Gigantomachy gods Greek Hardie Harmonia Hecale Hercules hero Hippomedon Homeric hymn Iliad influence Jupiter Jupiter’s kaª Linus literary Lucan Mars martial Massimilla mentions Metamorphoses Moreover Morton Braund 1996 myth mythic narrative interest necklace Nemea Olympian Opheltes Ovid Ovid’s Oxford Parthenopaeus poem poet poetic poetry Polynices proem Propertius Python recalls reflects river Roman Rome scene seventh book shield significant Silv Silvae simile Smolenaars 1994 specifically Statius story suggests Telchines Theb Thebaid Theban Thebes themes Theseus tibi Tisiphone tradition Turnus Tydeus underworld Venus verses Vessey Virgil Virgilian Vulcan words