Structures of Epic Poetry: Vol. I: Foundations. Vol. II.1/II.2: Configuration. Vol. III: Continuity

Description

This compendium (4 vols.) studies the continuity, flexibility, and variation of structural elements in epic narratives. It provides an overview of the structural patterns of epic poetry by means of a standardized, stringent terminology. Both diachronic developments and changes within individual epics are scrutinized in order to provide a comprehensive structural approach and a key to intra- and intertextual characteristics of ancient epic poetry. Volume I: Foundations Acknowledgements Contents Introduction Part I: Theories of epic Ancient and modern theories of epic The narrative forms and mythological materials of classical epic Learning the epic formula Narratology and classical epic Epic and rhetoric Alexandrian book division and its reception in Greek and Roman epic Part II: Classification and genre Intergeneric influences and interactions History and myth in Graeco-Roman epic Didactic and epic: origins, continuity, and interactions Ovid’s Metamorphoses: the naughty boy of the Graeco-Roman epic tradition Epic fragments Narrative patterns and structural elements in Greek epyllia Epic structures in classical and post-classical Roman epyllia Part III: Core structures The invocation of the Muses and the plea for inspiration Closure and segmentation: endings, medial proems, book divisions ‘Almost-episodes’ in Greek and Roman epic Aetiology and genealogy in ancient epic Epic catalogues Similes and comparisons in the epic tradition Artefact ekphrasis and narrative in epic poetry from Homer to Silius Indices Volume II.1: Configuration Front Matter 2 Contents Part I: Battle scenes Battle scenes in ancient epic – a short introduction Arming scenes, war preparation, and spoils in ancient epic Simply the best? Epic aristeiai Single combat in ancient epic Mass combat in ancient epic Chain-combats in ancient epic Teichoscopies in classical and late antique epic Nyktomachies in Graeco-Roman epic Theomachy in Greek and Roman epic Naval battles in Greek and Roman epic River battles in Greek and Roman epic Flight, pursuit, breach of contract, and ceasefire in classical epic Epic games: structure and competition Death, wounds, and violence in ancient epic Death, ritual, and burial from Homer to the Flavians Indices Volume II.2: Configuration Front Matter 3 Contents Part II: Journeys and related scenes Epic journeys and related scenes – a short introduction Arrival and reception scenes in the epic tradition from Homer to Silius Banquet scenes in ancient epic Scenes of departure by sea in the epic tradition from Homer to Silius Sea-storms in ancient epic Part III: Time Time in ancient epic – a short introduction Time in Greek epic ‘Time as such’: chronotopes and periphrases of time in Latin epic Part IV: Space An introduction to the concept of space in ancient epic Cities in ancient epic Landscapes in Greek epic Landscapes in Latin epic Mythical places in ancient epic Abodes of the gods in ancient epic Abodes of the dead in ancient epic Part V: Communication Principles of communication in Greek and Roman epic-a short introduction Messenger scenes in Greek epic Messenger scenes in Roman epic Dream scenes in ancient epic Prophecies in Greek epic Prophecies in Roman epic Apparition scenes in ancient epic Divine council scenes in ancient epic Necromancies in ancient epic Indices Volume III: Continuity Front Matter 4 Contents The origin, tradition, and reinvention of epic structures – a short introduction Poetic form and narrative theme in early Greek and Akkadian epic The transformation of the epic genre in Late Antiquity Greek biblical epic: Nonnus’ Paraphrase and Eudocia’s Homerocentones Between imitation and transformation: the (un)conventional use of epic structures in the Latin biblical poetry of Late Antiquity Epic forms and structures in late antique Vergilian centos The tradition of epic poetry in Byzantine literature Medieval epicity and the deconstruction of classical epic Narrative structures in Neo-Latin epic from 1440 to 1500 Narrative structures in Neo-Latin epic: 16th–19th century Experiments in digital publishing: creating a digital compendium Overview: Graeco-Roman epyllia and epics from Homer to Late Antiquity Core bibliography Indices List of contributors