Nonnus’ Paraphrase between Poetry, Rhetoric and Theology: Rewriting the Fourth Gospel in the Fifth Century

Description

This book offers an analysis of the paraphrastic techniques which Nonnus employs for rendering St. John’s Gospel in Homerising verse. The study examines the poem’s dependence on ancient rhetorical theory, its aesthetics and its dialogue with theology ‎Contents ‎Preface ‎Acknowledgments ‎Notes on Contributors ‎Chapter I. Introduction ‎A. An Evanescent Figure ‎B. Dates and Chronology ‎C. The Dionysiaca ‎D. The Paraphrase ‎E. Nonnus’ Influence: A Brief Overview ‎F. Nonnus’ Paraphrastic Technique: Rhetorical Tradition and Poetic Creativity ‎G. Aims of the Present Study ‎Chapter II. The Rhetorical Background to the Paraphrase in the Light of Ancient Rhetorical Treatises ‎A. Poetry and Rhetoric ‎B. Ancient Rhetorical Treatises and Paraphrastic Technique ‎B.1. Main Authors ‎B.1.a. Aelius Theon ‎B.1.a.i. Reading (ἀνάγνωσις) ‎B.1.a.ii. Listening (ἀκρόασις) ‎B.1.a.iii. Paraphrase (παράφρασις) ‎B.1.b. Quintilian ‎B.2. Main Issues ‎C. Paraphrase as a School Exercise. The Chreia ‎C.1. Aphthonius, Progymnasmata ‎C.2. Ps.-Hermogenes, Progymnasmata ‎C.3. Ps.-Hermogenes, Περὶ μεθόδου δεινότητος (On the Method of Forceful Speaking) ‎Chapter III. Non-amplificatory Paraphrase ‎A. Literal Paraphrasis ‎B. Abbreviations and Conflations ‎C. Sequence and Transpositions ‎Chapter IV. Amplificatio ‎A. Periphrasis ‎B. Synonymic Amplificatio and Verbal / Adjectival Accumulation ‎B.1. Simple Additions of Adjectives / Participles ‎B.2. Anaphora ‎C. Explanations ‎C.1. Various Terms ‎C.2. Place-Names of Theological Significance ‎D. Imagery with Theological Significance ‎D.1. The Raised Serpent, The (Healing) Saviour, Eternity ‎D.2. The Imperishable Abode ‎D.3. Imperishable (Continued): The Bread of Life, the True and Wise Bread ‎D.4. Presentation of Christ in Danger and in Suffering as King ‎E. “Theatrical” Elements: Impressive Visualisation, Description of Scenery, Effects of Sound ‎E.1. Description of John the Baptist and His Baptism ‎E.2. Announcement to the Sick Boy’s Father of the Child’s Cure ‎E.3. The Resurrection of Lazarus ‎E.4. Scenery and Setting ‎E.4.a. Christ’s Entry to Jerusalem ‎E.4.b. The Garden in Which Jesus Was Arrested ‎E.5. Mary of Magdala Meets the Resurrected Christ ‎F. Handling of Speech (Direct / Indirect / Dialogue) ‎F.1. Turning Direct to Indirect and Indirect to Direct Speech ‎F.2. Amplificatio in Direct Speech ‎F.3. Amplificatio in Dialogue ‎F.4. Introductory and Other “Comments” in Dialogic Speech Exchanges ‎F.5. Gestures Accompanying the Direct Speech ‎G. Character Sketching: Between Theatricality, Exegesis and Ethopoea ‎G.1. Peter ‎G.2. Mary of Magdala ‎G.3. Judas ‎G.4. Pontius Pilate ‎H. Interpretatio ‎H.1. Specific Features of Mary, Jesus and Details of the Passion ‎H.1.a. The Virginity of Mary and John the Apostle. Mary Θεοτόκος ‎H.1.b. Jesus as Stranger to the World ‎H.1.c. Jesus’ Life as Ransom, Perfect Love and the Participle πασιμέλουσα ‎H.1.d. Details of the Crucifixion. Jesus and Peter ‎H.2. Trinitarian Theology ‎H.2.a. Relation between the Persons of the Trinity ‎H.2.a.i. Par. 14.108–114 and (the Lacking) ὁ πατὴρ μείζων μου ἐστίν. John 4.22b ‎H.2.a.ii. Par. 10.103–107, μείζων πάντων and the Unity of the Persons of the Trinity ‎H.2.a.iii. Ἀγχίθρονος ‎H.2.a.iv. Par. 10.136–138: ἀγχιφανής, ἀμέριστος, ὁμόζυγος ‎H.2.a.v. The Father’s and the Son’s τιμή ‎H.2.a.vi. Par. 14.31–48: σύννομος, σύζυγος, σύμφυτος ‎H.2.a.vii. Par. 14.63: The Son and the Holy Spirit ‎H.2.b. The Persons of the Trinity as Self-Begotten ‎Conclusions ‎H.3. Other Notions ‎H.3.a. Eternity of Christian Joy ‎H.3.b. The Freedom of Choice ‎H.3.b.i. Christ’s Freedom ‎H.3.b.ii. Believers’ Freedom ‎Chapter V. Conclusions ‎Bibliography ‎Appendix: Figures ‎Index of Places ‎Index of Historical and Mythical Persons ‎Index of Ancient Authors