| Description |
1 online resource (xii, 190 pages) |
| Contents |
1. The model: religious Metamorphoseis? -- 2. The prologue: Loukios goes to Rome -- 3. A poetics in Tales: Milesian, Neoteric, Odyssean -- 4. A philosophical novel: Platonic fiction -- 5. The Isis Book: serious entertainment -- 6. The epilogue: autobiography and author's biography -- 7. Is yhis the end? Closure and playfulness in the last sentence -- 8. Summary |
| Summary |
This is a literary study of Apuleius' Metamorphoses, the only fully extant Roman novel and a classic of world literature. Its general aim is to show how the Metamorphoses works as a piece of literature, to explore its poetics, and the way in which questions of production and reception are reflected in its text. The individual chapters provide a roughly linear reading of related key passages and issues, starting from Apuleius' Greek model and his prologue, and ending with his very last word. Along this trajectory, the book develops an original idea of Apuleius as an ambitious writer led by the literary tradition, rhetoric, and Platonism. It is argued that he created what we could call a seriocomic 'philosophical novel' avant la lettre. A particular focus lies on the ways in which Apuleius draws attention to his achievement and introduces the Greek ass story to Roman literature. Thus, the book also sheds new light on the forms and the literary and intellectual potential of the genre of the ancient novel. Although a lot of ground is covered, the study remains accessible in terms of length and style. It is suitable for both classicists and general readers interested in classical antiquity and fiction. All Greek and Latin is translated |
| Bibliography |
Includes bibliographical references and index |
| Notes |
Online resource; title from home page (viewed on May 20, 2014) |
| Subject |
Apuleius. Metamorphoses.
|
|
Apuleius -- Criticism and interpretation
|
| SUBJECT |
Apuleius fast |
|
Metamorphoses (Apuleius) fast |
| Subject |
Mythology, Classical, in literature.
|
|
Classical fiction -- History and criticism
|
|
Classical fiction
|
|
Mythology, Classical, in literature
|
| Genre/Form |
Criticism, interpretation, etc.
|
| Form |
Electronic book
|
| ISBN |
9780191778513 |
|
0191778516 |
|
