Battle narrative in Virgil and Ovid

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dc.contributor.advisorChandler, Cliveen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorChristie, Camilla Roseen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2015-08-10T06:56:08Z
dc.date.available2015-08-10T06:56:08Z
dc.date.issued2015en_ZA
dc.descriptionIncludes bibliograpical references.en_ZA
dc.description.abstractThe intent of this thesis is to examine the stylistics of Latin epic narrative as used to narrate and describe extended battle sequences, and to explore the way in which Latin authors working during the Augustan Era engaged with Homeric techniques of oral narrative while composing written epic. A total of six extended battle sequences from the Aeneid of Virgil and the Metamorphoses of Ovid are examined and analysed with regard to their use of word order, simile, catalogue, and other such stylistic features. The overall aim is to consider Ovid’s literary debt to his immediate epic predecessor Virgil, together with the debt of both poets to Ancient Greek epic narrative, in such a way as to explore the various techniques of generic allusivity practised by both poets on a stylistic level. The first chapter provides a brief overview of Homeric technique, defines the distinction between primary and secondary epic, and serves as an introduction to Virgilian and Ovidian concerns. The second chapter contains analysis of Virgil’s Aeneid. Battle sequences from Book 2, Book 9, and Book 10 are examined and discussed from a stylistic perspective, and the extent to which Virgil has drawn on and reformulated Homeric epic technique is established. Book 2 is examined for the manner in which it engages with and reconstructs Homeric ideals of heroism. Book 9, constituting as it does the first instance within the second half of the Aeneid of Homeric battle narrative, is analysed as a transitional episode, and its motifs of literary and cultural inheritance discussed. Book 10 provides an extended example of Homeric battle narrative. The third chapter engages with Ovid’s Metamorphoses. Extracts of notably epic tone from Book 5, Book 8, Book 12 are discussed in such a way as to highlight their literary allusivity, and in particular their contrast with the Virgilian model of adapting epic technique. Book 5 is examined as an introductory example of extended Ovidian battle narrative. The analysis of Book 8 demonstrates how epic narrative may be enriched by the intrusion of alternate poetic genres. Book 12 is contrasted with Book 2 of the Aeneid, and the manner in which it, too, engages with Homeric ideals of heroism, is discussed. The thesis concludes that while both poets utilised and expanded upon specific stylistic elements of Greek epic narrative, they did so in a notably different fashion. Ovid contrasts sharply with his predecessor Virgil and often incorporates elements of alternate genres in order to establish his own allusive technique.en_ZA
dc.identifier.apacitationChristie, C. R. (2015). <i>Battle narrative in Virgil and Ovid</i>. (Thesis). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,School of Languages and Literatures. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/13700en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationChristie, Camilla Rose. <i>"Battle narrative in Virgil and Ovid."</i> Thesis., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,School of Languages and Literatures, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/13700en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationChristie, C. 2015. Battle narrative in Virgil and Ovid. University of Cape Town.en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Christie, Camilla Rose AB - The intent of this thesis is to examine the stylistics of Latin epic narrative as used to narrate and describe extended battle sequences, and to explore the way in which Latin authors working during the Augustan Era engaged with Homeric techniques of oral narrative while composing written epic. A total of six extended battle sequences from the Aeneid of Virgil and the Metamorphoses of Ovid are examined and analysed with regard to their use of word order, simile, catalogue, and other such stylistic features. The overall aim is to consider Ovid’s literary debt to his immediate epic predecessor Virgil, together with the debt of both poets to Ancient Greek epic narrative, in such a way as to explore the various techniques of generic allusivity practised by both poets on a stylistic level. The first chapter provides a brief overview of Homeric technique, defines the distinction between primary and secondary epic, and serves as an introduction to Virgilian and Ovidian concerns. The second chapter contains analysis of Virgil’s Aeneid. Battle sequences from Book 2, Book 9, and Book 10 are examined and discussed from a stylistic perspective, and the extent to which Virgil has drawn on and reformulated Homeric epic technique is established. Book 2 is examined for the manner in which it engages with and reconstructs Homeric ideals of heroism. Book 9, constituting as it does the first instance within the second half of the Aeneid of Homeric battle narrative, is analysed as a transitional episode, and its motifs of literary and cultural inheritance discussed. Book 10 provides an extended example of Homeric battle narrative. The third chapter engages with Ovid’s Metamorphoses. Extracts of notably epic tone from Book 5, Book 8, Book 12 are discussed in such a way as to highlight their literary allusivity, and in particular their contrast with the Virgilian model of adapting epic technique. Book 5 is examined as an introductory example of extended Ovidian battle narrative. The analysis of Book 8 demonstrates how epic narrative may be enriched by the intrusion of alternate poetic genres. Book 12 is contrasted with Book 2 of the Aeneid, and the manner in which it, too, engages with Homeric ideals of heroism, is discussed. The thesis concludes that while both poets utilised and expanded upon specific stylistic elements of Greek epic narrative, they did so in a notably different fashion. Ovid contrasts sharply with his predecessor Virgil and often incorporates elements of alternate genres in order to establish his own allusive technique. DA - 2015 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2015 T1 - Battle narrative in Virgil and Ovid TI - Battle narrative in Virgil and Ovid UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/13700 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/13700
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationChristie CR. Battle narrative in Virgil and Ovid. [Thesis]. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,School of Languages and Literatures, 2015 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/13700en_ZA
dc.language.isoengen_ZA
dc.publisher.departmentSchool of Languages and Literaturesen_ZA
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Humanitiesen_ZA
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.subject.otherLatin Langauge and Literatureen_ZA
dc.titleBattle narrative in Virgil and Oviden_ZA
dc.typeMaster Thesis
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
dc.type.qualificationnameMAen_ZA
uct.type.filetypeText
uct.type.filetypeImage
uct.type.publicationResearchen_ZA
uct.type.resourceThesisen_ZA
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