Latin Epics and Lyrics: Virgil, Ovid, and More
Epics: Deeds of Heroes
Epics: These poems narrate the deeds of historical and legendary heroes. They arise from admiration as a literary genre, influencing collective personalities. The genre is not objective.
Depth Main Source: Epics start as spoken and sung, but not in America. Form: verse with a slow and stately versification; poets use the hexameter. Topic: deeds of great heroes who embody moral values and social attitudes. Rhetorical figures: formulas were used to help rhapsodists memorize the text, repeating verses within the same metric scheme, similar to comparisons that indicated the transition from one episode to another and offered plasticity and vividness to the narrative, providing relaxation after tense moments.
Virgil and the Aeneid
Virgil was born in 70 BC in northern Italy to a middle-class family. He studied in Milan and Rome, then in Naples to study philosophy. After the success of his first work (the Eclogues), he returned to Rome and entered the circle of Maecenas and Augustus. He was supported by Augustus for the Georgics and then to write the Aeneid, but he died before finishing it. His friends completed it.
Aeneid: Commissioned by Augustus to be the national epic of Rome, it is a synthesis of the Iliad and the Odyssey. Written in hexameters, it comprises 12 books, structured according to Homer’s plot. The first 6 books detail Aeneas’s adventures from Troy to Italy, and the following 6 cover the conflict to bring peace to Alba Longa. It presents traditional epic elements (similar comparisons and archaisms) that give heroic force and solemnity. New features include the use of prophecy (Virgil’s prophecy introduces the greatest moments of Rome and praises Augustus) and skill in understanding PJ, using many social topics.
Ovid and Metamorphoses
Ovid: Born in Sulmo in 43 BC, he started with law and politics but then engaged in literature. His early works brought him into the circle of patrons. In 9 AD, he was sent to the Black Sea, where he spent the rest of his life. Most of his work is lyric.
Works of Ovid
- Love (romantic novels)
- Heroides (letters written by heroines to their lovers or husbands)
- Ars Amandi (books that explain the art of seduction)
- Remedia Amoris (tips to alleviate the penalties of love)
- Fasti (Roman events and festivals, unfinished)
Metamorphoses: A purely mythological epic with no historical purpose, simply recounting classical myths. It features fine irony and comedy, addressing religion with little philosophical depth. Topics include the flood, gods, and Troy.
Lucan and Pharsalia
Lucan, nephew of Seneca, was born in Cordoba and educated in Rome. He was initially favored by Emperor Nero but later became his enemy. His only surviving work is Pharsalia, an epic-historical poem about the war between Caesar and Pompey. The poem is made with a scientific spirit and is very historically documented, without allusions to gods and heroes. There is no patriotic character, but many psychological studies and descriptions.
Lyrics: Expressing Emotions
Lyrics: Poetic compositions that express emotions and feelings, originating from dances and melodies that evolved to be more complex. The lack of visual spectacle is compensated with the musical perfection of words.
Catullus: Love and Everyday Life
Authors: Catullus His poems were about love and have served as a model for modern literature. 116 poems are preserved, including:
- Nugae (issues related to everyday life)
- Poems and learned scholars (mythological themes)
- Epigrammata (everyday life)
Horace: Odes and Latin Poetry
Horace was born in southern Italy to a family of freedmen. He was educated in Rome and Athens. Patrons protected him, allowing him to live devoted to poetry.
Works of Horace
- Epodes: Inspired by Greek lyric poetry.
- Odes: Mark the peak of Latin poetry, short sleep in 104 compositions written in 4 books with a solemn tone on varied subjects.
Elegy: Mourning and Praise
Elegy: A subgenre within lyricism that expresses funereal mourning and patriotic praise, but later also loving individuals.
Elegiac Authors
- Tibullus: Tibullianum corpus (4 books that evoke love and nature).
- Propertius: Elegiae (4 books on various topics).
Epigram: From Greece to Rome
Epigram: Originating from Greece, it was initially funereal, then informal and frivolous, and later biting. The greatest author was Martial, who wrote with irony about life in Rome.