Brian Sebastian
Published: 2013
Total Pages: 196
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This dissertation examines the significance of apostrophes to gods in three post- Vergilian epics: Ovid's Metamorphoses, Lucan's Pharsalia, and Statius' Thebaid. This work devotes one chapter each to the Metamorphoses, Pharsalia, and the Thebaid, with an introduction and a conclusion. The introduction establishes a working definition of apostrophe and postulates that apostrophe in post-Vergilian epic is a space in which the poet can add meaning. Apostrophes to gods during the early principate are places in which poets do not merely heighten the emotional tone of an episode, but comment on the role of political or religious power. In the chapters on Ovid, Lucan, and Statius, apostrophes to gods are treated by the episodes in which they occur, in the order in which they come in the epic, allowing the reader to follow trends and changes as they occur. Each apostrophe to a god is discussed, even those that exist for no greater purpose than variety. By comparison, then, one can better appreciate the function of those apostrophes that clearly do contribute to the meaning of particular passages or reveal sentiments that the poet did not express directly.