MYTH AS HISTORIC BENCHMARK IN HORACE 1 ODES 3:1 – 6
Abstract
Can a lyric poet have anything valid to say about historic realities?2 In this paper I argue that by looking carefully at Horace’s use of myth3 as a larger frame of reference against which Odes 3.1 – 64 should be read, a case can be made for a lyric poet’s subtly critical assessment of the contemporary reality.5 In short I want to suggest that the poet uses myth as a means to comment (implicitly) on the contemporary historic reality concerned. Furthermore, if a reference to myth can operate as implied comment on the present, this reference can also include didactic purpose, or more specifically advice on how to act in the present reality.
Published
2012-03-30
Issue
Section
Articles
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License (BY-NC-ND 4.0) that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).
