Book Your Summer Shop Summer Reading
The Roman Self in Late Antiquity: Prudentius and the Poetics of the Soul
The Roman Self in Late Antiquity for the first time situates Prudentius within a broad intellectual, political, and literary context of fourth-century Rome. As Marc Mastrangelo convincingly demonstrates, the late-fourth-century poet drew on both pagan and Christian intellectual traditions—especially Platonism, Vergilian epic poetics, and biblical exegesis—to define a new vision of the self for the newly Christian Roman Empire.

Mastrangelo proposes an original theory of Prudentius's allegorical poetry and establishes Prudentius as a successor to Vergil. Employing recent approaches to typology and biblical exegesis as well as the most current theories of allusion and intertextuality in Latin poetry, he interprets the meaning and influence of Prudentius's work and positions the poet as a vital author for the transmission of the classical tradition to the early modern period.

This provocative study challenges the view that poetry in the fourth century played a subordinate role to patristic prose in forging Christian Roman identity. It seeks to restore poetry to its rightful place as a crucial source for interpreting the rich cultural and intellectual life of the era.

"1111369799"
The Roman Self in Late Antiquity: Prudentius and the Poetics of the Soul
The Roman Self in Late Antiquity for the first time situates Prudentius within a broad intellectual, political, and literary context of fourth-century Rome. As Marc Mastrangelo convincingly demonstrates, the late-fourth-century poet drew on both pagan and Christian intellectual traditions—especially Platonism, Vergilian epic poetics, and biblical exegesis—to define a new vision of the self for the newly Christian Roman Empire.

Mastrangelo proposes an original theory of Prudentius's allegorical poetry and establishes Prudentius as a successor to Vergil. Employing recent approaches to typology and biblical exegesis as well as the most current theories of allusion and intertextuality in Latin poetry, he interprets the meaning and influence of Prudentius's work and positions the poet as a vital author for the transmission of the classical tradition to the early modern period.

This provocative study challenges the view that poetry in the fourth century played a subordinate role to patristic prose in forging Christian Roman identity. It seeks to restore poetry to its rightful place as a crucial source for interpreting the rich cultural and intellectual life of the era.

72.0 In Stock
The Roman Self in Late Antiquity: Prudentius and the Poetics of the Soul

The Roman Self in Late Antiquity: Prudentius and the Poetics of the Soul

by Marc Mastrangelo
The Roman Self in Late Antiquity: Prudentius and the Poetics of the Soul

The Roman Self in Late Antiquity: Prudentius and the Poetics of the Soul

by Marc Mastrangelo

Overview

The Roman Self in Late Antiquity for the first time situates Prudentius within a broad intellectual, political, and literary context of fourth-century Rome. As Marc Mastrangelo convincingly demonstrates, the late-fourth-century poet drew on both pagan and Christian intellectual traditions—especially Platonism, Vergilian epic poetics, and biblical exegesis—to define a new vision of the self for the newly Christian Roman Empire.

Mastrangelo proposes an original theory of Prudentius's allegorical poetry and establishes Prudentius as a successor to Vergil. Employing recent approaches to typology and biblical exegesis as well as the most current theories of allusion and intertextuality in Latin poetry, he interprets the meaning and influence of Prudentius's work and positions the poet as a vital author for the transmission of the classical tradition to the early modern period.

This provocative study challenges the view that poetry in the fourth century played a subordinate role to patristic prose in forging Christian Roman identity. It seeks to restore poetry to its rightful place as a crucial source for interpreting the rich cultural and intellectual life of the era.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780801887222
Publisher: Johns Hopkins University Press
Publication date: 01/21/2008
Pages: 272
Product dimensions: 6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.90(d)
Age Range: 18 Years

About the Author

Marc Mastrangelo is an associate professor of classical studies at Dickinson College.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments
Introduction
1. An Epic Successor? Prudentius, Aeneid 6, and Roman Epic Tradition
2. Christian History and the Narrative of Rome
3. Christian Theology and the Making of Allegory
4. Pagan Philosophy and the Making of Allegory
Epilogue: Self, Poetry, and Literary History in Prudentius
Notes
Works Cited
Index

What People are Saying About This

Sarah Spence

A cogent, masterful account of Prudentius's work. This book will make a welcome addition to the list of late antique and early Christian literary readings, expanding beyond Prudentius to engage larger questions of early Christian reading. It will also stand alongside works on the epic tradition, such as Hardie's, while contributing a clarifying view of Augustine's sources and predecessors.

— Sarah Spence, University of Georgia

From the Publisher

A cogent, masterful account of Prudentius's work. This book will make a welcome addition to the list of late antique and early Christian literary readings, expanding beyond Prudentius to engage larger questions of early Christian reading. It will also stand alongside works on the epic tradition, such as Hardie's, while contributing a clarifying view of Augustine's sources and predecessors.
—Sarah Spence, University of Georgia

From the B&N Reads Blog
Page 1 of

Related Subjects

Literature
Literary Criticism
Poetry - Literary Criticism
Ancient & Medieval Literature
Ancient Roman Poetry - Literary Criticism
Literature
Literary Criticism
Poetry - Literary Criticism
Ancient & Medieval Literature
Ancient Roman Poetry - Literary Criticism

Customer Reviews