Roman Tragedy

Description:
The first detailed cultural and theatrical history of a major literary form, this landmark introduction examines Roman tragedy and its place at the centre of Rome's cultural and political life. Analyzing the work of such names as Ennius, Pacuvius and Accius, as well as Seneca and his post-Neronian successors, Anthony J. Boyle delves into detailed discussion on every Roman tragedian whose work survives in substance today. 'Roman Tragedy' examines: the history of Roman tragic techniques and conventions; the history of generic form and change; the debt that Rome owes to Greece, and text owes to text; the birth, development and death of Roman tragedy in the context of the cities evolving institutions, ideologies and political and social practices; and tragedy proper and the historical drama ('fibula praetexta'), which the Romans allied to tragedy. Providing parallel English translations of Latin quotations, this seminal work not only provides an invaluable resource for students of theatre, Roman political history and cultural history, but it is also made accessible to all interested in the social dynamics of writing, spectacle, ideology and power.

Table of Contents:
Part 1: The Birth of Roman Drama 1. Staging Rome Part 2: The Evolution of Roman Tragedy 2. Founding Fathers: The appropriation of Greece 'Livius' and 'Naevius' 3. The Second Wave: Generic confidence 'Ennius' and 'Pacuvius' 4. Tragic Apex: Poetic form and political crisis 'Accius' 5. Canonisation and Turmoil: The end of the Republic 6. Roma Theatrum: The early empire 'Varius', 'Ovid' and 'Pomponius' 7. Seneca's Tragic Theatre Part 3: The Death of Tragedy at Rome 8. Tragedy and Autocracy: The liberty of silence 'Hercules' 'Oetaeus', 'Octavia 'and 'Maternus' Select Bibliography Index

Author Biography:
University of Southern California, USA