Narratives in Silius Italicus’ Punica

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This study investigates the role of embedded narratives in Silius Italicus’ Punica, an epic from the late first century AD on the Second Punic War (218–202 BC). At first sight, these narratives seem to be loosely ‘embedded’ in the epic, having their own plot and being situated in a different time or place than the main narrative. A closer look reveals, however, that they foreshadow or recall elements that are found elsewhere in the epic. In this way, they serve as ‘mirrors’ of the main narrative. The larger part of this book consists of four detailed case studies.
Copyright Year:
2024
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978-90-04-68583-3
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13 Nov 2023
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978-90-04-68582-6
Publication:
15 Nov 2023
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About MyBook
Pieter van den Broek, Ph.D. (2021), University of Amsterdam, is a researcher of Latin poetry from the imperial period. He has published articles on Ovid, Silius Italicus, Statius, and Valerius Flaccus. He teaches classics at the Stedelijk Gymnasium Schiedam.
"V.d.B.’s monograph offers an excellent contribution to the literary exegesis of Silius Italicus’ Punica and a highly appropriate addition to the series The Language of Classical Literature. [...] This book is a splendid addition to Silian studies. It is suitable for a wide range of readers from the undergraduate level onwards. The clarity of its layout, helpful subheadings, detailed contents, bibliography, general index and index locorum, is enhanced by v.d.B.’s agreeably succinct and modestly magisterial style, very occasionally marred by linguistic inaccuracy and contorted spelling." - R Joy Littlewood, in: The Classical Review, 75.1 (2025) 152-154.
Acknowledgements
Abbreviations of Editions and Reference Works
Texts and Translations

Introduction
 1 Embedded Narratives in the Punica
 2 Embedded Narratives and Their Functions
 3 Embedded Narratives and Tactics of Delay
 4 Embedded Narratives as mise en Abyme: The Example of Proteus
 5 Theory and Method
 6 Scope of This Study
 7 Relevance of This Study

1 An Ambiguous Oracle from the Libyan Desert
 1 In the Footsteps of Alexander
 2 Synopsis of the Narrative
 3 Narratological Structure
 4 Intertextuality
 5 The Function of the Narrative in the Punica
 6 Conclusion

2 Regulus: an Exemplary Hero?
 1 Introduction
 2 Synopsis of the Narrative
 3 Narratology
 4 Marus as a Host
 5 Exemplarity as Medicine?
 6 Learning from the Past?
 7 Marus’ First Narrative: The Fight with the Snake
 8 Marus’ Second Narrative: The Defeat of Regulus
 9 Conclusion

3 A Peaceful Theoxeny amidst Hannibal’s Fury
 1 Introduction
 2 A New Beginning
 3 A Georgic World
 4 The Story of Falernus as an Ideal Theoxeny
 5 Lucanian Echoes
 6 Falernus Overcome by Bacchus
 7 Foaming Cups: Intra- and Intertextual Ramifications
 8 The Falernus Episode and Hannibal’s Downfall
 9 Bacchus as an Unstable Exemplar in the Punica
 10 Conclusion

4 Anna and the Paradox of Cannae
 1 Introduction
 2 Juno’s Intervention in the War
 3 Anna and Juturna
 4 The Prooemium to the Narrative
 5 Dido’s Death
 6 Anna’s Stay at Cyrene
 7 Sea Storm and Arrival in Latium
 8 Anna Meets Aeneas
 9 First Narrative of Anna: Dido’s Demise
 10 Aeneas’ Narrative
 11 Anna’s Second Narrative
 12 Dido’s Final Words
 13 Anna Tries to Become Dido (but Fails)
 14 Reconciliation Prevented
 15 Anna Decides to Flee
 16 Anna’s Incitation of Hannibal
 17 Hannibal’s Response
 18 Conclusion

Conclusion
 1 Embedded Narratives as Reflections of the Whole
 2 Value of Combined Methodology
 3 Narrative of Bostar
 4 Narrative of Regulus
 5 Narrative of Falernus
 6 Narrative of Anna Perenna
 7 Envoi

Bibliography
Index
Anyone interested in Silius Italicus' Punica, imperial literature, Flavian epic, narratology and intertexuality.
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Publisher:
Brill
Language:
English
Pages:
xviii, 309 pp.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004685833

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