Ancient Literary Criticism

The insights of Greek and Roman critics continue to influence contemporary thought and literary theory. These insights are also central to a proper understanding of the cultural history of classical antiquity. The principle purpose of this collection is to make more widely available some important scholarship on canonical Greek and Latin sources for ancient criticism. Includes specific discussions of Homer, Plato, Aristotle, Longinus, Horace, and Ovid, as well as coverage of the Epicurean and Stoic critics, and of authors like Dionysius and Servius who are becoming increasingly prominent in Classical studies. Many contributions have been revised specially for this book, and Greek and Latin passages have been translated. The volume also contains some previously unpublished work, including a new translation by Jennifer Barnes of Jacob Bernays' 1857 essay on katharsis . In a detailed opening chapter Andrew Laird affirms the value of ancient literary criticism and addresses the tension between the subject's place in the classical tradition and its role in contemporary reconstructions of antique culture. A chronology and an extensive set of suggestions for further reading are provided.