Genres Quizlet

Aition

Foundational myths/ origin stories It tells the initial history of all the foundation myths, sets expectations for citizens and leaders.

- Aeneas in the Aeneid on how to be a good Roman by putting his people first, honoring the dead and showing reverence to the gods Metamorphosis, Livy

Amoebean Song

Singing contest where participants alternate lyrics, one picks meter and rhythm. Used in the eclogues by Virgil to capture italian rural life during julius ceaser’s assassination & give insight into their daily lives, connects back to pastoral works.

Annalistic History

Chronological order of events in history. Focuses on objective facts and lack of embellishment is important because it gave an accurate Legacy of Rome, it also shows how history was preserved and related

- Tacitus in Annals wants to relate history w out “anger or zeal motives”

Aphorism

Tiny paragraphs of philosophical thoughts that developed larger philosophical ideas. Important to RTC because through Meditations we were able to understand Stoic principles: self discipline and focusing what you can control

Meditations- Aurelius: Straight, not straightened

Atellan Farce

Masked comedy that gave insights into day to day roman life, simplified speech/tropes to make it accessible to common people. Uses stock characters like the matrona who is the mother/wife and usually annoyed at her husband for his infidelities

- Rudens: Plautus

Comedy

genre of plays that ended happily. Important to RTC bc Romans used literary genres to make their plays/gain the attention of the audience. Widely used and accessible, an idealized version of roman life.

-Adelphoe: Terrence: which made commentary on father and son relationships in rome

Contaminatio

Plot blender: Incorporates materials from other plays into a primary piece. Important to RTC bc it brings up themes of intellectual ownership, indicator of how much Greek culture was integrated into Roman society.

-Adelphoe adopted from greek plays like Adelphi

Didatic

“Teaching” style of writing. De Rerum Natura was likened to “a spoonful of honey with medicine”, supposed to be easy to digest but also taught people. Important because shows the different methods that people would use to “educate” in Rome

-Ars Amatoria is a parody of didactic poetry because it makes fun of how men viewed women romantically

Elegaic

One of the voices used by Virgil in The Aeneid. Elements that give insight into how people viewed death, fate and grieving. Discusses loss or mourning

-Aeneid: when Aeneas has to leave Dido

Elegy

Used to refer to a specific meter in elegiac couplets. Important to RTC because it allowed male writers like Catullus to write more private, ero ti c poems which was in contrast to epic poetry, which was used to tell stories

-Ars Amatoria by Ovid even though it is written in a didactic form, uses elagaic couplets to teach men and women the art of love

Epigram

Short, witty, satirical poems about everyday happenings without over sophistication. Important to RTC because they were literary tools for social commentary and personal expression/ gives insight into the daily life of common people

-Catullus’s poems were a mix of sexual, personal, and political manners

Epistle

A letter writing form in the ancient world. usually an older, wiser man would adopt philosophical themes/reflections in their letters to their young mentees. Important to RTC because it provided philosophical/religious guidance to the reader and showed the mentor/mentee dynamic

-Horace in his epistle to Lollius uses a lot Homeric texts to inspire him

Fabula Milesiae

Stories within a story, satirizing on epic language on inappropriate moments. Important to RTC because it becomes a model to blend narratives that later authors like Petronious or Apuleis will use to write novels.

- The Golden Ass which tells the story of Lucius’ journey as a donkey

Fabula Palliata

Means In Greek robes. Important to RTC because it shows how Greek culture heavily influenced Rome and provided the romans with entertaining and dramatic plays

-Aeneid was heavily inspired by The Odyssey

Fabula Praetexa

"In roman clothes". important to RTC because of the use of roman figures in literature (finally), it did not draw inspo from the Greeks. Maybe also influenced national identity? The Romans finally had their own figures to create dramas/plays on

- Octavia: Seneca

Panegyric

- Propaganda voice of Virgil - Aeneid, justifies the roman empire by saying it is divine will . The Aeneid is a propaganda book commissioned by Augustus

Satire

uses humor and exaggeration for Constructive social criticism. Invented by romans. "held up a mirror" to society. Satyricon, Trimalchios dinner party satirized roman overconsumption/greed

Tragedy

about the fall of a noble/ good person. often ends ends with death. Focused on abuses of power and the tragic outcomes of it.

Octavia, Thyestes: Seneca shows how Octavia was divorced and exiled by her brother Nero

Hymn

Religious songs, an offering of words to the gods. Horace wrote the Secular Hymn to celebrate a new Roman era of peace and calls on Diana and Phoebus. Shows how romans practiced their religion