The Best of the Argonauts : The Redefinition of the Epic Hero in Book One of Apollonius' Argonautica / James J. Clauss.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Clauss, James J., author.

Series:

Hellenistic culture and society ; Volume 10.

Hellenistic Culture and Society Series ; Volume 10

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Epic poetry, Greek.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (266 p.)

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

Berkeley, California : University of California Press, Ltd., [1993]

Language Note:

In English.

Summary:

This revelatory exploration of Book One of the Argonautica rescues Jason from his status as the ineffectual hero of Apollonius' epic poem. James J. Clauss argues that by posing the question, ";Who is the best of the Argonauts?"; Apollonius redefines the epic hero and creates, in Jason, a man more realistic and less awesome than his Homeric predecessors, one who is vulnerable, dependent on the help of others, even morally questionable, yet ultimately successful. In bringing Apollonius' ";curious and demanding poem"; to life, Clauss illuminates two features of the poet's narrative style: his ubiquitous allusions to the poetry of others, especially Homer, and the carefully balanced structural organization of his episodes. The poet's subtextual interplay is explored, as is his propensity for underscoring the manipulation of the poetry of others through ring composition. This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press’s mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1993.

Contents:

Frontmatter

CONTENTS

PREFACE

ABBREVIATIONS AND REFERENCES

INTRODUCTION: Themes and Methodology

1 The Argonautic Program

2 The Argonautic Hero in Question

3 Unheroic Contrasts

4 The Best of the Argonauts Defined

5 The Wrath of Thetis

6 fj vfjaoc; fj VOCTTOS

7 Initiation and Lustration

8 The Best of the Argonauts

SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY

GENERAL INDEX

INDEX LOCORUM

Notes:

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

9780520313804

0520313801

OCLC:

1149464277