ARS POETICA (HORACE)

Laura Pazmiño

Carolina Ortiz

Angela Rodriguez

10 A

Ars poetica•"The art of poetry"•Is a poem written by Horace in which he advise the poets on the art of writing poetry and drama.

•The poem was written in hexameter as a letter to Lucius Calpurnius Piso (Roman senator and consul).

•Hexameter: Metrical line of verses consisting of six feet (basic unit in a verse). 1 feet = 2 syllables

•Term "Ars Poetica" first mentioned by Quintilian (literary critic).

•Horace approaches poetry from a practical standpoint.

Most important literary phrases:•"In media res": in the middle of things. It starts the story from its middle point. According to Horace this makes the audience curious about the character's previous paths and their future destinies. Useful for the plot construction.

•"Ab ovo": From the begginning. Starting a story from its commencement will call the attention of the audience.

•"Quandoque bonus dormitat Homerus": Sometimes, the good poets make mistakes in their works, for example Homer.

•"Ut pictura poesis": As is painting, so is poetry. Both could mean "imaginative texts", so they deserve the same interpretation

Characteristics (General)

•Consistency as the highest virtue of poetry. "A work that attempts to be one thing, now another, is eventually being nothing at all"-Horace

•Authors must maintain the same tone throughout a work.

•Authors should not attempt subjects that are beyond their powers.

•Each incident and word in a poem should be chosen with care.

•"A writer should instruct or please, or both"

Drama (Characteristics)•He give his views on drama under three heads: Plot, Characterization, Style

•1) Plot: Borrow from familiar material in which the author can distinguish himself. If the poet chooses a new theme he has to remain consistent throughout. The events should also be consistent (Indivisible structure).

•2) Characterization: Characters must be consistent in what they say, must preserve their traditional traits and must fit their ages.

•3) Style: Different tones must be used for different moods and personalities.

•The middle should harmonize with the beginning and the end with the middle

•Horace thought the iambic meter. Is the most suitable because it is the most spoken than any other meter. In this one, the second syllable is spoken louder so it is audible to the audience.

•Comic themes should not be treated in a lofty vein of tragedy and tragic themes in the low of comedy.

•Horace takes the progress of Drama in Greece , from the uncultivated days to the time of great masters which were more refined

•The Roman drama began in 240 BC with the plays Livius Andronicus

•No early Roman tragedies survive. From the time of the empire the work of two tragedians survive, one is an unknown author while the other one is Seneca.

Theatre of Ancient Rome•Was a diverse and interesting art form

•It could be festival performances of street theatre and acrobatics, the staging of Plautus's broadly comedies, or the high style of verbally elaborated tragedies of Seneca (Roman philosopher).

•The Hellenization of Roman culture had an effect on Roman theatre and encouraged the development of latin literature.

•The first roman experience in theatre was performed by Etruscan actors.

•The Roman theatre was laid out like a Greek Theatre, there was a backstage area, sitting arrangements for the audience and an orchestra.

Important Roman Playwrights•Seneca: "Life is like a play, is not the length but the excellence of the acting that matters". ( 1st century dramatist most famous for Roman adaptations of ancient greek plays).

•Livius Andronicus: Greek slave taken to Rome in 240 BC, who wrote plays based on Greek theatre. Rome's first playwright.

•Plautus: 3rd BC comedic playwright.

•Terence: Wrote between 170 and 160 BC

•Pacuvius: Tragic playwright

Play Example: Medea, by Seneca and Eurepedes• Summary: Opens in a state of conflict. Jason has abandoned his wife, Medea, along with their two children . He hopes to advance his station by remarrying with Glauce, the daughter of Creon, king of Corinth, the greek city where the play is set. All the events of play proceed out of this initial dilemma, and the involved parties become its central characters.