Lucretius in the Greco-roman didactic tradition

Abstract

This dissertation aims to assess the importance of tradition and origality in Lucretius»s didactic technique, including the part played by "poetry" in its success? by following the Greco-Roman didactic tradition up to and past Lucretius as far as the Georgics; and by examining the consistency with which Lucretius uses these techniques. The first chapter distinguishes two branches of the tradition: maqnis de rebus beginning with the Theogony ancestor of De Rerum Nature, and in tenui beginning with the works and Days, ancestor of the Georgics. The didactic techniques used in the Works and Days, which resembles a Homeric persuasion speech, are considered more successful than those of the Theoqony. The Monists' prose tradition is seen as the successor of the Theoqony; verse is reintroduced to the tradition by Xenophanes. Parmenides and Empedocles then adapt the didactic techniques of the Works and Days. Empedocles is recognised as a model for Lucretius. The second chapter considers the Alexandrian in tenui tradition, successor to the Works and Days, by reference to Aratus's Phaenomsna. Difficulties caused by the poem's lack of argument are seen, but the Weather Signs are found to be distinguished by a new subjectivity and sympathy with nature. Translations of an Aratean passage by Cicero and Varro of Atax are seen to enhance this quality. Cicero is shown to be a model for Lucretius, and both translators for Vergil, whose further development of the subjective style is noted. Using it Lucretius and Vergil are found to give their poems a previously unknown unity. The third chapter considers Lucretius's influence on the Georgics. More consistency but less grandiloquence are seen in Vergil. The last chapter tests assertions of subjectivity, consistency and grandiloquence. Three passages of Lucretius's poem and one from the Georqics are compared. The assertions are found to be broadly true.