M. Öhrman, Varying Virtue. Mythological Paragons of Wifely Virtues in Roman Elegy

Magdalena Öhrman, Varying Virtue. Mythological Paragons of Wifely Virtues in Roman Elegy, Lund: Centre for Languages and Literature, Lund University, coll. "Studia Graeca et Latina Lundensia" 15, 2008. 218 pages.    

ISBN 9789162873943  
Recension par Glenn C. Lacki (St Hugh's College, University of Oxfor) dans Bryn Mawr Classical Review 2009.04.47.

Présentation de l'éditeur:

This dissertation investigates references to five mythological characters (Penelope, Laodamia, Andromache, Alcestis and Euadne) used as paragons of wifely virtues in Roman elegy. Providing extensive close readings, it discusses the usage of these five characters in the works of Propertius and Tibullus, and in the elegiac works of Ovid, with special reference to issues of narratology, intertextuality, and literary genre. The shaping of such mythological references is significant for our understanding of the elegiac genre as a whole. References found in Propertius, Tibullus, and Ovid's Amores (‘canonical' elegy) are discussed in Chapter One. Mythological and intertextual inconsistencies reveal a skewed perspective on the elegiac relationship both with regards to the narrator's appreciation of the beloved and his self-representation. The chapter argues that well-known examples of virtue cannot be incorporated into the system of ‘canonical' elegy to which infidelity is intrinsic without a sense of jarring. Chapter Two examines the letters of Penelope and Laodamia in Ovid's Heroides, finding there the same sense of grating between the epic-tragic and elegiac genre systems. In addition it shows that statements by both characters may be read as metapoetic statements on the aims of the genre. Passages drawing on the selected characters in erotodidactic elegy are investigated in Chapter Three. Here, references are of two types, one establishing the credibility of the erotodidactic narrators as changes to the evaluation of the mythological characters are in keeping with their claims for themselves, the other revealing the narrator's world view to be comically blinkered as myths have to be tweaked to an absurd extent in order to fit the precepts proposed. The fourth chapter deals with instances in Ovid's exile poetry, highlighting the importance of Ovid's earlier works as intertexts and the re-inscription of the Ars amatoria into the exilic poetry. Furthermore, we note that these mythological characters become vehicles for metapoetic statements on ‘canonical' elegy, confirming the traditional tendency of that genre. In conclusion, the dissertation shows that careful reading of seemingly stereotypical mythological references may assist in establishing elegy as a genre concerned with consolidating traditional Roman values.

L'auteur:

Magdalena Öhrman studied Classics and comparative literature in Sweden and at Munich, and finished her Lund University PhD as a visiting doctoral student at Manchester in 2008. She is an enthusiastic alumna of the German Academic Exchange Service and the Swedish Foundation for International Cooperation in Research and Higher Education.

Her research interests focus mainly on Roman literature, including literary patronage and the use of literary theory in the field of Classics. Her thesis, "Varying Virtue. Mythological Paragons of Wifely Virtues in Roman Elegy" (published at Lund 2008) investigates the use of female mythological examples of wifely virtue in Roman love elegy, and she has also published on aspects of mythology in Catullus and Ovid. Her current research project deals with issues of genre and characterization in Ovid's exile poetry.