Roman Tragedy and Ars Poetica

1. ARS POETICA (HORACE)
Laura Pazmiño
Carolina Ortiz
Angela Rodriguez
10 A

2. 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.

4. 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

5. 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"

6. 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.

7. • 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.

9. 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 GreekTheatre, there was a
backstage area, sitting arrangements for the audience and an orchestra.

11. 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

13. 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.