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Poetic Diction and Poetic References in the Preludes of Plato’s Laws

Zichi, Claudia LU (2018) In Studia Graeca et Latina Lundensia 25.
Abstract
This doctoral dissertation investigates how Plato elaborates and incorporates the works of the poets in the preludes to the laws. It is argued that the poetic style of the preludes represents a key element for the Athenian’s purpose of persuading the citizens of Magnesia to spontaneously abide to the new legislation that is being laid out.
The analysis is divided in four chapters. Chapter 1 discusses the general approach that has been followed in the reading of the dialogue, for example, the acknowledgement of the parainetic and protreptic nature of the Platonic dialogues. Chapter 2 engages with the methodology used, a distinction is here made between poetic influences and poetic references occurring in the preludes. Chapter 3 concerns... (More)
This doctoral dissertation investigates how Plato elaborates and incorporates the works of the poets in the preludes to the laws. It is argued that the poetic style of the preludes represents a key element for the Athenian’s purpose of persuading the citizens of Magnesia to spontaneously abide to the new legislation that is being laid out.
The analysis is divided in four chapters. Chapter 1 discusses the general approach that has been followed in the reading of the dialogue, for example, the acknowledgement of the parainetic and protreptic nature of the Platonic dialogues. Chapter 2 engages with the methodology used, a distinction is here made between poetic influences and poetic references occurring in the preludes. Chapter 3 concerns the investigation of 21 preludes which have been divided in three groups: group 1, “Praise and Blame”, examines the encomiastic discourse of the Athenian, and more specifically the poetic references to the epinician genre; group 2, “Jussive Parainesis”, analyses the diction and the prescriptive style of the preludes; group 3, “Myth as Poetic Rationale” focusses on the resort to fictive stories as a useful means to instil in the young the desire to follow the regulations established for Magnesia. Each group is followed by a concluding section, which summarises the results of the preceding analysis. Chapter 4 restates the findings of the investigations, interprets the preludes in relation to tragic theatre and engages in a discussion regarding the important meaning at 7.717b of the politeia as “truest tragedy.” (Less)
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author
supervisor
opponent
  • associate professor Capra, Andrea, Durham University, England
organization
publishing date
type
Thesis
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Plato, Laws, Poetry, Preludes
in
Studia Graeca et Latina Lundensia
volume
25
pages
278 pages
publisher
MediaTryck Lund
defense location
Hörsalen, Språk- och litteraturcentrum, Helgonabacken 12, Lund
defense date
2018-06-09 10:15:00
ISSN
1100-7931
ISBN
978-91-7753-708-3
978-91-7753-709-0
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
a5d1d4ea-9eab-4154-a0f8-b65664e80afc
date added to LUP
2018-05-08 21:16:51
date last changed
2021-07-20 15:15:12
@phdthesis{a5d1d4ea-9eab-4154-a0f8-b65664e80afc,
  abstract     = {{This doctoral dissertation investigates how Plato elaborates and incorporates the works of the poets in the preludes to the laws. It is argued that the poetic style of the preludes represents a key element for the Athenian’s purpose of persuading the citizens of Magnesia to spontaneously abide to the new legislation that is being laid out.<br/>The analysis is divided in four chapters. Chapter 1 discusses the general approach that has been followed in the reading of the dialogue, for example, the acknowledgement of the parainetic and protreptic nature of the Platonic dialogues. Chapter 2 engages with the methodology used, a distinction is here made between poetic influences and poetic references occurring in the preludes. Chapter 3 concerns the investigation of 21 preludes which have been divided in three groups: group 1, “Praise and Blame”, examines the encomiastic discourse of the Athenian, and more specifically the poetic references to the epinician genre; group 2, “Jussive Parainesis”, analyses the diction and the prescriptive style of the preludes; group 3, “Myth as Poetic Rationale” focusses on the resort to fictive stories as a useful means to instil in the young the desire to follow the regulations established for Magnesia. Each group is followed by a concluding section, which summarises the results of the preceding analysis. Chapter 4 restates the findings of the investigations, interprets the preludes in relation to tragic theatre and engages in a discussion regarding the important meaning at 7.717b of the <i>politeia</i> as “truest tragedy.”}},
  author       = {{Zichi, Claudia}},
  isbn         = {{978-91-7753-708-3}},
  issn         = {{1100-7931}},
  keywords     = {{Plato; Laws; Poetry; Preludes}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{06}},
  publisher    = {{MediaTryck Lund}},
  school       = {{Lund University}},
  series       = {{Studia Graeca et Latina Lundensia}},
  title        = {{Poetic Diction and Poetic References in the Preludes of Plato’s <i>Laws</i>}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/42809899/Claudia_Zichi_webb.pdf}},
  volume       = {{25}},
  year         = {{2018}},
}