Direct Speech in Nonnus’ __Dionysiaca__: Narrative and rhetorical functions of the characters’ “varied” and “many-faceted” words

Direct Speech in Nonnus’ Dionysiaca is the first extensive study of speech in Nonnus’ Dionysiaca (5th century AD). It presents an in-depth analysis of the narrative functions of direct speech and their implications for the presentation of the epic story. ‎Contents 5 ‎Preface 9 ‎Abbreviations 11 ‎Acknowledgements 12 ‎Introduction 13 ‎Variation or Incoherence; Virtue or Vice? 21 ‎1880–1943: The “Problem” of Unity and Structure 22 ‎Since 1964: Advocating the Principle of ‭ποικιλία‬ 25 ‎Direct Speech in the Dionysiaca 27 ‎Scholarly Research on Direct Speech in Greek Epic Poetry 30 ‎Homer, Apollonius, Quintus and Nonnus Compared: Statistical Data 36 ‎Objectives and Approaches 43 ‎A Comparative Approach 45 ‎A Narratological Point of View 45 ‎A Rhetorical Model of Analysis 49 ‎On the Structure of This Book 50 ‎Overview of Chapters 1–6 50 ‎Part 1. Epic Speech in Transformation 53 ‎Chapter 1. Imitation and Transformation: From Troy to India and from Medea to Morrheus 55 ‎1.1. Speeches and Dialogues in the ‭Διὸς ἀπάτη‬ Episode 56 ‎1.1.1. Hera and Aphrodite 60 ‎1.1.2. Hera and Hypnus 67 ‎1.2. A Speech for a Speech: Apollonius Inverted 75 ‎1.2.1. Arguing for and against: Aphrodite’s Double Role 75 ‎1.2.2. From Medea to Morrheus: Torn between Contradictory Feelings 81 ‎1.3. Nonnus and Quintus (or Libanius): ‭Τίνας ἂν εἴποι λόγους‬; 86 ‎1.3.1. What Achilles and Penthesilea Would Have Said 87 ‎1.4. Speech Composition and Narrative Structures 91 ‎Chapter 2. Types of Epic Speech: The Battle Exhortation 94 ‎2.1. Defining the Corpus: The Epic and the Historiographical Tradition 96 ‎2.2. Exhortations in Nonnus: Subtypes of the Battle Exhortation 99 ‎2.2.1. Generals’ Exhortations 100 ‎2.2.2. Exhortations by Gods (in Disguise) 108 ‎2.2.3. Other Types of Battle Exhortations 111 ‎2.2.4. Tradition and Innovation 112 ‎2.3. Exhortative Topoi and Recurring Motifs in Nonnus 114 ‎2.3.1. ‭Δίκαιον‬ 114 ‎2.3.2. ‭Συμφέρον‬/‭ἐκβησόμενον‬ 115 ‎2.3.3. ‭Καλόν‬ 116 ‎2.3.4. ‭Δυνατόν‬ 118 ‎2.3.5. Particularities of the “Nonnian” Exhortation 120 ‎2.4. Selected Examples: Untraditional Exhortations in Nonnus 121 ‎2.4.1. Typhon’s Army of Monsters 121 ‎2.4.2. Pentheus and Lycurgus as Spurious Generals 129 ‎2.4.3. Inverse Exhortations 136 ‎2.4.4. Love on the Battlefield 144 ‎2.5. Epic and Rhetorical Conventions 149 ‎Chapter 3. Speeches within Speeches 151 ‎3.1. Potential ‭τις‬-Speech in Nonnus: A Homeric Device Revived 153 ‎3.1.1. Defining Potential ‭τις‬-Speech in Nonnus 158 ‎3.1.2. Nonnus’ Potential ‭τις‬-Speech and the Literary Tradition 163 ‎3.1.3. New Wine in Old Vessels 175 ‎3.2. More Hypothetical Speeches 180 ‎3.2.1. First Person Potential Speeches 180 ‎3.2.2. Messenger Requests 182 ‎3.2.3. Procatalepsis 184 ‎3.2.4. Third Person “Desired” Speeches 186 ‎3.3. Hypothetical Speech, a “Nonnian” Device 189 ‎Part 2. Rhetoric and Narrative 191 ‎Chapter 4. The Rhetoric of Deception: Persuasive Strategies 193 ‎4.1. Deceptive Speeches 194 ‎4.1.1. Defining the Corpus 195 ‎4.1.2. Manipulation at Work 202 ‎4.2. Speaking in Disguise: ‭ἠ̃θος‬, ‭πάθος‬ and Authority 206 ‎4.3. Hera’s Deception of Semele: A Case Study 211 ‎4.3.1. Phthonus to Hera (and Athena) 211 ‎4.3.2. Hera to Apate 219 ‎4.3.3. Hera to Semele 224 ‎4.3.4. Step by Step: ‭φθόνος‬ and ‭ἀπάτη‬ in the Story of Semele 229 ‎4.4. True or False? As Long as It is Artful 231 ‎Chapter 5. Ecphrastic Ethopoeae and the Perspective of the Text-Internal Observer 233 ‎5.1. Suddenly Appearing Characters and Their Speeches 237 ‎5.1.1. Anonymous Observers 239 ‎5.1.2. Mythological Figures 241 ‎5.1.3. Divine Observers 243 ‎5.1.4. The Voice of the Text-Internal Observer 244 ‎5.2. Looking through the Text-Internal Observer’s Eyes 247 ‎5.2.1. About Europa 248 ‎5.2.2. About Cadmus and Harmonia 254 ‎5.2.3. About Semele 256 ‎5.2.4. Other Examples of the Same Interpretative Technique 260 ‎5.2.5. Ekphrasis, Interpretation and “Cultural Competence” in the Description of Beauty 268 ‎5.3. Comments from Above 274 ‎5.3.1. Hera about Europa and Zeus 274 ‎5.3.2. Selene about Harmonia and Cadmus 276 ‎5.3.3. Semele about Dionysus 278 ‎5.3.4. Semele about Ino 280 ‎5.3.5. Aphrodite about Morrheus and Chalcomede 282 ‎5.3.6. Humour and the Divine Perspective 283 ‎5.4. A Double Role 284 ‎Chapter 6. Rhetoric of Seduction and Failure of Communication in the Beroe Episode 286 ‎6.1. Amatory Rhetoric: The Case of the ‭παρθένοι φυγόδεμνοι‬ 286 ‎6.2. Beirut and Beroe 289 ‎6.3. Dionysus and Poseidon Courting Beroe: A Series of Amorous Approaches 291 ‎6.3.1. Dionysus to Beroe (1) 291 ‎6.3.2. Dionysus to Beroe (2) 292 ‎6.3.3. Dionysus to Beroe (3) 295 ‎6.3.4. Dionysus to Beroe (4) 296 ‎6.3.5. Poseidon to Beroe 300 ‎6.4. Fruitless Metaphors and Arguments Unheard 301 ‎Conclusion 304 ‎One More Speech: Aura’s Last Words 304 ‎‭Οὔ πω μυ̃θος ἔληγε‬: General Observations on Direct Speech in Nonnus 307 ‎Appendix 313 ‎Summary of the Dionysiaca 313 ‎Books 1–8: A Lengthy Prequel to the Story of Dionysus 313 ‎Books 9–12: Dionysus’ Childhood and Youth 314 ‎Books 13–24: The Expedition to India 314 ‎Books 25–40.297: The War in India 316 ‎Books 40.298–248: The Way Back Home 318 ‎Bibliography 320 ‎General Index 338 ‎Index Locorum 340 Direct Speech In Nonnus’ Dionysiaca Is The First More Extensive Study Of The Use And Functions Of Direct Speech In Nonnus’ Dionysiaca (5th Century Ad). Its Long Soliloquies And Scarcity Of Dialogues Have Often Been Pointed Out As Striking Characteristics Of Nonnus’ Epic Style, But Nonetheless This Fascinating Subject Received Relatively Little Attention. Berenice Verhelst Aims To Reveal The Poem’s Constant Interplay Between The Epic Tradition And The Late Antique Literary Context With Its Clear Rhetorical Stamp. She Focusses On The Changed Functions Of Direct Speech And Their Implications For The Presentation Of The Mythological Story. Organized Around Six Case Studies, This Book Presents An In-depth Analysis Of A Representative Part Of The Vast Corpus Of The Dionysiaca’s 305 Speeches.-- Introduction -- Part 1 - Epic Speech In Transformation -- Part 2 - Rhetoric And Narrative -- Conclusion -- Appendix: Summary Of The Dionysiaca. By Berenice Verhelst. The Digital Appendix To This Book (database Of Direct Speech In Greek Epic Poetry) Can Be Consulted Online At Www.dsgep.ugent.be.--publisher's Website (viewed April 12, 2017). Includes Bibliographical References (pages 308-325) And Index.