Incohat Ismene: The Dream Narrative as a Mode of Female Discourse in Epic Poetry*
View/ Open
Issue Date
2010-04-01Author
Scioli, Emma
Publisher
Johns Hopkins University Press
Type
Article
Article Version
Scholarly/refereed, publisher version
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
This article examines Ismene's nightmare in book 8 of Statius's Thebaid by contextualizing it within the epic's narrative, comparing it with the dream narrations of other female characters in epic poetry, and aligning it with other typically female modes of subjective expression in epic, such as weaving, teichoscopy, and lamentation. My analysis shows that by exposing the difficulties inherent in retelling a dream, Statius demonstrates sympathy with the female perspective on the horrific war that constitutes the central action of his poem and foreshadows the subsequent inadequacy of words in reaction to such horror.
Description
This is the published version, also available here: http://www.dx.doi.org/10.1353/apa.0.0049.
Collections
- Classics Scholarly Works [151]
Citation
Scioli, Emma. "Incohat Ismene: The Dream Narrative as a Mode of Female Discourse in Epic Poetry*" Transactions of the American Philological Association. Vol 140, Iss 1. http://www.dx.doi.org/10.1353/apa.0.0049.
Items in KU ScholarWorks are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.
We want to hear from you! Please share your stories about how Open Access to this item benefits YOU.