Modern Critical Theory and Classical Literature

InrecentdecadesthestudyofliteratureinEuropeandtheAmericashasbeenprofoundlyinfluencedbymoderncriticaltheoryinitsvariousforms,whetherStructuralismorDeconstructionism,Hermeneutics,Reader-ResponseTheoryor"Rezeptionsaesthetik",SemioticsorNarratology,Marxist,feminist,neo-historical,psychoanalyticalorotherperspectives.Whilstthevalueandvalidityofsuchapproachestoliteratureisstillamatterofsomedispute,notleastamongclassicalscholars,theyhavehadasubstantialimpactonthestudybothofclassicalliteraturesandofthe"mentalite"ofGreeceandRome.Inanattempttoclarifyissuesinthedebate,theelevencontributorstothisvolumewereaskedtoproducearepresentativecollectionofessaystoillustratetheapplicabilityofsomeofthenewapproachestoGreekandLatinauthorsorliteraryformsandproblems.Thescopeofthevolumeisdeliberatelylimitedtoliteraryinvestigation,broadlyconstrued,ofGreekandRomanauthors.Broaderareasofthehistoryandcultureoftheancientworldimpingeontheessays,butarenottheircentralfocus.