Plato and the Traditions of Ancient Literature
The Silent Stream

Plato is one of the central figures of the Greek literary heritage. This book explores that heritage in antiquity.

Richard Hunter (Author)

9781107012929, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 26 January 2012

288 pages
23.5 x 16 x 1.9 cm, 0.59 kg

Exploring both how Plato engaged with existing literary forms and how later literature then created 'classics' out of some of Plato's richest works, this book includes chapters on such subjects as rewritings of the Apology and re-imaginings of Socrates' defence, Plato's high style and the criticisms it attracted, and how Petronius and Apuleius threaded Plato into their wonderfully comic texts. The scene for these case studies is set through a thorough examination of how the tradition constructed the relationship between Plato and Homer, of how Plato adapted poetic forms of imagery to his philosophical project in the Republic, of shared techniques of representation between poet and philosopher and of foreshadowings of later modes of criticism in his Ion. This is a major contribution to Platonic studies, to the history of Platonic reception from the fourth century BC to the third century AD and to the literature of the Second Sophistic.

1. Introduction: tracing Plato
2. Homer and Plato
3. Metamorphoses of the Apology
4. Dionysius of Halicarnassus and the style of the Phaedrus
5. Plato as classic: Plutarch's Amatorius
6. Playing with Plato.

Subject Areas: Classical history / classical civilisation [HBLA1], Literary studies: classical, early & medieval [DSBB]