Tradition and Identity in Lycophron

• Type: Chapter or Part of a Book
• Date: 2013

Authors

Deserto, Jorge (Author) FLUP

Book

Title: Alexandrea ad Aegyptum: the legacy of multiculturalism in antiquity

Pages: 161-170

Publisher: CITCEM / CECH / Afrontamento

Scientific classification

FOS: Humanities > Languages and Literature

CORDIS: Humanities > Literature > European literature

Other information

Abstract (EN): Lycophron's «Alexandra» has been called an «obscure poem». Through the difficulties of an enigmatic text that raises questions about its author and date, this paper deals with two fundamental issues: first, if it is possible to call «Alexandra» a drama and set a parallel between this work and 5th century Athenian tragedy; second, how Lycophron deals with the long and well established identity of his characters, and in particular with the identity of Cassandra, whose words we hear throughout the poem. A long mythological tradition together with an enigmatic and elusive text - they both constitute a strange and challenging paradox. A brief analysis of Lycophron's «odyssey» (ll. 648-819) shows how the poet manages to achieve equilibrium while dealing with these two themes: tradition and identity.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific