Gnaeus Naevius | Criticism

This literature criticism consists of approximately 8 pages of analysis & critique of Gnaeus Naevius.

Gnaeus Naevius | Criticism

This literature criticism consists of approximately 8 pages of analysis & critique of Gnaeus Naevius.
This section contains 2,293 words
(approx. 8 pages at 300 words per page)
Buy the Critical Essay by Tenney Frank

SOURCE: “Naevius and Free Speech,” American Journal of Philology, Vol. XLVIII, No. 2, 1927, pp. 105-10.

In the following essay Frank offers his interpretation of Naevius’s most famous line, “Fato Metelli Romae fiunt consules,” and explains why it held a “double sting” for Metellus.

The famous senarius of Naevius Fato Metelli Romae fiunt consules was preserved only by Pseudo-Asconius1 in commenting upon Cicero’s thrust at Metellus Creticus in the first Verrine oration, but it is clearly assumed as known by Caesius Bassus2 who quotes the answer of Metellus. Wissowa3 following Zumpt attempted to prove the line much later than Naevius, on the ground that fato in the sense of “fatal necessity” could apply to the Metelli only in the post-Gracchan period when several Metelli became consuls in close succession. Marx4 rightly rejected Wissowa’s argument, pointing out that the Stoic use of the word fato was unnecessary and...

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This section contains 2,293 words
(approx. 8 pages at 300 words per page)
Buy the Critical Essay by Tenney Frank
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Critical Essay by Tenney Frank from Gale. ©2005-2006 Thomson Gale, a part of the Thomson Corporation. All rights reserved.