The Issue of Periodization of the Latin Literature in the Time of the Roman Republic

Abstract

The article deals with the problem of periodization of Latin literature in the time of the Roman Republic. The author recognizes the traditional division into three literary periods (i.e. archaic, Ciceronian and Augustean) as partially correct. Basing on J. Krzyżanowski’s theory of periodization of literature (1937), which assumes the cyclical nature of phenomena in the field of culture and literature, the author proposes to separate four successive historical-literary phases: [1] the early-archaic or ‟Hellenizing” period (240–160 BC); [2] the late-archaic or ‟reactionary” period (160–81 BC); [3] the Ciceronian age (81–31 BC); [4] the Augustean age (31 BC–14 AD). The individual literary periods stand in clear opposition to the preceding and following phases. They contain dominant currents and literary phenomena, different than in the preceding and immediately following them. Taking into account the criterion of foreign (Hellenic) influences and nativity, we can easily conclude that odd periods [1, 3] are clearly favorable to the Greeks, which is manifested, inter alia, in translating or adapting the most important works of Greek literature, using literary genres existing in Greece, acquiring foreign metrical structures, literary motifs or philosophical currents, while in even periods [2, 4] Latin writers introduce native themes and purely Roman motifs, as well as develop their own literary genres (e.g. Roman satire, subjective love elegy).