The Picture of Misery in a Wedding Song – Dracontius’ Epithalamia as An Example of His Innovation Cover Image

Obraz niedoli w pieśni weselnej, czyli epitalamia Drakoncjusza jako przykład jego nowatorstwa
The Picture of Misery in a Wedding Song – Dracontius’ Epithalamia as An Example of His Innovation

Author(s): Natalia Cichoń
Subject(s): Poetry, Studies of Literature
Published by: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Łódzkiego
Keywords: Dracontius; epithalamium; Late Antiquity; Vandal Africa

Summary/Abstract: In this paper I examine Dracontius’ distinctiveness from other Latin and Greek poets writing epithalamia. He is not just another author of original wedding songs but surprises in many ways and can be found unusual even exploring a genre that did not have one well-defined model. To prove his unconventionality and uniqueness I firstly give a detailed analysis of both wedding songs by Dracontius I demonstrate the poet’s dependence upon earlier literature, explain the metaphors he used and discuss his reinterpretations of different themes introduced already by the poets before him. Then I add all my conclusions concerning Dracontius’ originality in comparison with his predecessors.

  • Issue Year: XVIII/2015
  • Issue No: 1
  • Page Range: 79-90
  • Page Count: 11
  • Language: Polish