Literary Criticism in Antiquity: Volume 2, Graeco-Roman A Sketch of its Development

Originally published in 1934, this book contains the second volume of Atkins' 'sketch' of the development of ancient literary criticism. Atkins concludes his history with a look at the styles of literary criticism prevalent after the rise of the Roman Empire, and includes the responses of figures such as Cicero, Tacitus and Lucian to changes in the literature of their day. This work is aimed primarily at those with little to no classical background, and will be of value to anyone with an interest in literary criticism.

Preface; 1. The critical beginnings at Rome and the classical reaction: Terrence, Lucilius, and Cicero; 2. Classicism established in poetic theory: Philodemus and Horace; 3. Classicism and prose style: Dionysius of Halicarnassus; 4. The literary decline and contemporary comments: Tractatus Coislinianus, the two Senecas, Persius, and Petronius; 5. The critical revival and theories of style: Tacitus and Demetrius; 6. The new critical outlook and methods: 'Longinus'; 7. The restatement of classicism: Quintilian; 8. Critical cross-currents: Martial, the younger Pliny, Plutarch, Dio Chrysostom, and Lucian; 9. Conclusion; Index.