Davina Grojnowski examines Life, the autobiographical text written by ancient Jewish historian Flavius Josephus, from a literary studies perspective and in relation to genre theory. In order to generate a framework of literary practices, Josephus’ Life and other texts within Josephus’ literary spheres—all associated with autobiography—are the focus of a detailed literary analysis which compares the texts in terms of established features, such as structure, topoi and subject. This methodological examination enables a better understanding of the literary boundaries of autobiography in antiquity and illustrates Josephus’ thought-process during the composition of the Life.
Grojnowski also offers a comparative study of autobiographical practices in Greek and Roman literature, demonstrating the value of passive education supplementing what had been taught actively and its impact on authors and audiences, both local and foreign, Roman elite and foreign minority. As a result, she provides insight into the development of literary practices in reaction to various forms of education and subsequently reflects on the religious (self-) views of authors and audiences. Simultaneously, Grojnowski reacts to current discourses on ancient literary genres and demonstrates that ancient autobiography existed as a teachable literary genre in classical literature.
Author(s): Davina Grojnowski
Series: Education, Literary Culture, and Religious Practice in the Ancient World
Publisher: Bloomsbury Academic
Year: 2023
Language: English
Pages: 213
City: London
Half Title
Series Page
Title Page
Copyright Page
Contents
Tables
Acknowledgements
Chapter 1: State of the question
The genre of Josephus’ Life
Other genres for Life
Excursus
The genre of autobiography in antiquity
Aims and structure of this study
Chapter 2: Genre theory
Modern genre theory
What is genre and how do we recognize it when we see it?
The relationships and developments of genres
Modes and sub-genres
The importance of genre
Methodological case studies
Ancient genre theory
Distinctions between genres
Features
Mixing/Theory versus practice
Development
Imitatio
Ancient comments on writing about oneself
Summary
Chapter 3: Josephus’ literary milieu
Res Gestae
Vita/βίος
Commentarius
Υπομνήματα
Josephus’ usage
Excursus – Ἀπομνημονεύματα
Historiography and autobiography
Xenophon
Lucius Cornelius Sulla (138–78 BCE)
Summary and conclusion
Chapter 4: Opening features and subject
Title
Comparanda
Opening formula/preface
Comparanda
Analysis of verb subjects
Comparanda
Allocation of space
Josephus
Comparanda
Xenophon
Libanius, Oration 1
Summary and conclusion
Chapter 5: External features
Mode of representation
Comparanda
Length
Comparanda
Structure
Comparanda
Literary units
Comparanda
Scale
Comparanda
Method of characterization
Comparanda
Sources
Comparanda
Summary and conclusion
Chapter 6: Internal features
Setting
Comparanda
Topoi
(a) Ancestry
(b) Birth, childhood, education
(c) Great deeds
(d) Virtues
(e) Divine intervention
(f) End of career/retirement
Style
Comparanda
Atmosphere
Comparanda
Quality of characterization
Comparanda
Social setting and occasion
Comparanda
Time of composition/publication
Comparanda
Authorial intention and purpose
(a) Encomiastic
(b) Exemplary
(c) Informative
(d) To preserve memory/raise awareness
(e) Didactic
(f) Apologetic and polemic
Comparanda
(a) Encomiastic
(b) Exemplary
(c) Informative
(d) To preserve memory/raise awareness
(e) Didactic
(f) Apologetic and polemic
Summary and conclusion
Chapter 7: Conclusions of the analysis
Review of the previous chapters
Conclusions of the literary analysis
Pattern
Texts outside the pattern
Life
Fowler’s developmental stages
Chapter 8: A new reading
Implications: Re-reading Life through autobiography
Living Life through its characters
Reading the Flavians through the author
Evaluation
Responding to disputed issues
Life’s literary setting
Life’s generic setting
Bibliography
Index
