The focus is on the relationship of post-Augustan epic poetry to the earlier tradition, i.e. to authoritative predecessors such as Homer, Virgil and Ovid. The self-positioning of later poets in relation to the canon often goes hand in hand with an endeavour to reconfigure traditional elements: By omitting, varying or exaggerating aspects typical of the genre, their works enter into a dialogue with the earlier epics, permanently subverting the audience's horizons of expectation. The integration of non-genre discourses plays a central role here: modern literary concepts for analysing genre interference are critically evaluated in the anthology and incorporated into the interpretation in a reflective manner.
The methodological range and innovative approaches in this volume make an important contribution to deepening and expanding the current state of research.