The Metamorphoses of Apuleius

On Making an Ass of Oneself

Fiction & Literature, Literary Theory & Criticism
Cover of the book The Metamorphoses of Apuleius by Carl C. Schlam, The University of North Carolina Press
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Carl C. Schlam ISBN: 9781469620718
Publisher: The University of North Carolina Press Publication: March 1, 2017
Imprint: The University of North Carolina Press Language: English
Author: Carl C. Schlam
ISBN: 9781469620718
Publisher: The University of North Carolina Press
Publication: March 1, 2017
Imprint: The University of North Carolina Press
Language: English

This book examines the comic and philosophical aspects of Apuleius' Metamorphoses, the ancient Roman novel also known as The Golden Ass. The tales that comprise the novel, long known for their bawdiness and wit, describe the adventures of Lucius, a man who is transformed into an ass. Carl Schlam argues that the work cannot be seen as purely comic or wholly serious; he says that the entertainment offered by the novel includes a vision of the possibilities of grace and salvation.

Many critics have seen a discontinuity between the comedic aspects of the first ten tales and the more elevated account in the eleventh of the initiation of Lucius into the cult of Isis. But Schlam uncovers patterns of narrative and a thematic structure that give coherence to the adventures of Lucius and to the diversity of tales embedded in the principal narrative. Schlam sees a single seriocomic purpose pervading the narrative, which is marked by elements of burlesque as well as intimations of an ethical religious purpose.

As Schlam points out, however, the world of second-century Rome cannot easily be divided into the sacred and the secular. Such neat distinctions were largely unknown in the ancient world, and Apuleius' tales are a part of a tradition, flowing from Homer, that addressed both religious and philosophical issues.

Originally published in 1992.

A UNC Press Enduring Edition -- UNC Press Enduring Editions use the latest in digital technology to make available again books from our distinguished backlist that were previously out of print. These editions are published unaltered from the original, and are presented in affordable paperback formats, bringing readers both historical and cultural value.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

This book examines the comic and philosophical aspects of Apuleius' Metamorphoses, the ancient Roman novel also known as The Golden Ass. The tales that comprise the novel, long known for their bawdiness and wit, describe the adventures of Lucius, a man who is transformed into an ass. Carl Schlam argues that the work cannot be seen as purely comic or wholly serious; he says that the entertainment offered by the novel includes a vision of the possibilities of grace and salvation.

Many critics have seen a discontinuity between the comedic aspects of the first ten tales and the more elevated account in the eleventh of the initiation of Lucius into the cult of Isis. But Schlam uncovers patterns of narrative and a thematic structure that give coherence to the adventures of Lucius and to the diversity of tales embedded in the principal narrative. Schlam sees a single seriocomic purpose pervading the narrative, which is marked by elements of burlesque as well as intimations of an ethical religious purpose.

As Schlam points out, however, the world of second-century Rome cannot easily be divided into the sacred and the secular. Such neat distinctions were largely unknown in the ancient world, and Apuleius' tales are a part of a tradition, flowing from Homer, that addressed both religious and philosophical issues.

Originally published in 1992.

A UNC Press Enduring Edition -- UNC Press Enduring Editions use the latest in digital technology to make available again books from our distinguished backlist that were previously out of print. These editions are published unaltered from the original, and are presented in affordable paperback formats, bringing readers both historical and cultural value.

More books from The University of North Carolina Press

Cover of the book Isma'ili Modern by Carl C. Schlam
Cover of the book With a Sword in One Hand and Jomini in the Other by Carl C. Schlam
Cover of the book Form and History in American Literary Naturalism by Carl C. Schlam
Cover of the book Indians on the Move by Carl C. Schlam
Cover of the book John Skelton, Priest As Poet by Carl C. Schlam
Cover of the book Coastal Carolina Cooking by Carl C. Schlam
Cover of the book The Rise of Multicultural America by Carl C. Schlam
Cover of the book Death in Life by Carl C. Schlam
Cover of the book Literary Trails of Eastern North Carolina by Carl C. Schlam
Cover of the book Schooling the New South by Carl C. Schlam
Cover of the book Negotiating Paradise by Carl C. Schlam
Cover of the book Machine-Age Ideology by Carl C. Schlam
Cover of the book Choosing the Jesus Way by Carl C. Schlam
Cover of the book Modernizing a Slave Economy by Carl C. Schlam
Cover of the book "God First, You Second, Me Third": An Exploration of "Quiet Jewishness" at Camp Wah-Kon-Dah by Carl C. Schlam
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy