This comparison of the epigrams of Martial and Owen endeavours to assess whether the title of Martialis Redivivus, bestowed on Owen by scholars and critics as soon as his epigrams were first published, was justified. The comparison covers their lives, their literary output and problems of authorship against the background of life in the Roman Empire of the 1st century A.D. and the early Stuart period in England. Owen's contemporary popularity and later neglect is noticed. Their use of patronage is treated in detail and includes their own attitude to it, their relationship with their patrons and with the court. The subjects of their epigrams also receive detailed comment and comparison. These reveal the poets' own attitude to the genre of epigram and deal with the traditional themes of satiric verse as well as serious topics such as death, philosophy of life, friendship and especially Owen's strong support for the Protestant religion. Martial's and Owen's own epigrams are throughout quoted as important evidence. Their literary and linguistic technique is reviewed and Owen's debt to the Welsh Cynghanedd is noted. Finally some of the verdicts, past and present, on Owen as a writer are collated, before a final summary of similarities and differences. At the end an answer is attempted to the question posed at the beginning.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:634531 |
| Date | January 2012 |
| Creators | Littlewood, Rosemary |
| Publisher | University of Leeds |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
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