27 pages • 54 minutes read
HoraceArs Poetica
Nonfiction | Essay / Speech | Adult | Published in 1991A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Literary Devices
Allusion
An allusion is a figure of speech that refers indirectly to a text, object, or event. Allusion differs from a reference in that the latter refers in explicit terms, whereas the former refers indirectly. The constant use of allusions in Ars Poetica reflects Horace’s insistence on a comprehensive knowledge of the traditional literary canon. He writes, “The poet, who first tried his skill in tragic verse for the paltry [prize of a] goat, soon after exposed to view wild satyrs naked, and attempted raillery with severity, still preserving the gravity [of tragedy]” (Lines 220-74, Paragraph 1). Horace uses both references and allusions, as in the quotation above where he does not explicitly name which poet to which he refers. An example of Horace using reference is in his passage on “madness,” wherein he says, “Empedocles, while he was ambitious of being esteemed an immortal god, in cold blood leaped into burning Aetna” (Lines 453ff, Paragraph 1).
Ekphrasis
Ekphrasis is the literary device of vividly describes a visual object or work of art. An author who uses ekphrasis implies a connection between the textual and visual arts. In the first lines, Horace’s description of a painting functions as an introduction to the theme of unity that pervades the poem. He describes a painting of a “horse’s neck” on a human’s head, “spread a variety of plumage over limbs [of different animals]” (Lines 1-43, Paragraph 1). Moreover, the painting shows a beautiful woman whose body “terminates unsightly in an ugly fish below” (Lines 1-43, Paragraph 1). Rather than simply stating the initial points of the argument, as in a rhetorical treatise, Horace instead devises a literary device that conveys his overall claim in vividly constructed imagery.
Meter
Meter is the rhythmic structure of verse. The study of meter is called prosody. There are two types of meters: qualitative and quantitative. Qualitative refers to the stressed and unstressed syllables at regular intervals in a line of verse. Quantitative meter refers to syllabic weight, the pattern of heavy and light syllables. A foot is the unit of measurement for syllables. The Latin language typically uses quantitative meter in its verse.
In the original Latin, Ars Poetica uses a hexameter verse, which means that each line has six feet. Elsewhere in his verse, Horace speaks of the unity between meter and subject.
Figurative Language
Figurative language uses words to evoke comparison, disrupt stable meanings, and incite the imagination of readers. Some of the most common forms of figurative language are metaphor, hyperbole, personification, allusion, and irony. Despite the practicality of this text, Horace’s use of figurative language throughout the work reflects his wit and poetic ability. A simile is a figurative device that uses “like” or “as” to directly compare one thing with another to provide a deeper understanding of the first. For example, Horace writes, “As a crier who collects the crowd together to buy his goods, so a poet rich in land, rich in money put out at interest, invites flatterers to come [and praise his works] for a reward” (Lines 419-52, Paragraph 1). Horace’s application of simile corresponds to the occasion of his work. By evoking direct comparisons, Horace can make his argument to the young Piso boys in a straightforward manner. The dense allusions and rapid pace of his verse juxtapose Horace’s use of simile for simple instruction.
