Humour and Wit in the Paraclausithyra of Horace and Propertius

Abstract

The goal of this thesis is to show how the Roman elegists Horace and Propertius adapted the poetic theme of the paraclausithyron (the lament of the locked-out lover) to be a humorous criticism of other elegiac poets and lovers by employing inversions, reversals and parody into their poems. At the time of writing, this was a topic not covered adequately by commentators of the works, if discussed at all. Humour in particular has been greatly overlooked by the academic community in regards to these poems. The work is based upon my own close readings of the primary texts in addition to secondary scholarship. My hope is that this helps to change the way these poems are viewed: instead of seeing them as serious outpourings of emotion, they should be viewed as light-hearted, comedic works.