Posted: June 23rd, 2015

greek-roman novels

greek-roman novels

Apuleius’ Golden Ass exhibits some narratological novelties that set it apart from previous novels. Although the Greek original (the Ass by Lucius of Patrae) had developed the theme of a first-person account by a human-turned-donkey, Apuleius perfects the device to surprising and vivid effect. Discuss this aspect of the novel, paying close attention to the character of Lucius before and then after the transformation. What types of challenges and benefits (narratologically speaking) arise from enclosing the internal narrator within the body of an abused pack animal? Given the metamorphosis of the narrator, how does the world of the novel change along with that change of narratorial voice?