A Study of the Narrator in Nonnus of Panopolis' Dionysiaca

Book excerpt: This Study of the Narrator in Nonnus of Panopolis' Dionysiaca by Camille Geisz investigates manifestations of the narratorial voice in Nonnus' account of the life and deeds of Dionysus (4th/5th century C.E.). Through a variety of interventions in his own voice, the narrator reveals much about his relationship to his predecessors, his own conception of story-telling, and highlights his mindfulness of the presence of his narratee. Narratorial devices in the Dionysiaca are opportunities for displays of ingeniousness, discussions of sources, and a reflection on the role of the poet. They highlight the innovative style of Nonnus' epic, written as a compendium of influences, genres, and myths, and encompassing the influence of a thousand years of Greek literature.