Thesiss

Most writers, both ancient and modern, on the Roman world following the downfall of the Republic and the rise of Augustus have centered their narratives on the person of the emperor, with emphasis primarily placed on dynastic intrigue and the larger-than-life figures that made u…

In this dissertation, I argue that Tacitus used humor as an important rhetorical strategy in his historical works. Well-known features of Tacitus’ style, including variatio, weighted alternatives, and appendix sentences, can create and are used to create humor. I employ a combin…