Martial: metrical terminology and literary criticism

Abstract

This paper studies the metrical terminology of Martial in order to describe his own usages and those of his literary rivals, with whom he engages in a constant polemic, in the context of the self-defence of his own work inserted into his poetic program. Martial tries to give form and dignity to the genre he cultivates, and inserts it into a tradition, for which he must justify certain choices regarding the metric form of his epigrams. At the same time, the study of the terminology will allow for a closer understanding of their theoretical knowledge. Although most of the terms used by Martial have a generic character, there occur some technical expressions which permit one to conclude that he possessed some knowledge of the metrical theories of his time.