Thucydides' War Narrative

As a sustained analysis of the connections between narrative structure and meaning in the History of the Peloponnesian War, Carolyn Dewald's study revolves around a curious aspect of Thucydides' work: the first ten years of the war's history are formed on principles quite different from those shaping the years that follow. Although aspects of this change in style have been recognized in previous scholarship, Dewald has rigorously analyzed how its various elements are structured, used, and related to each other. Her study argues that these changes in style and organization reflect how Thucydides' own understanding of the war changed over time. Throughout, however, the History's narrative structure bears witness to Thucydides' dialogic efforts to depict the complexities of rational choice and behavior on the part of the war's combatants, as well as his own authorial interest in accuracy of representation. In her introduction and conclusion, Dewald explores some ways in which details of style and narrative structure are central to the larger theoretical issue of history's ability to meaningfully represent the past. She also surveys changes in historiography in the past quarter-century and considers how Thucydidean scholarship has reflected and responded to larger cultural trends.

List of Tables

ix

Preface

xi

Introduction

1

(24)

PART ONE

1. An Overview of the Archidamian Narrative Structure (ii.I—v.24)

25

(10)

2. Introductory Sentences (ii.I—v.24)

35

(13)

2.1 Subjects in Introductory Sentences

37

(2)

2.2 Verbs in Introductory Sentences

39

(2)

2.3 Settings in Introductory Sentences

41

(2)

2.4 Time in Introductory Sentences

43

(5)

3. Internal Structure of the Unit of Action (ii.I—v.24)

48

(38)

3.1 Simple Picture Units 5o

3.2 Developed Picture Units

53

(12)

3.3 List Units

65

(4)

3.4 Extended Narrative Units

69

(8)

3.5 Complex Units

77

(9)

4. Patterns Formed by Units of Action in the Archidamian Narrative (ii.I—v.24)

86

(29)

4.1 Significant Juxtaposition

87

(14)

4.2 Larger Connections

101

(14)

PART TWO

5. The Years of the Peace (v.25—vi.7): The Unit of Action Changing us

115

(29)

5.1 Introductory Sentences of Units of Action (v.25—vi.7)

116

(4)

5.2 Unit Arrangement (v.25—vi.7)

120

(17)

5.3 Connections among Units (v.25—vi.7)

137

(2)

5.4 The Narrative of the Years of the Peace (v.25—vi.7)

139

(5)

6. Years Seventeen through Twenty-one (v.8—viii.109): The Unit of Action Transformed

144

(11)

7. Some Conclusions: Thucydides' Narrative Structures (ii.I—viii.109)

155

(10)

Appendix A. Narrative Units and Narrative Scenes (ii.I—viii.109)

165

(14)

Appendix B. Introductory Sentences of Units of Action (ii.I—v.24)

179

(12)

Appendix C. Time Formulae in Introductory Sentences (ii.I—viii.109)

191

(2)

Notes

193

(36)

Bibliography

229

(12)

General Index

241

(8)

Index Locorum

249

What is included with this book?

The New copy of this book will include any supplemental materials advertised. Please check the title of the book to determine if it should include any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

The Used, Rental and eBook copies of this book are not guaranteed to include any supplemental materials. Typically, only the book itself is included. This is true even if the title states it includes any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

FREE SHIPPING

Amazon no longer offers textbook rentals. We do!

Thucydides' War Narrative

Summary

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials