The Idea of Ancient Literary Criticism in Bloomington, MN

This book offers a sustained reading of the social function of the body of texts we identify as 'ancient literary criticism' with major implications for how we understand this discourse and also modern criticism and literary theory. The volume traces ancient criticism from its origins in archaic Greek poetry through to the early Christian era. As well as reading the familiar texts of ancient criticism, it shows how ancient law, history, and rhetoric participate in the critical process.