Chapter 4 No.4

Q. ENNIUS, 239-170 b.c., LIFE, TIMES, AND PERSONAL TRAITS.

VARIOUS WORKS. GENIUS AND INTELLECT.

Importance of Ennius 62

Notices of his life 63

Influences affecting his career 64

Italian birth-place 64

Greek education 65

Service in Roman army 66

Historical importance of his age 68

Intellectual character of his age 69

Personal traits 71

Description of himself in the Annals 72

Intimacy with Scipio 74

His enthusiastic temperament 75

Religious spirit and convictions 77

Miscellaneous works 79

Saturae 81

Dramas 83

Annals 88

Outline of the Poem 89

Idea by which it is animated 92

Artistic defects 93

Roman character of the work 94

Contrast with the Greek Epic 96

Contrast in its personages 96

Contrast in supernatural element 97

Oratory in the Annals 98

Description and imagery 100

Rhythm and diction 102

Chief literary characteristics of Ennius 106

Energy of conception 107

Patriotic and imaginative sentiment 110

Moral emotion 112

Practical understanding 113

Estimate in ancient times 116

Disparaging criticism of Niebuhr 118