How would you rate the difficulty of Livy and the two Roman playwrights, Plautus and Terence?
Subjective of course, but nonetheless helpful.
Difficulty of the Roman playwrights and Livy
-
- Textkit Neophyte
- Posts: 12
- Joined: Sat Apr 03, 2004 7:21 pm
- Location: English-speaking world
-
- Textkit Enthusiast
- Posts: 603
- Joined: Tue Sep 23, 2003 11:42 pm
- Location: Cambridge
Livy is, for me, like the Thucydides of Greek. Although Sallust is typically given this title, I find that the state of Livy's prose is reminiscent to that Thucidydean flux: three quarters is fine and one can roll through it, but certain patches, often quite prolonged, rear their ugly heads on occasion. At such points I find it best to read the whole sentence without pre-empting any translation in your head, for often so many crucial parts are delivered too late for an English mind to handle.
As regards the comedians, so called, I find Terence easier than Plautus, but to describe either as easy, per se, would be somewhat rash.
~D
As regards the comedians, so called, I find Terence easier than Plautus, but to describe either as easy, per se, would be somewhat rash.
~D
-
- Textkit Enthusiast
- Posts: 603
- Joined: Tue Sep 23, 2003 11:42 pm
- Location: Cambridge