Die gebed in die carmina minora van Catullus : 'n literêre en metodologiese studie, toegespits op enkele probleme in verband met literere interpretasie

Abstract

THE PRAYER IN THE CARMINA MINORA OF CATULLUS : A LITERARY AND METHODOLOGICAL STUDY DIRECTED AT SOME PROBLEMS RELATED TO LITERARY INTERPRETATION In this study a literary and methodological investigation was undertaken of the prayer in the Carmina minor a of Catullus, and attention was focused on the discussion of some problems linked to literary interpretation. Two objectives were aimed at. The first of these was to offer a systematic literary description of the incidence and functions of the prayer within the carmina minora. The second and equally important objective was, by way of the study of the form, style and topoi of the Roman prayer, and in conjunction with a discussion of the prayer texts in the carmina minora, to reflect methodologically on some problems related to literary interpretation - more specifically on the issue of multiple and divergent interpretations of these poems. It was with a view to the problem of determinacy in literary interpretation that the prayer poems of Catullus were chosen as a topic for study. Because the prayer is a well - known and fixed form, with established conventions, and because Catullus is usually regarded as a very direct poet (especially in the carmina minora) one would reasonably expect that there would not be a great deal of divergence in the interpretation of these poems. When the history of the reception of these poems is studied, however, the reader encounters widely divergent and even directly opposing interpretations of the poems. This divergence of interpretation has implications for the validity of scholarly statements - as such the study of the prayer poems in the carmina minora can be regarded as a test case for determinacy in literary interpretation. The course of the study is dialectical. On the one hand an attempt is made by way of a study of the conventions of prayer texts and also by way of penetrating analyses of each text to indicate what functions can be attributed to the use of the prayer form. On the other hand a study is made of the factors which oppose determinacy in interpretation. In the light of this dialectic , which is sustained throughout the study, a set of determinacy hypotheses and a set of competing hypotheses are formulated. The study is divided into four sections. In Section A the wider intellectual context against which this study is to be situated is outlined. In this section the attention is directed to the issue centering on objectivism and relativism (or relationality) in scholarship and science. Attention is also given to developments in the field of the Philosophy of Science, Hermeneutics and Literary Theory. An outline is offered of trends in the development of a philological hermeneutics, as well as to twentieth-century trends in the study of classical poetry. In this section an attempt is made to indicate why an objectivist view of scholarly practice and a normative hermeneutic theory are still dominant in Classical Philology. In Section B attention is given to a forma l and stylistic description of the Roman prayer. An outline is offered of prayer typologies by authors

of Antiquity and by modern researchers. The formal scheme, style and typical topoi are discussed in detail . Subsequently a study is made of the question as to whether it is possible to distinguish between so-called literary and non - literary prayer texts, and various possible distinguishing models are discussed critically. In Section C the prayer texts which occur in Catullus' carmina minora are discussed in four sub- sections in accordance with Kleinknecht's prayer typology. In the first place, carmen 34 is discussed, as a text written in accordance with the conventions of cultichymns. It is followed by a discussion of personal prayer texts, carmina 109 and 76. In the third place prayer parodies are discussed, both the veiled parodies in carmina 31, 44, 2 and 17, and the open prayer parody in carmen 36. In the final instance carmen 1, with the prayer to the muse, is discussed. The order in which the prayer poems are discussed is not only related to typological considerations, but also and especially with a view to the degree of difference of opinion about their interpretation (as emerges from the reception history of these poems). The poems about which relatively little controversy exists are done first, with a gradual movement towards texts about which there are profound differences of opinion. As the investigation proceeds progressively more attention is given to the discussion of theoretical and methodological concerns. While both analytic and comparative methods are used, an attempt is made to indicate why readers interpret texts differently. In this regard attention is given to the way in which arguments are constructed in literary argumentation, as well as to the implicit or explicit presuppositions from which readers proceed in their interpretation of the poems. A study is made of methods used in the study of the poems, as well as to the effect exerted on the results of literary study by pre-theoretical, theoretical and methodological presuppositions. In the course of the discussion attention is directed to both the merits and the limitations associated with different strategies of interpretation. In the conclusion in Section D a systematic description is offered of the incidence and functions of the prayer in the carmina minora. In this discussion the attention is directed to the various prayer types, the position of the prayer text in the poems, and the distribution of the prayer texts in Catullus' oeuvre. A study is also made about how the prayer schema, style and topoi are handled in his poetry. Attention is given to the perspectives offered by a study of Catullus' prayer poetry on stereo-typings of the Roman prayer, and a viewpoint is assumed about the issue as to whether the prayer poems in the polymetra and epigrams differ from each other. As far as the literary functioning of the prayer poems are concerned, the view is taken that the prayer poems can be received against the background of what the reader knows of a prayer and would stereo-typically expect of it. Three relations hips are identified in which the literary prayer texts stand towards the basic form presumed to be familiar . In the first place the prayer poem can be linked to it formally and intentionally; in the second place the link can be purely pro forma, but not in terms of intention ; and in the third place the prayer text can subtly and with certain tranformations be linked to what the reader knows and expects of a prayer, and to the attitudes typically assocaited with this.

The poems which are discussed are then placed within this schema, and the functions which are associated with the use of the prayer form are identified within the context and in terms of the specific poems. In the course of this discussion the attention is directed to Catullus' versatility in the use of the prayer form, and to his preference for the writing of prayer parodies. This preference is related to the anti-establishment attitude of the novi poetae. After this systematic description the methodological problems are dealt with, and issues centering on the required reader competence, the factors which give rise to interpretational differences, and the problem centering on determinacy in interpretation, especially to the extent that it involves the validity of divergent interpretations are looked into. A critical discussion is offered of different paradigms within which literary investigation is undertaken. Attention is also given to the issue centering on the comparability of results obtained from different theoretical frameworks, and to the question about the meaningfulness of literary interpretation. On the basis of the findings obtained, a choice is exercised between the determinacy hypotheses and the set of competing hypotheses formulated in the opening chapter. To round off this investigation, a brief look is taken at the implications which the findings obtained in this study have for the study of classical poetry. It is maintained , on the one hand , that one has to shed an objectivistic view of scholarship, and on the other hand, a case is made for a more reflexive form of literary study, in which cognizance is clearly taken of the reader 's share in processes of literary signification, and the role which the scholar's theoretical and methodological presuppositions play in the eventual results of literary study is assessed. It is finally suggested that a study should be made of the ideologies on which various theories and interpretative strategies rest.