De rerum natura (On the Nature of Things) | Style
Epic Features
De rerum natura is a very unusual example of an epic. It lacks many of the epic's typical features, including an expansive setting, a heroic and adventurous figure, and praise for the gods. Still, the language is lofty and lyrical, and Lucretius often utilizes analogies and metaphors to convey his ideas. While he makes frequent allusions to the works of other philosophers, he generally does so to refute their positions rather than to align his work with theirs, as most epics do.
Audience
Lucretius claims that...
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