I, Claudius | Topics for Further Study
In Chapter IX of I, Claudius, the reader is introduced to two historians of the day, Pollio and Livy. They proceed to argue over their respective views of historical writing. Livy maintains one can spruce history up by providing its figures with “poetical feelings” and “oratorical ability.” Pollio asserts that “Poetry is Poetry . . . and History is History, and you can’t mix them.” Explain in fuller detail the basic arguments that each historian is presenting here. Which side do you think Graves would side with? Which side do you agree with, and why?
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