The following sections of this BookRags Literature Study Guide is offprint from Gale's For Students Series: Presenting Analysis, Context, and Criticism on Commonly Studied Works: Introduction, Author Biography, Plot Summary, Characters, Themes, Style, Historical Context, Critical Overview, Criticism and Critical Essays, Media Adaptations, Topics for Further Study, Compare & Contrast, What Do I Read Next?, For Further Study, and Sources.
(c)1998-2002; (c)2002 by Gale. Gale is an imprint of The Gale Group, Inc., a division of Thomson Learning, Inc. Gale and Design and Thomson Learning are trademarks used herein under license.
The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Encyclopedia of Popular Fiction: "Social Concerns", "Thematic Overview", "Techniques", "Literary Precedents", "Key Questions", "Related Titles", "Adaptations", "Related Web Sites". (c)1994-2005, by Walton Beacham.
The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Guide to Literature for Young Adults: "About the Author", "Overview", "Setting", "Literary Qualities", "Social Sensitivity", "Topics for Discussion", "Ideas for Reports and Papers". (c)1994-2005, by Walton Beacham.
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c. 55-c. 127
Roman satirist whose On the City of Rome provides a richly detailed and highly revealing portrait of daily life in Rome. Seen through the eyes of a friend leaving the city for the simpler life of the country, the city is a bustling, lively—and dangerous—place. Among other things, the poem describes "carts clattering through the winding streets;" giant trees and blocks of marble going by in unsteady wagons; loose roof tiles and leaky jars that can fall from windows. The narrator watches a "long procession of servants and burning lamps" while he makes his way home lit by a candle (a sign of wealth). Later he comments disparagingly that "Iron is mainly used to fashion fetters, / So much so we risk a shortage of ploughshares...."