Mary Beard Writing Styles in SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome

Mary Beard
This Study Guide consists of approximately 70 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more - everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of SPQR.

Mary Beard Writing Styles in SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome

Mary Beard
This Study Guide consists of approximately 70 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more - everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of SPQR.
This section contains 886 words
(approx. 3 pages at 400 words per page)
Buy the SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome Study Guide

Structure

SPQR is divided into twelve chapters plus a prologue and a epilogue. The narrative is primarily chronological, with one significant exception. Chapter 1 begins in 63 BCE before returning, in the start of Chapter 2 to Rome’s earliest days and the legendary stories of its foundation. From Chapter 2, the narrative continues to proceed chronologically, through 63 BCE and beyond, up until 212 CE. The first half of the book therefore acts as a frame story, while the book as a whole could be seen as a chronological narrative with a flash-forward in the first chapter. Beard likely chose to begin her narrative in 63 BCE rather than with Rome’s foundation stories because she wanted to immerse her readers in the height of Roman cultural and political life as quickly as possible and hook them into the narrative with a dramatic story.

In her own words: “It offers the best introduction to...

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This section contains 886 words
(approx. 3 pages at 400 words per page)
Buy the SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome Study Guide
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