Theocritus

Home > ... > Literature and the Arts > Classical Literature, Mythology, and Folklore > Classical Literature: Biographies > ...

Essential reading Compare
side-by-side World Encyclopedia The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition

Theocritus

Theocritus , fl. c.270 BC, Hellenistic Greek poet, b. Syracuse. The history of the pastoral begins with him, and in him the form seems to have reached its height. His poetic style is finished and at times artificial, but the bucolic characters in his idyls seem alive. Theocritus has been widely imitated (e.g., by such poets as Vergil and Spenser).

Create a link to this page

Copy and paste this link tag into your Web page or blog:

<a href="http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/.aspx#1E1-Theocrit" title="Facts and information about Theocritus">Theocritus</a>

Give this article a thumbs-up on StumbleUpon

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA
Chicago
APA

"Theocritus." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Nov. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"Theocritus." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (November 11, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-Theocrit.html

"Theocritus." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Retrieved November 11, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-Theocrit.html

Learn more about citation styles

Theocritus

World Encyclopedia | 2005 | Â© World Encyclopedia 2005, originally published by Oxford University Press 2005. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

Theocritus (c.310–250 bc) Greek poet, regarded as the father of pastoral poetry. His work, which influenced generations of later writers from Virgil to Matthew Arnold, is noted for its vivid expression and perceptive portrayal of rural life.

Create a link to this page

Copy and paste this link tag into your Web page or blog:

<a href="http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/.aspx#1O142-Theocritus" title="Facts and information about Theocritus">Theocritus</a>

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA
Chicago
APA

"Theocritus." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Nov. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"Theocritus." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (November 11, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-Theocritus.html

"Theocritus." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved November 11, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-Theocritus.html

Learn more about citation styles

Related entries from encyclopedias, dictionaries and thesauruses

The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature entry for Theocritus

Rate these entries|See all related entries

Free newspaper and magazine articles

	Les Langages de Larbaud.(Book review) Magazine article from: The Modern Language Review; 4/1/2007
	Georgics on my mind.(Virgil's Georgics)(Book Review) Magazine article from: New Criterion; 6/1/2005
	Torquato Tasso e l'Universita.(Review) Magazine article from: The Modern Language Review; 7/1/1999

Facts and information from other sites

Related articles from newspapers, magazines, and more

	Success proves to be bleeding obvious for Theocritus; BRIGHTON.(Sports) Newspaper article from: The Racing Post (London, England); 5/23/2009; 668 words ; ...at Doncaster Sales who did not know Theocritus was a chronic bleeder when he stumped...winner. Simcock warned beforehand that Theocritus, a member of Dr Marwan Koukash's...overexert himself. Had he been beaten, Theocritus was due to be retired as a riding horse...
	Pastoral and the Poetics of Self-Contradiction: Theocritus to Marvell. Magazine article from: Renaissance Quarterly; 6/22/1997; ; 700+ words ; ...heroic in order to make its claim (Theocritus); resolutely questioning its status...rather a series of interwoven essays on Theocritus and Virgil, sensitively attuned to...thoughtful advice about the importance of Theocritus to English pastoral. Finally, I would...
	Horse Racing: Fast ground to spark Theocritus revival; TRADING POST.(Sports) Newspaper article from: The Racing Post (London, England); 5/21/2007; 700+ words ; ...that we can find so many negatives to put next to his name. Theocritus 3.20 Newton Abbot Back He had an outstanding chance at the...favourite runs a belowpar race for whatever reason, I think Theocritus has as good a chance as any to take advantage. At the forecast...
	Modern eclogues.(Critical Essay) Magazine article from: TriQuarterly; 6/22/2003; ; 700+ words ; ...beginnings, in the pastoral poems of Theocritus and Virgil, these dialogues between...contemporaries (third century B.C.E.) Theocritus's "idylls" are self-consciously...aware modesty and sense of limitations. Theocritus's "bucolics" are more wide-ranging...
	The pastoral: first and last things.(Viewpoint essay) Magazine article from: The Southern Review; 9/22/2006; ; 700+ words ; ...over those herds. The first collections of Theocritus's poems of which we know were called "Bucolics...usually refer to this work as the Idylls of Theocritus. And these poems of Theocritus gave rise to his great Latin imitator, Virgil...
	Grazing in the Ruins Magazine article from: Parnassus : Poetry in Review; 1/1/2001; ; 700+ words ; ...but the Idylls of the Hellenistic poet Theocritus. On these poems, which introduced...illiterate" poetry. Virgil's debt to Theocritus in the Eclogues is incalculable, and...Meliboeus and Titus, that are found in Theocritus too. How seriously Virgil wants us...
	Seeing Double: Intercultural Politics in Ptolemaic Alexandria.(Book Review) Magazine article from: The Journal of the American Oriental Society; 4/1/2004; ; 700+ words ; ...three Alexandrian poets (Callimachus, Theocritus, and Apollonius) Stephens is able...chapter 2: Callimachean Theogonies), Theocritus (chapter 3: Theocritean Regencies...Hymn to Zeus and Hymn to Delos) and Theocritus (Idylls 17 [Heracliscus] and 24...
	Bouvardia looks well treated off 92; SPREAD BETTING.(Sports) Newspaper article from: The Racing Post (London, England); 5/23/2009; 700 words ; ...season and could BETTING REPORT Theocritus on song THERE was plenty of early...for the David Simcock-trained Theocritus in the seller at Brighton yesterday...result would have been different. Theocritus should be avoided in handicaps...
	Between orientalism and philhellenism: Lady Mary Wortley Montagu's "real" Greeks. Magazine article from: Eighteenth Century: Theory and Interpretation; 9/22/2004; ; 700+ words ; ...peasants' reality but by the realism of Theocritus's descriptions, she delightedly declares...explains, she "no longer look[s] upon Theocritus as a Romantic Writer" but as having...classicism, obvious in the vindication of Theocritus's and Homer's timeless veracity...
	Risky Business: Political Jokes under Repressive Regimes Magazine article from: Western Folklore; 7/1/2004; ; 700+ words ; ...pointed, painful, and permanent. When Theocritus of Chios was told that he would be pardoned...stand before the eyes of the king," Theocritus, knowing the king had only one eye...then, reprieve is impossible." Theocritus was executed for this remark (Clement...