En las fronteras del adynaton: lo imposible como recurso retórico-poético en la elegía latina

Abstract

The present work can be divided in two sections. First of all, it is intended a review of the adynaton in the greek and latin literatures, everything that matters its definition, catalogation and typological aspects. As a matter of fact adynaton is considered as rhetorical and poetic resource with an evolution as motif similar to Golden Age. In regards to typology, we offer a new taxonomy clasification: based on its arguments, lexical contructions and purpose in the poem. Finally, we want to contribute with an old source not considered so far: Πλουτάρχου Ἐκλογή περὶ τῶν ἀδυνάτων, a Plutarch proverb compilation of 52 adynata, whose contents may contribute to understand the frame in which this resource is used. This work continues in its second part, analizing the adynata of love and eroto-didactic latin elegy. A special mention, regarding the ‘abuse‘ of this poetic mean in some ovidians verses –not often classified as adynata- can be considered in the frontiers to adynaton.