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Nonnus once vied with Homer for popularity; today his Dionysiaca languishes in obscurity. The Challenge of Epic offers a literary critical rehabilitation of Nonnus' fifth-century AD poem. It argues that modern neglect stems from a failure to appreciate the central position of allusion in late-antique poetry. Attention first focuses on intertextual allusion. It is argued that the poet draws on a plethora of allusions to the cycle of Greek mythology in order to imbue his specific narrative with a universal significance. Focus then shifts to metapoetic allusion: the way in which Nonnus alludes self-consciously to the process of writing, and develops parallels between himself and his subject, Dionysus. Through an appreciation of Nonnus' alllusive strategies, the modern reader can again engage with the mind-bending challenge of the Dionysiaca .

Epic poetry, Greek --- Dionysus (Greek deity) in literature --- Allusions in literature --- Intertextuality --- Poésie épique grecque --- Dionysos (Divinité grecque) dans la littérature --- Allusions dans la littérature --- Intertextualité --- History and criticism --- Histoire et critique --- Nonnus, --- Dionysus (Greek deity) in literature. --- Allusions in literature. --- Intertextuality. --- History and criticism. --- Dionysus --- In literature. --- -Intertextuality --- Criticism --- Semiotics --- Influence (Literary, artistic, etc.) --- Greek epic poetry --- Epic poetry, Classical --- Greek poetry --- Nonnus of Panopolis --- Poésie épique grecque --- Dionysos (Divinité grecque) dans la littérature --- Allusions dans la littérature --- Intertextualité --- In literature --- Bacchus --- Bakchos --- Dionís --- Dionisas --- Dioniso --- Dionīss --- Dionisu --- Dioniz --- Dionizi --- Dionizo --- Dionizos --- Dionüszosz --- Dionysos --- Dionýzos --- Diyonizosse --- Διόνυσος --- Дионис --- ديونيسوس --- 디오니소스 --- דיוניסוס --- ディオニューソス --- 狄俄倪索斯 --- Βάκχος --- Діоніс --- Epic poetry, Greek - History and criticism.