Theatricality, didacticism, prosaic verse, use of persons as symbols, contemplative mood, flashbacks are some of Cavafy’s recurring ‘tropes’. Discuss.
Latisha Cope, Classics undergraduate
Supervisor: Dr Dimitra Tzanidaki-Kreps
University of Reading
In summary, Cavafy’s poems Young Men of Sidon, Alexandrian Kings and Kaisarion,
collectively showcase his recurring tropes which shape a narrative that transcends the
individual works. His use of theatricality, didacticism and prosaic verse, influenced by
Hellenistic culture and Greek theatre, Cavafy uses these tropes to offer insight into historical
narratives. The interruption in Young Men of Sidon symbolises the critique of contemporary
poets against classical figures. Alexandrian Kings unfolds as grand spectacle with rhetoric
tones, exposing the irony beneath the ceremony and Kaisarion serves as a follow up, further
exploring historical figures and symbolising historical elusiveness. Collectively, these tropes
become a lense through which Cavafy brings history to life, inviting readers to engage with
timeless themes.
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