Dialogpoetik der Quaestiones Convivales von Plutarch

The Quaestiones Convivales by Plutarch is a typical example of the miscellaneous literature of the Imperial period. At first glance, its composition may not seem to strive for any recognizable order. However, an analysis of character development, the components of time and space, and the paratexts reveals that it indeed possesses a literarily thoughtful structure. This structure incorporates the autofictional character of Plutarch as an essential element, allowing the conversations to be arranged like a chain of associations reminiscent of an autobiographical search for memory. Through the interconnection of three different levels of discourse, both theoretical knowledge about the Greek symposium is conveyed and this knowledge is applied to the staged symposiums.