One of my central future research projects is a monograph titled Memorabilia: Moral Exempla and Episodic Narration in Roman Imperial Literature. This project explores how episodic narratives were used to convey moral lessons and shape historical consciousness in the early Roman Empire.
I argue that texts as Valerius Maximus’ Facta et Dicta Memorabilia, Plutarch’s Apophthegmata Regum et Imperatorum, and Frontinus’ Strategemata share common characteristics that warrant their classification into a single genre, which I call Memorabilia. This genre is defined by brief, anecdotal episodes that often culminate in surprising moral twists, using specific narrative techniques to create cohesion within their non-linear structures. These features not only engage readers but also effectively impart moral and ethical lessons, setting them apart from traditional historiography.
In particular, I explore the rhetorical power of the anecdotal format, examining how the surprise or moral conclusion of each episode engages readers and reinforces ethical teachings. My research also investigates the moral and philosophical underpinnings of the Memorabilia genre, particularly its connections to Stoic and (Middle) Platonic philosophies of emotion and self-control. By analyzing how these texts reflect theories of moral education and affect regulation, I aim to demonstrate how they functioned as tools for teaching ethical behavior.
Additionally, I will to conduct a comparative analysis of the Memorabilia genre with other anecdotal forms, such as natural histories and technical writings, to explore how this method of organizing knowledge reflects broader trends in ancient thought. The monograph will ultimately offer new insights into how ancient writers used episodic, non-linear storytelling to engage readers and shape moral understanding.