This paper brings together some considerations concerning the reconciliation of modernliterary theory and ancient literature. Modern theories reflecting on the hermeneutic actsuch as (critical) discourse analysis, rhetorical theory, reception studies, and New Historicismare discussed in order to improve classical scholars’ awareness of their own interpretativeassumptions when dealing with ‘classical’ literature. Moreover, attention is paidto the peculiar character of classical literary studies as an essentially historical undertaking.Attempts to focus on the ancient Greeks’ and Romans’ Otherness, to use a deconstructionistterm, might offer a sensible academic antidote for the reductionist characterof many popular discourses concerning the classical world.
