Genre
Historical nonfiction
Setting and Context
Rome, from 1260 BC to AD 29
Narrator and Point of View
Velleius Paterculus narrates the book in the third-person.
Tone and Mood
The tone is convincing and factual; the mood is authoritative.
Protagonist and Antagonist
There isn't a protagonist or antagonist as it is a nonfiction book.
Major Conflict
The major conflict of the book occurs when Paterculus begins to discuss the founding of Metaponum after Epeus was separated from Nestor by a storm.
Climax
The climax of the book is reached when Paterculus explores the war between the Romans and Viriathus, in Spain.
Foreshadowing
The bequeathing of Asia to the citizens of Rome is foreshadowed by the death of King Attalus.
Understatement
The role of the need for conquering an entire nation is understated throughout the book.
Allusions
The book alludes to the chronological timeline of the building of Rome.
Imagery
N/A
Paradox
The fact that Paterculus wishes for his book to be purely factual, yet doesn't remain objective is an example of paradox in the book.
Parallelism
There is a parallel between Paterculus' affection towards Augustus and the way in which he favorably portrays him in the book.
Metonymy and Synecdoche
N/A
Personification
There is no personification as it is a nonfiction book, so certain literary devices are not used.
