In this thought-provoking volume, fifteen well-known scholars from the U.S. and Europe focus on the current state of the interpretation of Roman poetry and on its future tasks. Among the timely subjects they discuss is the role of theory, genre, and historicism, and the survival of the New Criticism. The strengths and limitations of a variety of approaches are considered, debated, and illustrated with the interpretation of specific examples from Roman poetry. A recurring theme is the need for increased methodological reflection. The Introduction assesses the present state of the interpretation of Roman poetry on the contemporary scene of literary criticism. Contributors include G.B. Conte, Charles Segal, Francis Cairns, Jasper Griffin, Michael von Albrecht, and W.R. Johnson.