A study of Horace's influence on the theme of moral decline in the writings of Percy Bysshe Shelley

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To date there is no in-depth study on Latin poetry and Shelley, meaning that a significant proportion of the influence behind his philosophical writings has been overlooked. I will demonstrate for the first time that Shelley's portrayal of degenerative moral decline amongst humankind is significantly inspired by ancient literature, starting with Horace's Ode 1.3. My research covers the portrayal of morality and its decline in ancient literature, Shelley's classical education, his own socio-political climate, and his identity as a philosophical poet. My research complements the growing interest in intertextuality and classical reception studies.