An Imaginary Life

An imaginary life is relevant to foundations of literature for a couple reasons. In the spirit of the past possessing the present, i think there is a connection to be made. Probably the clearest connection i can see here is the idea that language makes people who they are. then and now. That could be language like Ovid's: the actual perfection of the art of writing in rhetoric to create fascinating stories, or it could be language like the child's: the intonation with nature, and the ability to understand its workings. I think there is also a connection to this class by looking at the idea of education. Even in despair like Ovid's at the beginning of the novel when he is nothing more than a bumbling old man, seemingly crazy, there is structure of knowledge. it may seem hopeless but, there is only time to gain knowledge.

Something else i would like to point out is the idea of transformation. Ovid rides the exile as a vessel taking him from a bitter old man, to one having complete understanding and "oneness" with the universe. In a broader sense you could interpret this as a metaphor for education, and that though something seems to be wrong or bad, may transform you into something else entirely via knowledge of that and of yourself.