Dr. Katie Dennis

Biography

Katie Dennis' research focuses on Latin literature and Roman social history through a materialist lens. Her work analyzes texts in light of the intersecting power structures that underlie the societies from which they were produced. She is currently completing a monograph based on her 2022 dissertation titled 'Songs of Subjection: Slavery in Vergil’s Eclogues,' which reads Vergilian pastoral alongside a variety of forms of evidence to illustrate how these texts were shaped by—or mystified—the institution of Roman agricultural slavery. Additionally, she is co-editing a forthcoming journal special issue with Erika Valdivieso (Yale) that considers Vergil’s 'Georgics' along similar lines, showcasing contributions that reflect how texts adapt and are shaped by the poetics of slavery.

Research Interests