How did the Neoteric poets differ from the older Roman poetic tradition?

The Neoteric poets, or neōteroi, represented a significant departure from the traditional Roman poetic style, which was defined by the didactic and patriotic works of the Ennian tradition. While the older tradition favored "gravity," grandiosity, and the heavy use of alliteration and onomatopoeia, the Neoterics consciously rejected these excesses.12

Instead, the Neoterics introduced a sophisticated aesthetic of "art for art’s sake," focusing on self-expression and light, entertaining literature. Their approach was characterized by:12

• Alexandrian Influence: They emulated the forms and content of 3rd-century Alexandrian Greek models, particularly the work of Callimachus, who championed concise, miniaturistic detail and consummate craftsmanship.132
• Refined Forms: Rather than long, ponderous epics, they produced meticulously crafted epyllia (brief epics), lyrics, epigrams, and elegies.13
• Technical Precision: They prioritized euphony, smoothness, and artistic structure, reacting against the perceived lack of refinement in earlier Latin poetry.12

This movement, which included poets like Catullus, shifted the focus of Roman verse toward personal, polished, and highly allusive compositions.12