Both the Satyricon and Daphnis & Chloe have a dense literary texture. What similarities and differences are there in the ways that previous literature is exploited in the two novels?

It is clear upon reading these novels that both Petronius and Longus draw deeply on previous literature to enhance their texts.  However, the two novelists differ considerably in their handling of these literary predecessors.  Longus, for example, mainly based his work on the poems of Theocritus, whilst there do not appear to be any Greek or Roman antecedents for The Satyricon.  Possibly because of this Petronius has a far richer literary tapestry throughout his novel and his references are mainly to evoke amusement from the reader.  Longus, on the other hand, uses the literary allusions as a means of setting the tone for the novel and furthering the development of his characters….(short extract)