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Ancient Literature Notes Detailed Questions And Expert Answers
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Ancient Literature Notes Detailed Questions And Expert Answers
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Ancient Literature Notes Detailed QuestionsAnd Expert Answers
Epic - ANS comes from greek 'epos' meaning word or utterance
• Epic is a type of poem: a dactylic hexameter syllable pattern
• Types of epic: military, heroic, deity,
Ilion - ANS another name for Troy
Oral to text theories: - ANS - Dictation (c700-670 BCE) largely fixed texts
- Projects to collect epic c.520 BCE fixed the text- Harvard theory
Linguistic evidence that Iliad and Odyssey have older forms of text format - ANS •
Iliad 7.166: Line does not fit syllable pattern
- in an earlier stage (500 years) had a different form to fit the metre
- knowledge of greek etymology allowed correct line to be reconstructed
- R used as a vowel pronunciation died at well before 1200
- This is linguistic evidence that oral epics have been around for years- also
archaeological e.g. epic mentions studded swords (pre 1300) and Ajax wears a full
wrap body shield (pre 1250)
- So they had been singing these stories for many years before written down
- Troy destroyed c.1200- west edge of turkey
,Milman Parry 1902-1935 discoveries - ANS - Homers epic use the reaccuring
phrase system to describe people
- Interacts efficiently with metre- often not multiple ways to describe someone in
metrical gap
- Slavic oral bards used similar techniques
- .'. Greek system evolved over long oral tradition driven by need to improvise
efficiently .'. homer was an oral poet
Genre - ANS type of literature, takes into account the form, the content and the
expectation of the audience and aspect of performance
Type scene - ANS repeating traditional structures describing
• hospitality,
• sacrifice
• sending a message
• a battle
• preparing for a journey
These would be recognised, and raised expectations which can be manipulated or
subverted e.g. warrior arming - see Patroklos vs Achilleus arming up
Framing - ANS sets up and concludes a scene/episode e.g.
• Iliad 1.8 'Which god set those two up to fight in a dispute?'-Dispute-scene- Iliad
1.304 Assembly ends 'after the two had fought with confrontational words'
• Also a way to talk about larger structures used in Homeric epics
,Formulas - ANS gathered traditional, specific connotations. e.g. 'last and utmost'
(Il. 22.203) always forebodes death, heroes who hurl rocks almost always win, ...
Oral tradition payoff - ANS • Learning how to interpret formulaic epithets takes
time
• if it comes up a lot show caution as to whether is was used specifically
Heroes in classics - ANS • protagonist, descended/favoured by gods
• died a glorious death
• saviour/protector of people
• best definition a chieftain in Homeric society- greek word 'hērōs'
Timē - ANS (honor): military success, piety, justice, hospitality, good advice, aidōs
• 74 occurrences of this in Iliad, 14 in book 1, sets up its importance
• Timē is also about social standing
Gera - ANS (tangible rewards): gives you timē
Kleos - ANS (renown): talk about it without translation due to specific connotations
'my renown will be unperishing'
• This is taken up in inscriptions and poems 'he too shall have unperishing renown'
, Aidōs - ANS the thought that 'other will criticise me if I do that'
Aischynē - ANS shame after action when people can/do criticise you
Nemesis - ANS (in homer) indignant criticism
Rhapsodes - ANS pro performers of Homer e.g. played at festivals (this atticus
storyteller, you get a prize if you're the best)
Epic is not just a story but - ANS a vehicle for a sense of cultural history/ identity in
which (nearly) all greeks could share
• Muses are the daughters of memory- poets are a house of collective cultural
memory
Ephebes - ANS youths around 16-18, last couple of years before becoming a fully
fledged citizen
Hospitality type scene - ANS 1. Traveller arrives 2. Description of destination 3.
Waits at threshold 4. Host (often eldest son) sees 5. Host approaches 6. Host
welcomes visitor 7. Host seats visitor 8. Preparations to eat 9. Eating 10. Host
questions visitor
Evidence of an oral epic tradition - ANS antiquated words to fit the meter,
archaeological evidence (or lack thereof)
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