Early Greek LiteratureEarly Greek Literature

Homer and Hesiod Homer and Hesiod

The Oral Tradition The Oral Tradition

Techniques to memorizing hundreds of lines of poetry and reciting them orally

Formulaic - repeated words or sets of words

Set-scenes - 8 or 9 lines of verse always used to describe a particular occurrence or similar scenes (sacrifices)

Similes used to flesh out stories and descriptions

Techniques to memorizing hundreds of lines of poetry and reciting them orally

Formulaic - repeated words or sets of words

Set-scenes - 8 or 9 lines of verse always used to describe a particular occurrence or similar scenes (sacrifices)

Similes used to flesh out stories and descriptions

Homer Homer

Foundation for literature Epics used as educational tool in Greece and Rome

Milman Perry discovered these oral techniques in the text of the Iliad and the Odyssey

Set scenes, formulaic composition Wise OdysseusCloud-gathering Zeus

Foundation for literature Epics used as educational tool in Greece and Rome

Milman Perry discovered these oral techniques in the text of the Iliad and the Odyssey

Set scenes, formulaic composition Wise OdysseusCloud-gathering Zeus

HomerHomer

1st word of the Iliad: menin = wrath Central theme to whole composition

1st word of the Odyssey: andra = manBoth are 24 books Timê: honor; something material earned based on your actions

Arete: virtue; acquired recognition/payment

Kleos: glory; not obtained in underworld, so do things in life

1st word of the Iliad: menin = wrath Central theme to whole composition

1st word of the Odyssey: andra = manBoth are 24 books Timê: honor; something material earned based on your actions

Arete: virtue; acquired recognition/payment

Kleos: glory; not obtained in underworld, so do things in life

The Odyssey The Odyssey Return from Troy (nostoi - homecoming) Important Characters:

Odysseus - Trojan war hero, protagonist of epicZeus/Jupiter – king of the gods Athena/Minerva – protector of Aeneas Kalypso/Calypso – goddess who detains OdysseusPoseidon –hates Odysseus for blinding the Cyclops Telemachus – son of Odysseus, now 20 Penelope - faithful wife of Odysseus Antinoos – one of the main suitors Phaiakians - sea peoples who care for Odysseus Scylla, Charybdis, and the Sirens

Return from Troy (nostoi - homecoming) Important Characters:

Odysseus - Trojan war hero, protagonist of epicZeus/Jupiter – king of the gods Athena/Minerva – protector of Aeneas Kalypso/Calypso – goddess who detains OdysseusPoseidon –hates Odysseus for blinding the Cyclops Telemachus – son of Odysseus, now 20 Penelope - faithful wife of Odysseus Antinoos – one of the main suitors Phaiakians - sea peoples who care for Odysseus Scylla, Charybdis, and the Sirens

The OdysseyThe Odyssey

Important Questions: What sort of man must a hero be?What is the ideal family?How should the gods act? What kind of gods do we need?

Themes/Concepts: Guest-friendship (xenia) Ideal hero, son, wifeHusband-wife relationship

Important Questions: What sort of man must a hero be?What is the ideal family?How should the gods act? What kind of gods do we need?

Themes/Concepts: Guest-friendship (xenia) Ideal hero, son, wifeHusband-wife relationship

Travels of OdysseusTravels of Odysseus Kikonians - Odysseus sacks and kills people Lotus-eaters - no longer want to seek home *Cyclops - “nobody” trick, some ships destroyed Aeolus - give wind to get home (guest-friendship) Almost Ithaca - men open up bag, driven away *Aeolus - won’t give them more wind *Laistrygones - Giants, kill men and destroy ships

(all except O) *Circe - turns men into pigs *Underworld - sees heroes of Trojan war (Agamemnon

story) Helios - men kill cattle *Kalypso - keeps Odysseus for three years *Phaikians - sea-peoples, help Odysseus out, bring

him home Ithaca - deals with suitors, gets back wife

Kikonians - Odysseus sacks and kills people Lotus-eaters - no longer want to seek home *Cyclops - “nobody” trick, some ships destroyed Aeolus - give wind to get home (guest-friendship) Almost Ithaca - men open up bag, driven away *Aeolus - won’t give them more wind *Laistrygones - Giants, kill men and destroy ships

(all except O) *Circe - turns men into pigs *Underworld - sees heroes of Trojan war (Agamemnon

story) Helios - men kill cattle *Kalypso - keeps Odysseus for three years *Phaikians - sea-peoples, help Odysseus out, bring

him home Ithaca - deals with suitors, gets back wife

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Hesiod Hesiod

Didactic Poetry/Wisdom Poetry Common to all types of illiterate societies

Written down between 750-700 BCFormulaic elements (reminiscent of oral poetry)

Teachings about gods, morality, how to live your life well

Didactic Poetry/Wisdom Poetry Common to all types of illiterate societies

Written down between 750-700 BCFormulaic elements (reminiscent of oral poetry)

Teachings about gods, morality, how to live your life well

Writings of HesiodWritings of Hesiod

Theogony “birth of the gods” Similar to Genesis, but doesn’t talk about the creation of man

Stories: Prometheus, Titanomachy, Pandora Works and Days

Practical and moral teachings on daily life

Hard work is important, gods don’t favor those who try to avoid work

Brother cheated him out of his inheritance

Theogony “birth of the gods” Similar to Genesis, but doesn’t talk about the creation of man

Stories: Prometheus, Titanomachy, Pandora Works and Days

Practical and moral teachings on daily life

Hard work is important, gods don’t favor those who try to avoid work

Brother cheated him out of his inheritance