Homeric Poetics

• Aoidos - bard– Phemius, Demodokus

• Orality - oral poetry– Dactylic hexameter– Andra moi |Ennepe, |Mousa pol|Ytropon| Hos mala |Polla– -uu|-uu|-uu|-uu|-uu|--

• Memory - truth (a-leth-eia)• Formulae - Milman Parry

– Epithets– Type scenes: xenia

Odyssey - The Story So Far

• Iliad– Agamemnon and Achilles

• Kleos, timé, areté, agon

– Tragic outlook– Gods chaotic– Achilles - frank and truthful hero– Nostos/nostoi

Gods and Human Responsibility

• Gods in literature and religion• Polytheism and conflict• Source of trouble for man

• Athene: metis• Poseidon: chance• Zeus: upholder of justice and fate

• The case of Aegisthus: evil “hyper moron”

Structure of the Odyssey

• First Half I-XII.95 (21 days)– Telemachy: I-IV– Odysseus’ wanderings V-XII

• Apologue

• Second Half XII.96-XXIV (5 days)