Ancient Greek Literature

1. Ancient Greek Literature The Iliad Mallon 2012

2. Homer ? • Although a Greek, Homer presents the Trojan War of The Iliad objectively. That’s if, we believe that Homer actually wrote The Iliad. • Oral historian - Dates - 900 and 700 BCE. • He was probably from Ionia (today’s Turkey). • His name means hostage, and many argue that he may have been a slave or descendant of slaves.

3. Conventions of Epic • The Iliad and The Odyssey established the conventions of the epic: • Invocation of the muses: author’s plea to the muses to sing through the poet. • In medias res – means “middle of the action”. • Epic similes – also called “Homeric similes” – provide images used to portray feelings. • Metrical Structure – dactylic hexameter = 6 stressed syllables per line (aids memorization) • Stock epithets – stock characterization used in place of proper noun or name (ie: Hector = “flashing helmet”)

4. Structure of the epic • Iliad literally means “a poem about Ilium (Troy) • The Iliad consists of 15,693 lines of hexameter verse, composed probably in the late 8th or early 7th century BCE. • “The Homer Question” – little is know about the bard and many argue that he sang parts of the text we now call The Iliad in parts as shorter ballads/poems to recount the great battles of Troy (primarily Books 1, 8, 11-22). • Most argue that the “text” is a composition of oral tradition, interpretation, translation, and modification.

5. Greek Drama – themes in Literature • The folly of self-reliance and pride rather than humble submission to the gods. • The limitations of human reason in understanding the gods who rule the universe. • Appeals of moderation between extremes of emotionalism and rationalism. • Protest against tragedies brought on by the irrationality of the gods. • Conflict of loyalties - ? What takes priority, family, friends, country, gods? • Questions regarding justice – how powerful are the gods? Can man be morally superior to the gods? • Philosophy of “do ut des” or “tit for tat” – retribution = justice.

6. Archetypal Motifs – the Hero • The Quest Hero undertakes a long journey during which impossible tasks must be overcome. • Initiation – Hero undergoes a series of excruciating ordeals in passing from ignorance and immaturity to social and spiritual adulthood. 3 stages: separation, transformation, return. Like the Quest Hero, thematically this is a variation of the death and rebirth archetype. • Sacrificial Scapegoat – Hero sacrifices self for the welfare of others.

7. The Warrior Ethic • The warrior ethic is the theme of The Iliad • Great ceremony of war wherein feasting, warfare and sacrifice to the gods must be performed • The risk of failure and shame exists in order to elevate the warrior to heroic status – the hero earns his bragging rights because he has achieved glory on the battlefield. • Argued that this is not a humanistic work – there is an absence of pity which shocks the modern reader.

8. Homer’s Greece • The political and economic systems of Homeric Greece were far less developed than in the later well known period of ancient Greece. • There was no one nation of Greeks – they referred to themselves as distinct groups of people – Achaeans, Argives and Danaans – linked by relationships of the city-states that shared language (varying dialects), belief systems, political structures. • Patriarchal society – slavery existed, mostly captive females.

9. Concepts in The Iliad • Arete – excellence – one of the most important contributions to Western culture. Even non-human beings could possess arete(gods, animals). • Ordinary person could not possess arete – nobility or ruling class – the aristoior “the best” responsible for creation of a definite idea of human perfection. • Became the quintessence of early aristocratic education and culture – has remained as an ideal in Western culture ever since. • Enlarged to signify the union of nobility of action and the nobility of mind – accompanying imperative – honor.

10. Glory • Kleos = Glory = what is heard, one’s reputation. By perpetually speaking of these heroes, their glory became eternal. • Kleosalso means “gossip” or “rumor” – what a reputation is built on. • The poet creates glory for the hero by writing about him – you are heroic when you decide to die for a heroic/noble cause. • Hero simply means “warrior”

11. Honor Versus Glory • Honor comes from the action itself – doing battle – only those who possess aretecan achieve honor. • Glory is bestowed upon the hero for showing himself worthy of recognition. Often glory is assigned to those who die in battle – the gaining of glory is always tied with death – it is both sweet and terrible at the same time. • The Hero is beautiful when he is dead – celebration of the loss is both painful and glorious. • Glorious song is also a funeral song.

12. Homeric Art • The Iliad and The Odyssey were composed in a culture in which art played a central role. The poems themselves refer to artistic productions, most famously the decorated shield of Achilles (Book 18). • Many of the heroes and episodes became popular subjects for sculpture and painting. • Various periods of Greek art: Mycenaean period (1600 – 1200), Proto-Geometric Period (1050-750), Orientalizing period (720-620), Classical period (480-323). • Visit the “Perseus Project” for ideas for your Greek Art Project.

13. Achilles’ Shield

14. The Importance of Homer • The Ancients had no Scripture corresponding to the Bible or the Koran – but they had Homer’s texts. • Formulated belief systems regarding the gods and the relation of gods to human beings, created a moral outlook that remained influential even after it had been long criticized: ideal person, ideal life, arete, the hero, glory, honor, concept of justice, ideas of shame and redemption, the connection between the gods and moral ideals which may result in internal conflict and/or conflict within society.