Classical Period of Western Literature

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Classical Period of Western Literature

• from approximately 750 B.C. to 200 A.D.

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Major Genres During Classical Period

• Genres
• epic poem long, multi-layered adventure
  narrative poetry often sung
• dramatic tragedy and comedy early forms of
  dramatic performance dramatic poetry
• ode a very formal and serious poem. Typically
  composed for a special occasion or in praise of
  someone or something
• lyric poetry most expressive and emotional of
  the verse shorter than the others

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• All of these genres exhibit
• formal elegance
• balance strict rules of composition
• simplicity of construction
• Oral tradition was the only way for stories to
  exist during the earliest part of this literary
  period
• Most works were primarily meant to be heard by
  performers rather than be read

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Examples from Classical Period

• From early during this period
• an epic poem The Iliad
• written by Homer
• Late during the Classical period
• a dramatic tragedy -- Antigone
• written by Sophocles

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Characteristics of a Classic Epic

• An epic is a long, complex story, often told in
  poetic form. The events in an epic are usually
  proclaimed to be true or divinely inspired, and
  often derive from the myths, legends, and
  religions of the civilization from which the epic
  comes.

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Techniques Common to all Epics

• Because epics were recited or performed often
  from memory there is a formula to help the poet
  remember such a long story.
• Each line has the same meter the same number of
  stressed and unstressed syllables
• Homeric epics use dactylic hexameter each line
  is a series of 1 long and 2 short syllables
  there are 6 of these dactyls per line.
• For example
• But Ill make something clear right now, and
  swear a great oath
• I swear by this staff I hold which no longer
  has bud

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• Another technique used to help the poet maintain
  the meter and to help the audience remember the
  characters is the epithet.
• long-haired Achaeans
• swift-footed Achilles
• bright-eyed Athena

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• The epics narrator is generally objective and
  does not judge the characters for their faults or
  weaknesses.
• Many lines, events and phrases are repeated
  throughout the epic.
• Similes of frequently used as a descriptive
  technique.

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The Epic Hero

• The most important element of the epic is the
  hero. The hero of an epic is a human being with
  characteristics a society admires and often
  wishes to emulate. The hero is male, attractive,
  and unusually strong and able. He is a trained
  soldier or warrior and believes in and follows a
  code of honor for which he is willing to
  sacrifice his life. He fights for the noble
  cause those who cannot defend themselves,
  usually women and children, the preservation of a
  society, honor and the noble way of life. The
  hero is considered better in most respects than
  the common man.

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• However, the hero is also in many ways the same
  as the ordinary man. He has the same longings and
  desires as any man might have the desire to be
  beloved and respected by his own, the desire for
  some degree of wealth or material comfort, the
  desire for a family, the desire to stand out
  above his fellow human beings in some way, the
  desire not to bring shame to himself or his
  family in any way. The hero also hopes that the
  divine will favor him and his cause.

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• The hero becomes tragic when some error or fault,
  often inborn, of his own making, brings about his
  own death.
• Often the hero has insight and realizes before
  anyone else what his fate will be. However, for
  reasons of his own, he forges ahead. The hero is
  mortal and vulnerable.

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Resources

• Notes and information in this presentation has
  been compiled from the following text and
  website.
• MacMillan Literature Series, World Literature,
  1991.
• The Iliad a Practical Approach, Phyllis Taylor,
  http//www.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/1984/2/
  84.02.09.x.html