Homeric Poetics

1
Homeric Poetics

• Aoidos - bard
• Phemius, Demodokus
• Orality - oral poetry
• Dactylic hexameter
• Andra moi Ennepe, Mousa polYtropon Hos mala
  Polla
• -uu-uu-uu-uu-uu--
• Memory - truth (a-leth-eia)
• Formulae - Milman Parry
• Epithets
• Type scenes xenia

2
Odyssey - The Story So Far

• Iliad
• Agamemnon and Achilles
• Kleos, timé, areté, agon
• Tragic outlook
• Gods chaotic
• Achilles - frank and truthful hero
• Nostos/nostoi

3
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

4
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)