Ancient Greek and Roman Literature

1
Ancient Greek and Roman Literature

• Study Guide for the Test

2
History

• Greece civilization began on Crete.
• Called Minoan after King Minos (minotaur guy!)
• This era known as the Heroic Age, because of the
  Heroes of Myths/Homers Stories
• Greeks called themselves Hellenes

3
History

• Olympic games created during this time
• Lyric Poetry personal instead of heroes
• Sparta vs Athens
• Athens creates democratic govt.
• Drama profound questions about human suffering,
  individual free will, moral responsibility, and
  the limits of knowledge

4
History

• Socrates, Plato, Aristotle Philosophers
• Peloponnesian War ends Athens rule
• Aeneid says a Trojan Prince founded Rome.
• Julius Caesar stabbed to death on March 15
  Beware the Ides of March
• Rome splits into two Empires (East/West) and
  slowly declines

5
Epic

• Invocation
• In medias res
• Epic Similes
• Stock epithets
• An extended narrative poem recounting actions,
  travels, adventures, and heroic episodes and
  written in a high style
• Know conventions and characteristics!

6
The Iliad

• Literary Focus Flashback and Foreshadowing
• Know the 3 Greek Beliefs
• Characters Be able to match them to their sides
  and know how to describe the important ones
• Be able to answer simple plot questions

7
Oedipus Rex

• Literary Focus Dramatic Irony
• Be able to define Tragedy, Tragic Flaw, Hubris,
  and Catharsis
• Discuss Themes Fate vs Free Will, Quest for
  Identity/Truth, Nature of Innocence vs Guilt, or
  Nature of Moral Responsibility
• Greek Drama Know it!