CLAS 160d2 1st Edition Lecture 17 Outline of Last Lecture I. EtymologyII. Eteokles’ Riddles: The Battle of the Shields III. GatesOutline of Current Lecture II. Who is Homer (HQ)III. Comparative EvidenceIV. What Does the Evidence Teach Us?V. Performance to BookVI. Conclusions: (Who) was Homer? Current LectureThe Homeric QuestionWho is Homer (HQ)- Author: “Homer” From?- Genre: Epic Poem Poetry (Dactylic Hexameter) To be performed orally- Date: ~750-700 BCEComparative Evidence- Hours-long (even days-long) recitations- Unchanging story/characters Improvised (context) In poetic meters- Repetitive words/phrases- Repetitive sections- Variety of Epithets for one character- Poets, high status, hereditaryWhat Does the Evidence Teach Us?These notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor’s lecture. GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes, not as a substitute.- Hours-long (even days-long) recitations Iliad=~15-20 hours long; Odyssey shorter- Unchanging story/characters-MYTH- Changing narration Improvised- Repetitive Sections- Various Epithets Athena, Grey-Eye One, Daughter of ZeusPerformance to Books- Writing is borrowed technology Semitic (Aleph -> Alpha; Bet -> Beta) In Greek mythology too! Cadmus! Changes: Extra consonants -> VOWELS For this purpose? Greek alphabet is the first time oral performance is reproduced in writing- How were the poems written? Dictation-Author? Text= Freeze-frame of one night Poet-Author? Text= Master version?Conclusions: (Who) was Homer?- No concrete evidence- Many people: Definitely a LONG traditions of bards Since dark ages, maybe earlier? MANY poems (not just two)- One person: wrote down Homer= poet or author?- Different Homers Iliad/Odyssey/Other (lost
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