Presentation Transcript
Homer: Homer By: Ann Dunn
Who Was Homer?: Who Was Homer?
“Facts” About Homer: “Facts” About Homer Legendary Greek poet
Iliad and Odyssey are important pieces of literature
Homer’s job was to transfer stories into writing
Rumors About Homer: Rumors About Homer Was he even a real person?
Many Iliad and Odyssey theories
Different authors
Group of writers
Where was Homer from?
Reference in Odyssey?
Review of the Odyssey : Review of the Odyssey
Main Characters: Main Characters Odysseus
Penelope
Telemachus
Athena
Poseidon
Suitors
Plot: Plot About Odysseus’ journey home from Trojan War
Is an extensive story told when he is with Phaeacians
Journey took him to “mysterious” lands (past Mediterranean Sea)
Homer’s View on Man: Homer’s View on Man
Role of Heroes : Role of Heroes Must have special qualities
Prove yourself in battle (Only if human male)
“Consider themselves a battleground of arbitrary forces and uncanny power”
Usually related to gods
Role of Gods: Role of Gods All gods are to be respected
Athena (female) is favorite daughter of Zeus
Hespestus is favorite son of Zeus
Ares is least liked son
Women’s Roles: Women’s Roles Meant for household chores
Held to different standards than men
Some women break stereotype
Helen
Nausicaa
Penelope
Women’s Roles: Women’s Roles Meant for household chores
Held to different standards than men
Some women break stereotype
Helen
Nausicaa
Penelope
Overview of the Iliad: Overview of the Iliad
Main Characters: Main Characters Hector
Aphrodite
Agamemnon
Odysseus
Helen
Paris
Menelaus
Priam
Achilles
Plot: Plot Mainly about Achilles wrath
10th year of war
Achilles gets mad at Agamemnon
Hector kills Patroklus
Achilles kills Hector
Trojan Horse
Achilles and Paris die
Role of Fate: Role of Fate Prophecy of Paris
Decided that Hector and Achilles would die
Fate is unavoidable
Homer’s Writing Style: Homer’s Writing Style
Hexameter Verse: Hexameter Verse Mainly used Hexameter verse
Is standard in Greek and Latin
English uses iambic pentameter
Powers of a Narrator: Powers of a Narrator
Change of Scene: Change of Scene Unlike most stories, Homer’s characters decide scene
Homer’s role is behind the scenes
Uses character’s knowledge to explain events
Bird’s Eye View: Bird’s Eye View Gives reader ability to see a large group or event
Power usually only given to narrator
Always starts from general to specific
Privileged Knowledge of Events: Privileged Knowledge of Events Part function of bird’s eye view
Cannot be known “strictly natural means”
Homodiegetic Narrator
Omniscient Narrator
More detail than average person
Inner Vision: Inner Vision Same as gods (even more powerful)
Clear mindedness
Shallowest = overwhelming emotion
Deeper = emotion that is hidden
Deepest = characteristic the specific character can’t see
Foreknowledge: Foreknowledge Story future = narrator’s past
“Plot of Predestination”
Mystery and secrecy is key
Homer hints ending and synopses story in prelude
Foreknowledge II: Foreknowledge II Ending not important – journey to endpoint is crucial
Characters kept in ignorance
Gods know fate of men
Homer shares his knowledge
Gods take characteristics of narrator (sometimes)
Three Parts to Homer: Three Parts to Homer
Reader: Reader Enjoys the story plot
How Homer transports reader
Pleasure of reading
Historic: Historic Greek culture
Want to know date of original Homer epics
Homer’s stories were based on actual events
Mixing of time periods
Philologist : Philologist Oldest surviving writings
Physical part of the books
Writing and speech different
Writing able to be preserved
English and Greek language very different
Other Extra Pictures: Other Extra Pictures
Extra Gods Pictures: Extra Gods Pictures