Homer. Albrecht Dihle

Albrecht Dihle, A history of Greek literature

The beginnings and the early epic poem

THE 2 MAJOR EXTANT EPIC POEMS, THE ILIAD AND THE ODYSSEY, DOCUMENT THE EMERGENCE OF LITERATURE

They document the use of stylistic devices that were originally invented for oral purposes, in poetry composed in written form, but intended for oral performance.

DIFFERENTIATION OF GREEK DIALECTS = MAJOR FACTOR IN GREEK LITERATURE.

THE PHOENICIANS CARRIED ON THE HERITAGE OF THE MYCENAEANS AS THE LEADING TRADING NATION OF THE EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN, AND IT WAS FROM THEM THAT THE GREEKS TOOK THEIR SCRIPT, ADAPTING IT TO THE NEW LANGUAGE.

EPIC = POETRY ACCOMPANIED BY MUSIC.

FOR TECHNICAL REASONS OF MEMORABILITY AND EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY, THE VERSE FORM, RECITED OR SUNG, WAS THE BEST.

DEVELOPMENT OF FORMULAS = PREREQUISITE OF ORAL EPIC POETRY.
USE OF EPITHETS TOO.

HOMERIC POETRY = THE TOTAL OF 28.000 VERSES CONTAIN AT LEAST 2500O FORMULAS.

HOMERIC LANGAGE: A SYNTHETIC LANGUAGE THAT HAD NEVER BEEN SPOKEN, COMBINING ELEMENTS WHICH NEVER APPEARED SIDE BY SIDE IN ANY DIALECT.

ILLUSTRATION OF SCENES THROUGH SIMILES.

TYPE SCENES: COMBAT, BURIAL, MEALS, COUNCILS OF WAR ETC.

ODYSSEY = EXAMPLES OF WANDERING BARDS OR POETS (2 OF WHOM, PHEMIUS AND DEMODOCUS FEATURE IN IT)

Iliad = gallant hero who sings of the “glorious deeds of men” to the accompaniment of the phormix, the lyre.