CLCV 2008 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Dactylic Hexameter, Indirect Speech, Intertextuality
29 Nov 2016
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Document Summary
A grouping of texts sharing recognizable features of form and content. Plato"s republic (3. 392c ff: narration (diegesis), indirect speech, imitation (mimesis), direct speech. Intertextuality > one artist imitating another"s work. Metre and language (dactylic hexameter; elevated language) Performance and the social context (homeric bard, roman poetic patronage) Imitation of other authors (vergil imitated homer) Origin of the genre (homer is the father of epic poetry) A long narrative on a serious subject. Centred on a hero who represents the cultural values of a nation. He hero"s success or failure will determine the fate of that people or nation. A vast setting; covers a wide geographic area. Superhuman feats of strength or military prowess, and gods frequently take part in the action. Argument, invocation of a muse, epic question. Long catalogues, epic similes, journey to the dead. 12thc - traditional date to the trojan war. 7-thc - epic cycle (cypria; aethiopis; little ilia;, iliupersis; nostoi)
