CLA160H1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Trojan War, Epithets In Homer, Menoetius (Greek Mythology)
Document Summary
First extent work in western literature: some argue it is the greatest, even though it is the beginning, it actually is more of the end literary tradition. Son of atreus" = agamemnon or menelaus: atreidus - *ides* means the son of in greek. Feature of oral tradition: poet composes as he performs. The homeric epithet: words like brilliant , quick-footed to describe achilles, zeus = god of clouds, describitive adjectives associated with someone"s name. Formulaic example: he bit the earth with his teeth = death. Helen is the most beautiful women in the world. Iliad only focuses on a few days of the 10 year trojan war. In particular it focuses on the hero achilles. Summary of events that lead up to the war. Various strands of greek myths or legend come together to leave up to the trojan war. Father and mother of achilles: father = greek hero, mother = greek sea goddess, they get married.
