Transcript Odysseus’ Odyssey V-XII

Homeric Poetics
• Aoidos - bard
– Phemius, Demodokus
• Orality - oral poetry
– Dactylic hexameter
– Andra moi |Ennepe, |Mousa pol|Ytropon| Hos mala |Polla
– -uu|-uu|-uu|-uu|-uu|--
• Memory - truth (a-leth-eia)
• Formulae - Milman Parry
– Epithets
– Type scenes: xenia
Odyssey - The Story So Far
• Iliad
– Agamemnon and Achilles
• Kleos, timé, areté, agon
– Tragic outlook
– Gods chaotic
– Achilles - frank and truthful hero
– Nostos/nostoi
Gods and Human
Responsibility
• Gods in literature and religion
• Polytheism and conflict
• Source of trouble for man
• Athene: metis
• Poseidon: chance
• Zeus: upholder of justice and fate
• The case of Aegisthus: evil “hyper moron”
Structure of the Odyssey
• First Half I-XII.95 (21 days)
– Telemachy: I-IV
– Odysseus’ wanderings V-XII
• Apologue
• Second Half XII.96-XXIV (5 days)