Homeric megathemes
Subtitle: war-homilia-homecoming
By: D.N. Maronitis ; translated by David Connolly.
Contributors: Connolly, David, 1954-
Series: Greek studies
Publisher: Lexington Books
Published: 2004
Place of publication: Lanham, Md
Language: eng
Number of pages: 186
Subjects: Homer -- Criticism and interpretation; Epic poetry, Greek -- History and criticism; Interpersonal relations in literature; Conversation in literature; Return in literature; Speech in literature; War in literature; Dialogue
Description: "In Homeric Megathemes D. N. Maronitis puts forward war, homilia, and homecoming as three themes central to Homer's two epic poems, the Iliad and the Odyssey. The scope and depth of his study is unprecedented. Maronitis argues that branching out from each of these themes are certain semiotic and structural characteristics that determine - specific to each of the poems - myth and plot, narrative syntax, and, more generally, the poetic and humanistic character of each. This study aims to ascertain and document similarities and differences in the two Homeric epics through these themes and to identify examples of them in ancient lyric poetry and Attic tragedy. Maronitis's theoretical framework gives scholars interested in poetry, history, and tragedy a social and cultural research model for thinking about the development of great lyric works. His comparative approach, revealing the creative debt of the Odyssey to the Iliadic model, lays bare the progression of classical art through the development of technique and the shifts in political and classical ideologies (including anthropological ideas about man). Those interested in the thought of the Archaic period should read this book."--BOOK JACKET.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. 167-179) and index.