Synopses & Reviews
The 'Classic' narratology that has been widely applied to classical texts is aimed at a universal taxonomy for describing narratives. More recently, 'new narratologies' have begun linking the formal characteristics of narrative to their historical and ideological contexts. This volume seeks such a rethinking for Greek literature. It has two closely related objectives: to define what is characteristically Greek in Greek narratives of different periods and genres, and to see how narrative techniques and concerns develop over time.
The 15 distinguished contributors explore questions such as: How is Homeric epic like and unlike Gilgamesh and the Hebrew Bible? What do Greek historians consistently fail to tell us, having learned from the tradition what to ignore? How does lyric modify narrative techniques from other genres?
Synopsis
An examination of what is distinct, what is shared and what is universal in Greek narrative traditions of a wide range of ancient Greek literary genres.
Synopsis
GBS_insertPreviewButtonPopup( 'ISBN:9780748680108', 'ISBN:9780748680115']); Examines what is distinct, what is shared and what is universal in Greek narrative tradition
The 'Classic' narratology that has been widely applied to classical texts is aimed at a universal taxonomy for describing narratives. More recently, 'new narratologies' have begun linking the formal characteristics of narrative to their historical and ideological contexts. This volume seeks such a rethinking for Greek literature. It has two closely related objectives: to define what is characteristically Greek in Greek narratives of different periods and genres, and to see how narrative techniques and concerns develop over time.
The 15 distinguished contributors explore questions such as:
- How is Homeric epic like and unlike Gilgamesh and the Hebrew Bible?
- What do Greek historians consistently fail to tell us, having learned from the tradition what to ignore?
- How does lyric modify narrative techniques from other genres?
Synopsis
Examines what is distinct, what is shared and what is universal in Greek narrative tradition
The 'Classic' narratology that has been widely applied to classical texts is aimed at a universal taxonomy for describing narratives. More recently, 'new narratologies' have begun linking the formal characteristics of narrative to their historical and ideological contexts. This volume seeks such a rethinking for Greek literature. It has two closely related objectives: to define what is characteristically Greek in Greek narratives of different periods and genres, and to see how narrative techniques and concerns develop over time.
About the Author
Douglas Cairns is Professor of Classics in the University of Edinburgh.
Ruth Scodel is D. R. Shackleton Bailey Collegiate Professor of Greek and Latin at the University of Michigan.
Table of Contents
Preface
Notes on Contributors
1. Introduction, Ruth Scodel
Section 1: Defining the Greek Tradition
2. Beyond Auerbach: The Poetics of Visualisation in the Gilgamesh Epic and Homer, Johannes Haubold
3. Homeric Battle Narrative and the Ancient Near East, Adrian Kelly
4. Narrative Focus and Elusive Thought in Homer, Ruth Scodel
5. Structure as Interpretation in the Homeric Odyssey, Erwin Cook
Section 2: the Development of the Greek Tradition
6. Exemplarity and Narrative in the Greek Tradition, Douglas Cairns
7. 'Where do I begin?': An Odyssean Narrative Strategy and its Afterlife, Richard Hunter
8. Greek Scholia on Plot, René Nünlist
9. Who, Sappho? Alex Purves
10. Greek Occasions, Greek Sung Narratives, Lucia Athanassaki
11. Narrative on the Tragic Stage, P. E. Easterling
12. Stock Events and Set-pieces: Greek Historiography as Variations on a Set of Themes, Lisa Hau
13. Helidorus the Hellene; J. R. Morgan
Section 3: Beyond Greece
14. Livy Reading Polybius: Adapting Greek Narrative to Roman History, Dennis Pausch
15. Pamela and Plato: Ancient and Modern Epistolary Narratives, A. D. Morrison
16. The Anonymous Traveller: Greek Heritage or Narrative Universal? Irene de Jong