Epic poetry

unitarianism

the belief in a single author for homeric epics

analyst

the belief that the homeric epics were edited over time by adding layers and elements

neoanalyst

the position of attempting to situate homeric epics & influences in the contet of the lost cyclic epics

epic

A long, old orally told poem that takes place over a long period of time

poetic meter

the beat and rhythm a poem is recited

dactylic hexameter

the beat and rhythm Homer’s poetry is recited, by using six measures; composed of dactyls or spondees

didactic

a type of epic meant to instruct & morally direct

in media res

to begin a story in the middle and using flashback and reported speech

epic cycle

a collection of Greek myths from the created of the world to the end of the heroic age

eumelos of corinth

A greek poet who wrote a prosodion (processional song) and has other 4 epics attributed to him

scholia

ancient commentaries usually summarized myth episodes or translations of names from homeric greek

marginalia

notes written in margins of manuscripts

katabosis

decent into the underworld

homeric questions

Questions surrounding the existence of the poet homer and if he actually wrote the illiad and the odyssey

Friedrich Wolf

he wrote the Prolegomena + argued that the Homeric epics were orally transmitted, changed over time and composed in the 10th cent BCE

Zoilus of Amphipolus

The orignator of the homeric questions + a 4th cent philosopher who deeply hated homer

Millman Parry & Albert Lord

Homeric epics were formed through oral traditions and any edits or homeric touches were simply improvisations from the poets

famous analysts

Hermann (nuclei theory) Lachmann (lay theory) Wilamowitz (three poem Odyssey)

xenia

guest friendship (the idea that you should be kind to your guest bc they might be a god

ekphrasis

a lengthy description of a piece of art in literature

aristeia

a hero’s greatest battle, climax battle in a hero’s story

theogony

fighting against a god