Chapter 5. Group Contexts I—Assemblies Let us begin this discussion of assembly patterns with a basic question. What is an assembly? How can we recognize a given scene as an assembly rather than as simply a group of people talking, or a council, or an embassy? The ἀγορή, generally translated as “assembly,” is a gathering of people engaged in “civic debate,” [1]… Read more
Chapter 6. Group Contexts II—Athletic Games, Laments This chapter differs somewhat from the previous chapters in its organization and goals. Chapters 1-5 discussed various forms of lengthening and elaboration that occur in connection with repeating conversational types (one-on-one conversations, single speeches, and formal assemblies). The conversational types that were studied in these chapters all occur sufficiently often that it is clear what the repeated, “normal” pattern is… Read more
Conclusions Each chapter of this book has examined the aesthetic and poetic effects of a different type of conversation. In the first two chapters, we saw that one-on-one conversations in the Odyssey consistently highlight the conflict that the main characters in the poem feel between revealing themselves and/or believing what other characters say about their own identities, and maintaining a cautious skepticism or concealment in order to… Read more
Appendix I Breakdown of direct speeches in the Iliad and the Odyssey by turn type and by type of speech introductory formula The following two tables categorize and total i) the speeches and ii) the speech introductions in the Iliad and the Odyssey book by book. The category names at the left side of the chart—reply position, initial position, single speech, and successive speech—indicate the type… Read more
Appendix II All participles that appear in reply formulas of the type τὸν/τὴν [participle] προσέφη [nominative name/epithet] The verses that contain participles other than ἀπαμειβόμενος with the main verb προσέφη are given below in order of frequency of the participle. Initial half-verses that appear three times or more τὸν δ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ὑδόρα ἰδὼν προσέφη [nominative name/epithet, subject]20x (13x Iliad, 7x Odyssey)Then… Read more
Appendix III Full-verse context-specific introductory formulas All context-specific speech introductory formulas that occur at least three times in the Homeric epics (presented in order of frequency, with most frequent first) are given below. [1] Implied subjects whose names would be given in a different verse if the formula appeared in a longer passage of Greek are given in parentheses in… Read more
Appendix IV Full-verse speech concluding formulas All speech concluding formulas that occur at least three times in the Homeric epics (presented in order of frequency, with most frequent first) are given below. The main verb (other than or in addition to “so s/he spoke” is highlighted. Formulas Appearing Ten Times or More ὣς οἳ μὲν τοιαῦτα πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἀγόρευον 23x (8x Iliad,… Read more
Bibliography I. Editions of Homer, lexica, and other reference works Chantraine, P. 1990, 1984. Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue Greque 1-2, 3-4. Paris. Cunliffe, R. J. 1988. A Lexicon of the Homeric Dialect. 2nd ed. Norman. Dunbar, H. 1962. A Complete Concordance to the Odyssey of Homer. Rev. B. Marzullo. Hildesheim. Erbse, H.,… Read more
Chapter 3. Allegorical Modulations Soubtiles couvertures de belles matieres soubzfictions delitables et morales. Christine de Pizan, Avision Better chastity, the invisible flowerthat rocks atop the stalks of silence,the difficult diamond of the holy saintsthat filters desires, satiates time,the marriage of quietude and motion,solitude sings within its corolla,every hour is a petal of crystal,the world… Read more
Chapter 4. Comic Modulations … But com thou Goddes fair and free,In Heav’n yclept Euphrosyne,And by men, heart-easing Mirth,Whom lovely Venus at a birthWith two sisters Graces moreTo Ivy-crowned Bacchus bore;Or whether (as som Sager sing)The frolick Wind that breathes the Spring,Zephir with Aurora playing,As he met her once a-Maying,There on Beds of Violets blew,And… Read more
