Chapter 10. Some Notes on Medieval Epic [1] It is perfectly understandable that the oral theory, as it is called, is known best to Classicists, who have been trying to look at Homer from its point of view since the days of… Read more
Appendix I. Comparison of Texts of “Bećiragić Meho” by Two Different Singers Parry 12468 and 12471 Invocation. Mumin Vlahovljak 1–16, Avdo Međedović 1–30 1. The scene of the assembly: description of assembly Mumin (17–36) Thirty men of the Border were drinking wine at… Read more
Appendix II. Comparison of Four Versions of “Marko and Nina” by Petar Vidić Parry 6 Parry 804 Parry 805 Parry 846 Marko is drinking wine with his mother, his wife, and his sister (1-4). Marko… Read more
Appendix III. Return Songs A. Parry 6818, by Alibeg Begović in Bijelo Polje B. Parry 12417, by Šaćir Dupljak in Bijelo Polje C. Parry 6229, by Avdo Avdić in Gacko D. Parry 6580, by Murat Čustović in Gacko E. Parry 1905, by Franje… Read more
Appendix IV. Return-Rescue Songs A. Parry 1921 and 1940, by Murat Žunić in Bihać B. Parry 6431, by Mujo Velić in Bihać C. Parry 897, by Hajdar Habul in Gacko D. Parry 923, by Suljo Tunović in Gacko E. Parry 275a, by Hajdar… Read more
Hour 21: The hero’s agony in the Bacchae of Euripides The meaning of agōn 21§1. The key word for this hour is agōn, plural agōnes. In the Core Vocabulary, I give three basic definitions: (1) ‘coming together’, (2) ‘competition’ or antagonism, and (3) ‘ordeal’ or agony. Here I follow up… Read more
Hour 22. The living word I: Socrates in Plato’s Apology of Socrates [[“It is, in short, music which observes neither end nor beginning, music with neither real climax nor real resolution …” – Glenn Gould 1956, concerning the Goldberg Variations of Johann Sebastian Bach (there are 32 of them: “Aria”… Read more
Hour 23. The living word II: Socrates in Plato’s Phaedo The meaning of theōriā 23§1. My abbreviated translation of the noun theōriā is ‘sacred journey’. This noun is related to the noun theōros, referring to a person who is officially delegated to embark on such a sacred journey. I will… Read more
Hour 24. The Hero as savior The meaning of sōzein and sōtēr 24§1. The key word for this hour is the verb sōzein, meaning ‘save (someone)’. Derived from this verb is the noun sōtēr, which means ‘savior’ in the sense of ‘one who brings (someone) back to safety’ or, mystically,… Read more
Core Vocabulary of Key Greek Words Depending on context, adjectives in -os (masculine), may be given with other endings: -ē (feminine), -on (neuter), -oi (masculine plural), -ai (feminine plural), -a (neuter plural). agathos ‘good, noble’ agōn, plural agōnes ‘coming together; competition (antagonism); ordeal (agony). agorā, plural agorai ‘public assembly, place… Read more
