Bibliography Adkins, W. H. 1982. “Values, Goals, and Emotions in the Iliad.” Classical Philology 77:292–326. Alden, M. 2001. Homer Beside Himself: Para-narratives in the Iliad. Oxford. ———. 2012. “The Despised Migrant (Il. 9.648 = 16.59).” In Homeric Contexts: Neoanalysis and the Interpretation of Oral Poetry, ed. F. Montanari, A. Rengakos, and C. Tsagalis, 115–131. Berlin. … Read more
Appendix. Colometry and Formulae Oral-traditional tale-telling includes embedded cues to the larger back stories that begin at the level of cola and formulae. They are the first level of consideration in any search for characterization in Homer. [1] In colometry, “words,” to borrow Foley’s description, from particles to longer lexical (i.e. formulaic) components, are preserved whole. [2]… Read more
5. The Traditional Characterization of Agamemnon What has emerged from a consideration of Agamemnon’s appearances in person, name, or through retrospective narrative, is the tenor of his characterization in the Iliad and Odyssey. As I have noted throughout the foregoing chapters, Agamemnon’s involvement in other story patterns, such as that contained in the Odyssey, provides helpful background for understanding Agamemnon’s characterization in the Iliad. In this chapter,… Read more
4. The Characterization of Agamemnon in the Iliad 4.1 Introduction A vivid picture of what Agamemnon’s character was like for the Odyssey poet and his core audience emerged from our discussion in the last chapter, and it joins the portrait we began to see develop already in Chapter 2. We have noted that Agamemnon is known within Homer’s tradition as a character who dies a shameful… Read more
3. The Characterization of Agamemnon in the Odyssey 3.1 Introduction Agamemnon is in Hades by the time the action of the Odyssey opens. This necessitates that his personal appearances be incorporeal and only in the underworld (Odyssey 11 and 24). Agamemnon as a traditional character is with us in greater and lesser ways beyond his apparitions as a specter, however. He appears metonymically, through retrospective narrative… Read more
2. Characterization in Homer and Agamemnon’s Appeal in Iliad 4 2.1 Traditional Characterization Our discussion in the last chapter argued that Homeric characterization is tradition-based. Epic characters, at least the major ones, are already known in some detail to Homer and his core audience by distinguishable character traits. The existence of recognizable characterization attached to a particular figure frees the poet from the necessity of pure… Read more
1. Introduction 1.1 Characterizing Agamemnon Homer [1] and his audience knew Agamemnon as the primary leader of well over 1,000 Achaian ships that sailed against Troy. [2] He led an intense ten-year struggle, only to return home and die a miserable death at his wife’s hands. His presence in person or name impacts the poetic narratives… Read more
Acknowledgements This book began as a doctoral dissertation at the University of Missouri-Columbia, under the direction and shepherding of John Miles Foley?, but has since been expanded and rewritten through the encouragement of numerous colleagues. I am particularly appreciative of the support of Gregory Nagy and Leonard Muellner. Casey Dué proved invaluable for her knowledge and insightful suggestions. I have also profited from suggestions for portions of… Read more
Bibliography Adkins, Arthur W. H. 1960. Merit and Responsibility: A Study in Greek Values. Oxford. Ahl, Frederick, and Hanna Roisman. 1996. The Odyssey Re-Formed. Ithaca. Aitken, Ellen Bradshaw, and Jennifer K. Berenson Maclean, eds. 2004. Philostratus’s Heroikos: Religion and Cultural Identity in the Third Century C.E. Atlanta. Alden, Maureen. 2000. Homer Beside Himself: Para-narratives… Read more
Appendix B. The Homeric Performer, the Staff, and “Becoming the Character” The “play” between bard and character, their inner dynamics, variations, attunements, narratological ensembles and assemblies, can be brought to life by looking at a series of objects that threads through both the Iliad and the Odyssey, consisting of scepter, spear, staff, sword, etc. Within the poems, the scepter signifies that the speaker holding it has the… Read more
