Created by Dr. Nancy Kerns
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Originator of the Classical
Greek Epic
◦ The Iliad (story of the Trojan war)
◦ The Odyssey
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Works helped define Greek
culture
◦ Ideals in heroism
◦ Aspects of the gods
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Works had massive influence
on Western literature
◦ Defined epic tradition
◦ Set the standard for later works
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No information about Homer
is known for certain, but
there are several traits that
are traditionally accepted
◦ Lived around 750-700 BC
(although some put him as
early as 11th century BC)
◦ Blind
◦ From the region of Ionia
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Some scholars dispute his
authorship and/or existence
(see next slide) and so
dismiss his “biography”
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YES
◦ The epics are very similar
stylistically, suggesting they
were created by one man
◦ Traveling poets orally passed
down the epics in a consistent
form
◦ From ancient times, Greek
historians have always
referred to him as a real man
and the actual author of the
epics
◦ It is true that the biographical
info on him is inconsistent
and uncertain, but that’s
typical of ancient figures; he
lived before the alphabet was
even invented so all his info
got passed down orally
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NO
◦ There are some differences;
also, the epics could have
been changed to match up
later
◦ The oral poets could have just
been echoing the most
popular version, constructed
from the “greatest hits” of
previous oral poets over time
◦ Greek historians could have
simply been repeating a myth
◦ We know almost nothing
about him for sure – not even
the century in which he was
born; there are a lot of
inconsistencies about his
biographical information from
different Greek historians
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Long narrative with verse structure
About heroic acts and adventures that held cultural
importance
Involved the Greek gods
Contained extended metaphors and similes
Repeated certain phrases / imagery attached to an event or
person (like “rosy-fingered dawn” in The Odyssey)
Begins “in media res”
or in the middle of the
story chronologically,
there is a long
flashback, and then
we come back to the
present for the final
events
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Heroism
Pride
Nationalism
War
Morality
Honor
Power
Control
The dangers of temptation
Fickleness of the gods and fate
Defining masculine and feminine roles
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Importance of intellect as well as strength
Perception vs. reality (disguise, deceit)
Homecoming
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Content
◦ Bloom, Harold. Homer’s The Odyssey: Bloom’s Modern Critical
Interpretations
◦ Maronitist, D. N. Homeric Megathemes (Greek Studies).
◦ Simon, Peter, et. al.The Norton Anthology of World Literature
Vol. 1
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Images (in order of appearance)
◦ Iliad Fragment on Manuscript.
markalburgermusichistory.blogspot.com
◦ Iliad Fragment on Papyrus. upenn.edu
◦ Bust of Homer. historyofscience.com
◦ Waterhouse, John Williams.“Ulysses and the Sirens.”
arthistoryarchives.com
◦ “Odysseus Kills the Suitors.” independent.co.uk
◦ Drawing of Polythemus. myracosta.edu
◦ Wright, Joseph. “Penelope Unraveling Her Web.”
www.getty.edu