The Epic. Homer, "Iliad"

Lecture from 18 of October, Thursday

I. Homer and the events of the Trojan war

1. Sources and data concerning the author of "Iliad" and "Odyssey"
2. Sources and date for the war the Trojan legend tells us about
a. Time of the Trojan war
b. Possible reasons for the war. Its range
c. Who were the Trojans


II. Epic Poetry

1. Formal characteristics of epic
2. Typical content of an epic poem
3. Trojan cycle


III. "Iliad"

1. Summary of the poem
2. Ways of retardation
3. Poetical language


Literature in English (available in the web):
Trojan War
http://ancient-anatolia.blogspot.com/2006/09/trojan-war.html
Trojan War (with illustrations)
http://greece.exteen.com/20070929/trojan-war
The Rise of the Greek Epic. by Gilbert Murray. Oxford, 1907
http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=91351652#