Greece

A Brief Background

Geography

Greece is located on the continent of Europe, to the east of Italy in the Mediterranean Sea.

The capital of Greece is Athens.

Greece is located on the Balkan Peninsula.

Geography

History

The beginning of Greek culture is thought to be between 3000 and 1600 BCE (Before Common Era).

Around 800 BCE the Greek alphabet was created.

In 508 BCE Athens became the first democracy in the world.

History

By the late third century BCE the Roman empire was beginning to gain strength, and by the middle second century BCE Greece had come under Roman control completely.

When Rome conquered Greece, the Romans adopted many of the customs, religious beliefs, and myths of the Greeks.

Religion & Culture

Ancient Greeks were polytheistic, which means they believed in many gods and goddesses.

A group of gods and goddesses is called a pantheon (Zeus is the leader of the Greek pantheon).

The Greeks believed the gods lived on Mt. Olympus (a real mountain in Greece).

The Greeks developed the Olympic Games.

Literature

Many words in the English language can be traced to the Greek language.

Homer was a legendary early Greek poet traditionally credited with writing the major Greek epics The Iliad and The Odyssey. These two works represent a brilliant retelling of myths and legends.

Myths

A myth is a story that explains events or objects that occur in nature or the origin of customs or traditions.

The myths we are familiar with today are the product of generations of story telling.

The myths used to be passed down from one generation to the next by word of mouth.

Myths

Myths may contain real events, characters and places, but they should not be read as historically true.

Typical themes in myths include superhuman deeds, heroism, love, jealousy, war, tragedy, triumph and the effects of the gods’ adventures and powers on the mortal world.

Epic Poetry

An Introduction

An epic poem…

An extended narrative poem recounting actions, travels, adventures, and heroic episodes and written in a high style

May be written in hexameter verse, especially dactylic hexameter, and it may have twelve books or twenty four books

Epic Poetry

Epic poems share the same characteristics Epic poets follow the same conventions

when composing epic poetry There is also a pattern that is often followed

in epic poetry

Characteristics

The main character or protagonist is heroically larger than life, often the source and subject of legend or a national hero

The deeds of the hero are presented without favoritism, revealing his failings as well as his virtues

Characteristics

The action, often in battle, reveals the more-than-human strength of the heroes as they engage in acts of heroism and courage

The setting covers several nations, the whole world, or even the universe

The gods and lesser divinities play an active role in the outcome of actions

Characteristics

All of the various adventures form an organic whole, where each event relates in some way to the central theme

The episodes, even though they may be fictional, provide an explanation for some of the circumstances or events in the history of a nation or people

Conventions

Poet beings by stating his theme The poet invokes a muse to inspire and

instruct him The story begins in medias res (in the middle

of things) Poet includes catalogs of warriors, ships,

armies, etc

Conventions

Poet makes use of the epic simile (an extended simile elaborated in such detail or at such length as to eclipse temporarily the main action of a narrative work, forming a decorative digression)

Long, formal speeches by important characters

Use of patronymics (calling son by father's name)

Conventions

Frequent use of epithets (an adjective or adjectival phrase describing a characteristic quality of a person or thing: "Aeneas the true"; "rosy-fingered Dawn"; "tall-masted ship")

Journey to the underworld Use of the number three (attempts are made three

times, etc.) Previous episodes in the story are later recounted

Epic Patterns

1. Council of Gods: the plan of events2. Appearance of a goddess: a hint of the

future3. Captivity in the arms of a woman: the hero

held from his destiny 4. The messenger of the gods sends the hero

on

Epic Patterns

5. The hero visits fabulous places: they obscure his sense of destiny or reveal it

6. The narrator gives the history of times past7. The hero makes a descent into the

underworld8. The death of a hero is celebrated with

games

Epic Patterns

9. The hero fights a great battle: First encounter indecisive The enemy victorious The hero enters and brigns about victory

10. The hero is reunited with his beloved or family

Quiz Questions

1. Greece is located on: A. North America B. South American C. Europe D. Asia

2. BCE stands for: A. Before Christ B. Beyond Christ’s Entrance C. Beyond Common Era d. Before Common Era

3. The Romans adopted many Greek: A. Myths B. gods C. customs D. A, B and C.

Quiz Questions

4. A group of gods is called: A. pantheonB. clique C. pentagon

5. The Odyssey was written by: __________.6. Myths tell: A. exciting stories B. heroic

stories C. why things occur D. how things used to be

7. Another example of an epic poem is: _____________________.

Quiz Questions

8. The prefix hex- means: A. witch B. six C. seven D. nine

9. One characteristic of an epic is: __________________________________.

10. The Muses are goddesses of: A. the arts B. sciences C. schools D. A and B

11. “Rosy-fingered Dawn” is an example of: A. epic simile B. patronymics C. epithet

Quiz Questions

12. List two events that are part of the epic pattern.

13. Which goddess favors Odysseus? ______________________

14. Tell one other thing you remember from the lecture.