Homer's People Epic Poetry and Social Formation [Paperback]

The first study to examine the role and character of Homer's people in Homeric story-telling.This is the first study to examine in detail the role and character of Homer's people (Greek laoi) in Homeric story-telling, arguing that Homeric poetry is crucially concerned with the people as a basis for communal life. Both the Iliad and the Odyssey are read as sustained meditations on the processes involved in protecting and destroying the people. The investigation draws on a wide range of approaches from formulaic analysis to the study of early performance contexts.This is the first study to examine in detail the role and character of Homer's people (Greek laoi) in Homeric story-telling, arguing that Homeric poetry is crucially concerned with the people as a basis for communal life. Both the Iliad and the Odyssey are read as sustained meditations on the processes involved in protecting and destroying the people. The investigation draws on a wide range of approaches from formulaic analysis to the study of early performance contexts.This is the first study to examine in detail the role and character of Homer's people (Greek laoi) in Homeric storytelling, arguing that Homeric poetry is crucially concerned with the people as a basis for communal life. Both the Iliad and the Odyssey are read as sustained meditations on the processes involved in protecting and destroying the people. The investigation draws on a wide range of approaches from formulaic analysis to the study of early performance contexts.Introduction; 1. Laoi in early Greek hexameter poetry; 2. Homer's people; 3. Laos epic in performance; Appendix A. Epic formulae; Appendix B. Ritual formulae.Review of the hardback: '& a very good book that breaks much new ground.' Bryn Mawr Classical Review