Table of Contents

Introduction Robert Fowler; Part I. The Poems and their Narrator: 1. The Iliad: an unpredictable classic Donald Lateiner; 2. The Odyssey and its explorations Michael Silk; 3. The storyteller and his audience Ruth Scodel; Part II. The Characters: 4. The gods in the Homeric epics Emily Kearns; 5. Manhood and heroism Michael Clarke; 6. Gender and Homeric epic Nancy Felson and Laura Slatkin; Part III. The Poet's Craft: 7. Formulas, metre and type-scenes Matthew Clarke; 8. Similes and other likenesses Richard Buxton; 9. The speeches Jasper Griffin; Part IV. Text and Context: 10. Epic as genre John Miles Foley; 11. The epic tradition in Greece Ken Dowden; 12. Homer's society Robin Osborne; 13. The Homeric question Robert Fowler; Part V. Homeric Receptions: 14. Homer and Greek literature Richard Hunter; 15. Roman Homer Joseph Farrell; 16. Homer and English epic Penelope Wilson; 17. Homer and the Romantics Timothy Webb; 18. Homer and Ulysses Vanda Zajko; 19. Homer: the history of an idea James Porter; 20. 'Shards and suckers': contemporary receptions of Homer Lorna Hardwick; 21. Homer in English translation George Steiner.

Promotional Information

This work examines the composition of the Iliad and the Odyssey and their subsequent reception.

About the Author

Robert Fowler is Henry Overton Wills Professor of Greek, University of Bristol. He is the author of The Nature of the Early Greek Lyric (University of Toronto Press, 1987). He has also edited Early Greek Mythology Vol 1 (Oxford University Press, 2001).

Reviews

'The 22 contributors to this important book represent a healthy diversity of views but share fundamental assumptions. All engage closely with the text of Homer, and take the epics seriously as literature. ... one of the most distinguished of the Cambridge Companions series, and will be essential reading for every student.' The Anglo-Hellenic Review 'Every chapter proves rewarding. ... this is a magnificent achievement. It is the indispensable vade mecum for the student of Homer. Every school library should have a copy. Everybody in tertiary education should own one.' Journal of Classics Teaching '... skilfully arranged and unfailingly lucid.' Times Literary Supplement 'The volume's organization, in five main sections, is strong and clear, and the writing throughout is lucid, vigorous, and accessible.' Translation and Literature 'Written by an international team of scholars ... the first port of call for students at all levels, with introductions to important subjects and suggestions for further exploration.' http://w3.u-grenoble3.fr/homerica/actualites/livres.html '... the Cambridge Companion bids fair to provide the best companionship for non-specialist readers of Homer. It covers the basic technical issues underlying current research and also provides thoughtful guides to reading the poems, especially in the context of English literature. ... A learned and humane collection ...' Journal of Hellenic Studies 'The Cambridge Companion to Homer comprises a collection of stimulating and informative essays by a distinguished panel of contemporary scholars. Student's at all levels will profit much from this volume.' Robert J. Rabel, University of Kentucky