Overview

The Iliad reveals a traditional oral poetic style, but many researchers believe that the poem cannot be treated as solely a product of oral tradition. In The Iliad and the Oral Epic Tradition, Karol Zieliński argues that neither Homer's unique artistry nor references to events known from other songs necessarily indicate the use of writing in its composition. The development of traditional oral cycles suggests that the Iliad is only one of many possible retellings of the story of the Trojan War, in this case with Achilles playing the role of protagonist. The singer has at his disposal a wide range of techniques to attract and arouse the attention of his listeners. He builds on their knowledge of traditional tales-such as the death of Achilles-in all their various forms, as they exist in the collective memory of the society. The singer may intentionally remodel central characters like Achilles, Odysseus, or Paris, without changing their traditional roles or their destinies. As Zieliński demonstrates, the oral poet can alter the plot of a traditional episode as well as transform its ideological significance. Every cyclic song echoes the story of the entire war, even as it depicts only one episode, traditionally extracted from the beginning or the end of the macro-story.

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"Presents many years of thought, informed by wide reading, about oral epic...Homerists will need to read the book.--Ruth Scodel ""Bryn Mawr Classical Review"" (8/25/2024 12:00:00 AM)"

Author Information

Karol Zieliński is Professor in the Department of Greek Studies and Head of the Center for Interdisciplinary Studies in Oral and Written Culture in the Institute of Classical, Mediterranean, and Oriental Studies at University of Wrocław, Poland. Anna Rojkowska is a freelance translator and editor based in Wrocław, Poland, specializing in art and literature.

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