Homer's Iliad and Odyssey
by CTCWeb Editors
Formulaic Expressions
From reading the information found in the Encyclopedia entry on Homer students will have learned not only about the poet but also about the “Homeric style” of writing stemming from the oral tradition of ancient Greek poetry. One important aspect of this tradition is the use of formulaic expressions that are often used repeatedly throughout the text. Students should investigate the formulaic expressions and epitaphs Homer uses in his writing. They should discuss the use of formulaic expressions in oral poetry.
Below are some example epitaphs for the gods from the Homeric text.
Assignment:
1. Choose an epitaph from the list of epitaph for one god or goddess.
2. Find two (if available) instances of the epitaph in the Iliad and/or the Odyssey.
3. Find out why this epitaph is associated with a god or goddess. Provide support for your answer from other sources in Perseus. Write your answer in paragraph form.
