I taught a literature course last year. High school level. The syllabus was reading the Illiad and Odyssey aloud. That’s it.
There is a very good Spanish translation that tries to imitate the hexameter rhythm. I would read aloud for 40 minutes and then we’d talk about it casually. I occasionally added the Greek-sounding backing track. Also read some key passages in pitch accent Greek.
I had never worked less on a course, but I’ve also never had such a successful course. It sparked genuine interest (and much more than that sometimes) in almost all of them.
Just gotta leave the epic spirit work through the words.
I taught a literature course last year. High school level. The syllabus was reading the Illiad and Odyssey aloud. That’s it.
There is a very good Spanish translation that tries to imitate the hexameter rhythm. I would read aloud for 40 minutes and then we’d talk about it casually. I occasionally added the Greek-sounding backing track. Also read some key passages in pitch accent Greek.
I had never worked less on a course, but I’ve also never had such a successful course. It sparked genuine interest (and much more than that sometimes) in almost all of them.
Just gotta leave the epic spirit work through the words.
Amazing piece btw
saved. I have been thinking much the same. We need a new myth to restore the promise of America.
Well done.
In your opinion, could epic poetry be revived today or have artistic media and consumer expectations made this impossible?
Great read. Reciting and memorising epic poetry is still alive in Serbia and the Balkans, thank God. (A bit more on that here https://thenutshelltimes.com/2019/10/23/rediscovering-the-magic-of-the-gusle/)