Oral Composition

About the lecture

In this module, we explore the status of the Odyssey as an 'oral poem' - a poem was originally transmitted by word-of-mouth rather than being written down in a book. In particular, we discuss the figure of Homer (who may or may not have actually existed), the limitations of the original (oral) poets and the impact this has had on the final form of the poem, and the possible original performance contexts of the epic.

About the lecturer

Edith Hall is Professor in the Department of Classics and Ancient History at Durham University. Her research focuses on ancient Greek literature and cultural history. Some of her major publications include Inventing the Barbarian: Greek Self-Definition through Tragedy (OUP, 1989), Greek Tragedy: Suffering Under the Sun (OUP, 2010), Introducing the Ancient Greeks: From Bronze Age Seafarers to Navigators of the Western Mind (Norton, 2014), and Aristotle's Way: How Ancient Wisdom Can Change Your Life (Penguin, 2020).