Historical Context
Why were Early Greeks called "Homeric"
They were the people who waged the wars described by Homer in his poems.
What were the common ways themes in Homer's Epics were portrayed?
Through the hero's journey and the integration of fatal flaws, to educate Greeks on societal behaviour.
What did Homer contribute to Greek society?
Epic poems that taught the mythology of Greece and formed the backbone of education and culture in Greece. "The Odyssey" and "The Iliad"
How did Greece's newfound freedom after the Persian War influence its sculptures?
They became more freeform and embodied a naturalistic pose.
What did the collapse of the Mycenaean civilization cause in Greek literature?
A period of decline in writing and trade (Greek Dark Ages).
What contrasts were prominent in Homeric Era literature?
Lively contrasts: gods and mortals, humans and divine, war and peace.
Which classical poem did Virgil's "Aeneid" follow the patterns of?
Homer's "Odyssey" and "Iliad".
What type of art did the Greeks move away from in the golden age?
Geometric art
How did the development of democracy in Athens (5th century BCE) influence literature genres.
The genre of theater and drama grew and was used as entertainment in political gatherings, and to educate about faults in the political system.
In the mainland of Greece, what quality did poems possess?
Martial qualities were used to lift the spirits of soldiers during battles.
What literary qualities does The Odyssey have?
Elevated language, heroic characters, and poetic structure (like dactylic hexameter)
What opportunity did the change of inheritance laws offer to women in Rome?
They could independently own property and get a rare sense of freedom.
What society caused Greek literature to be altered and inherited?
The Roman Republic
What did oral recitation and lyric poems evolve into in the classical Greek period?
Theater, drama, and choral performances
Which play deeply explores fate vs. free will, moral responsibility, and the gods' role in human destiny?
Oedipus Rex
What was the trending type of marriage in the Roman Republic?
Free Marriage
Who made Christianity the state religion of the Roman Empire?
Theodosius I
What was Roman literature's goal?
To promote patriotism and loyalty to build a strong society.
What made the poet Sapphos so significant?
She was ridiculed for her sexual preferences mentioned in her poetry, even though she was named "The Tenth Muse" and honoured on civic coins.
What did the Library of Alexandria serve as?
The center for knowledge, literature safekeeping, research, and sharing of wisdom between cultures.