How to Read Homer
December 20th 2009 23:40
HOW to read HOMER
Some of you may be reading Homer over the holidays for senior high or college?
Whether you are reading it for literature ancient history or mythology or some other subject here's some tips from some one who has read it in several translations and Homeric Greek.
Please note these apply to both the Iliad and Odyssey!
READ THE WHOLE BOOK.
For your first reading in English read through the whole book. Just read and enjoy it without taking notes or analysing it. If you are reading it in Greek for the first time read up on Homeric Greek so you will not be put off by the differences between that and Classical Attic Greek.
Even if you only have to answer questions or do assignments and essays on certain characters or chapters read the whole book!
READ MORE THAN ONE VERSION.
It is worth while reading more than one translation. There have been many verse and prose translations of Homer. Wikipedia has a list. If your local library only has one version you can ask for inter-library loans or use Google books or Gutenberg and other sites to find and download free copies of older versions.
READ THE BACKGROUND MATERIAL
Read about the Mycenaeans and Minoans and other aspects of Greek culture.
Check out both the history and archaeology sections of your library.
READ OLD and NEW Commentaries and Journal Articles.
If you have been set a reprint of an older commentary or source book or given a reading list do not just set to that only. Read widely! Check out your nearest university library.
Use Google Scholar Search and Wikipedia and check all those secondary links to other sites!
Finally if you'll forgive the recapitulatio!
READ THE WHOLE BOOK!
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