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Homer. 8 th Century BC. Background. Very little is actually known about him, but we do know his parents were Epikaste and Telemachus (the name of Odysseus’ son). Many believe that he was a singer and storyteller. He was also blind. Many people believe that he never really even existed!.
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Homer 8th Century BC
Background • Very little is actually known about him, but we do know his parents were Epikaste and Telemachus (the name of Odysseus’ son). • Many believe that he was a singer and storyteller. He was also blind. • Many people believe that he never really even existed!
Where Is He From? • It is said that Homer was born on the island of Chios, but the description of his poems suggest that he is actually from Ionia
Controversy • There is much disagreement if Homer actually wrote the Odyssey and The Iliad- Many believe it was a collaboration of writers • It is clear, however, that the poems were written in the time of the actual Trojan war. • Because of the consistent style of writing in the two epics, the evidence points to only one writer.
Poem Length • Another reason many thought The Odyssey was written by various authors is because these poems consist of many long stanza’s, and because the stories were passed down in an oral tradition, it seemed impossible that only one person was behind the writing.
Changes to the Story • Many scholars believe that the story was changed after the original telling back in 8BC- but since then has stayed fairly consistent.
Homeric Hymns • These are Homer’s other claim to fame. They are short poems celebrating the various gods • The styles are consistent with the writing in the Iliad and Odyssey, which is why they are attributed to Homer.
