The Power of Literature: Shaping Societies Through Words

1. Week 1 Literature and its historical background

2. Literature in Society • Literature not produced in a vacuum • It reflects the spirit, anxieties, battles, worries, hopes and expectations of a certain society • It forms social values as it gives expression to ideas and beliefs shared by the public, or at least a section of it. • It articulates what people think and feel

3. Hieroglyphics was the first form of writing. Literary texts in hieroglyphics are limited to prayers, medical texts, and accounts Cumbersome as a writing system and limited to an elite The history of the book

4. Greek Literature • The Greeks were the first to produce extensive literature, written in a secular spirit, and reflecting the values, hopes and beliefs of society. • Papyrus • Parchment

5. Transmission of Greek Literature • In the medieval times in Byzantium much of the classical literature was copied again and again, and reached us • From the 15th century the printed press made books widely available and cheaper.

6. The Power of the Written Word • The power of the written word was realized quite early in its history. • The poet Archilochos used his verses to slander and insult Lycambes, who refused his daughter’s hand. • The philosopher Anaxagoras was banished from Athens for his teachings. • Socrates was put to death for corrupting the young. • Aristophanes the comic poet was taken to court for slandering city officials in his plays.

7. Banned Books • Throughout history books have been banned or burned because they have been perceived as dangerous, or, more often, because they were threatening the status quo. • Boccacio The Decameron shocked the morals of its time. • Marquis de Sade was jailed and his outrageous but important books burned and banished • The lewd parts of Greek comedy were edited out in western editions. • Section 28 in the UK, banned from public libraries all books allegedly promoting homosexuality.

8. Greek Literary Tradition • Books were banned or burned and authors persecuted for offending religious belief: • The persecution of the Pythagoreans • Kazantzakis • In the US many books are banned for similar reasons

9. Patriotism? • Books were also burned and authors disgraced for going against the political system under the pretext of patriotism or bravery: • Archilochos • Myrivilis

10. Authoritarianism • Authoritarian regimes throughout the course of Greek History banned books, including some of the classics of Greek Drama and authors like Dostoevsky because he was Russian!