Greek Literature

Greek Literature Created by: Shouq Al-Shaya Hayat Al-Qattan

Table of Contents • Introduction • Who? When? Why? • Schools and alphabets • Types of literature • Interesting sayings • Conclusion • Bibliography

Introduction Hi, today we are going to talk about Ancient Greek Literature. Ancient Greeks contributed a lot to the modern society by their literature. Did you know that the alphabet we use in modern time were invented by the ancient Greeks? We’ll explain how ancient Greek literature affected modern times and the people involved in it.

Who? When? Why? Ancient Greek writing were famous. But they do not know it. But their writings still continue to be read in future civilizations. A wise man called Socrates once said " The best way to learn is to discuss the ideas." Socrates work was famous and down to earth. Another writer called Herodotus was famous. He wrote books about important events like Ancient Greek wars. Herodotus's books were the first real history books. No one knows a lot about Homer's life.

(continued) Most traditions say he was blind. His poems were written down while he was alive or after he died. But we don’t know exactly how. He was the most famous bard. His epic poems were about Iliad and the Odyssey. They retold the traditional tales of Trojan war. Composed between 850 BC-750BC. Earliest surviving examples of Greek Literature. ,

Schools and alphabets Schools in Athens, boys were taught to read and write. Boys learn to write on wax tablets. Scratching out the letters using a stylus. That means that if they make a mistake (on wax tablets) they smooth it and then use it again. Older boys are allowed to write on special paper called "Papyrus". Also older boys can use pens. Ink. After the Mycenaean age literacy was lost in Greece. Around 800 bc the Greeks invented alphabet that were used by the Phoenicians the new script has less letters than the old one.

That made it easier to learn. It included vowels to make it easier to read. Modern European alphabet roman/Russian/Greek are developed from this ancient Greek script. Before literacy, information & stories about the past were passed by word of mouth. Professional poets called bards/ had journeys. (continued)

Types of literature • Greek literature divided into types: -Epic: 700BC, Homer connected two epics: Iliad, Odyssey. Epic: long poems which tell the story of a hero. The poem: 2 early Greek poems. (Work And Days), (Hesiod's Theogony) around 700BC. Poems dealing with myths: Homeric Hymns (800-300B.C) writing of history came from: Herodotus. Later Greek literature: major philosophers, dramatists, Poets, Historians, Critics, and Librarians=Wrote& taught.

Interesting Sayings • Tele-phone: (Tele) = voice/ (phone)= far away. • logos = word • marathon (from battle of Marathon) = long race • typhoon (from the monster Typhon) = hurricane • titan (from 12 gods, the Titans) = huge and powerful person

Conclusion As we have said before Greeks have a great impact in literacy in modern day society. They have contributed a lot in literature and many other important things. We hope you have learned a lot on Greek literature and how they impacted us today in how we speak (words) and write. And I hope you learned about a lot famous writers in ancient Greece.

Bibliography • Books: 1.)minnis,Ivan.you are in ancient greece.chicago,Illinois:RainTree,2005.Print. 2.) Bingham,Jane,and Fiona Chandler. The Usborne Internet Linked Encyclopedia Of The Ancient World.London,England:Usborne,2002.print

Greek Literature