西洋文學概論~上課筆記(week4)

 

u  Definition:

1.genre- 

Genre is the term for any category of literature or other forms of art or 

entertainment, e.g. music, whether written or spoken, audial or visual, based 

on some set of stylistic criteria. Genres are formed by conventions that change over time as new genres are invented and the use of old ones are discontinued.

2.epic- 

An epic is a lengthy narrative poem, ordinarily concerning a serious subject containing details of heroic deeds and events significant to a culture or nation.

Iliad and Odyssey are the examples of epic poetry.

3.in medias res-  

is the literary and artistic narrative technique of relating a story from the midpoint .

In an in medias res narrative, the story opens with dramatic action rather than exposition setting up the characters and situation. For example, in Homer's Odyssey, we first learn about Odysseus' journey when he is held captive on Calypso's island. We then find out, in Books IX through XII, that the greater 

part of Odysseus' journey precedes that moment in the narrative

4.Homeric epithet- 

A Homeric epithet is a nickname or tag in Greek poetry that can be used on its own or together with the real name. A characteristic of Homer's style is the use of epithets, as in "rosy-fingered" dawn or "swift-footed" Achilles.

u  Eris is the goddess of discord, chaos.

    dis- something negative.

     archetype-An archetype is something that is considered to be a perfect or typical                  example of a particular kind of person or thing,because it has all their most important  

     characteristics.  

     appropriation -An appropriation is an amount of money that a government or                     organization reserves for a particular purpose.  

u  movie: Gladiator

    When a Roman general is betrayed and his family murdered by an emperor's                          corrupt son, he comes to Rome as a gladiator to seek revenge.

u  apple of discord (golden apple)

    fairest (adj.)美好的

    movie: Helen of Troy 要看完

     morg /mort /mor - death

     ex: mortician

         morgue 

         mortified

         mortal

         mortgage

     ex: we are only mortal.

u  Hephaistos: god of the Smith

     (Vulcan)(Hephaestus)

    

   Lame: cripple

   You’re so laming.你很爛

   lament 哀悼

u  Fates(Moira)-

    In Greek mythology, the Moirai —often known in English as the Fates—were the white-robed incarnations of destiny. 

    contextual clue

    foreshadowing-the act of providing vague advance indications; representing                                               beforehand.

    flashback-In a film, novel, or play, a flashback is a scene that return to events in                                      the past.  

 u  identification(id)

     - please identify the name, author, title, significance of the cited passage, the                         underlined words.

u  Thetis: nymph

     Iris: messenger

     Hermes(Mercury)

     the wing god

     ox-eyed of Cronus->Homeric epithet 

     tierra

u  Next week: quiz1