Accidental Grandeur: A Defense of Narrative Vagueness in Ancient Epic Literature (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9780820407395)

Since the work of Milman Parry, Homeric poetry has been subjected to a meticulous re-evaluation. The question of how closely an oral tale should be searched for subtle meanings applies, not just to Homer, but to all traditional literature. Accidental Grandeur mitigates this controversy with the novel idea that great epics succeed largely because their style leaves so much to the audience's imagination. From the Old Irish traditions to Homer to the highly literate Vergil, certain inflexible narrative conventions may be seen actually to introduce a poetic uncertainty.

Author: Daniel H. Garrison
ISBN-10: 0820407399
ISBN-13: 9780820407395
Publisher: Peter Lang Inc., International Academic Publi
Language: English
Published: 12/01/1988
Pages: 207
Format: Hardcover