This edition of Homer opens with a summary of the events of the Iliad, the Odyssey, and the mythological background to the Trojan War. Subsequent chapters deal with the traditions of oral poetry; the human society of the poems, the ideal of heroic life, and the position of 'lower classes'; the role of gods; and Homer's skill as a poet, both in his characterization and story-telling techniques. A final chapter considers the historical background to the poems and Homer's influence on the Greeks. All sections are based upon passages from the poems - often quoted at length.This is convenient and serviceable introduction to Homer for beginners: its brief and clearly written sections address most of the areas included in the GCSE Classical Civilisation Homer module, and the text is broken up by appropriate illustrations.

This edition of Homer opens with a summary of the events of the Iliad, the Odyssey, and the mythological background to the Trojan War. Subsequent chapters deal with the traditions of oral poetry; the human society of the poems, the ideal of heroic life, and the position of 'lower classes'; the role of gods; and Homer's skill as a poet, both in his characterization and story-telling techniques. A final chapter considers the historical background to the poems and Homer's influence on the Greeks. All sections are based upon passages from the poems - often quoted at length.This is convenient and serviceable introduction to Homer for beginners: its brief and clearly written sections address most of the areas included in the GCSE Classical Civilisation Homer module, and the text is broken up by appropriate illustrations.