Download Ancient Greek and Roman Literature

Ancient Greek and
Roman Literature
Literature
3 of the
Earliest Greek
Poets
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Homer (c. 1000 B.C.) known as the “blind poet,” he gave a written
account of Greek mythology in his epic poetry:
 The Iliad is an account of the Trojan War
 The Odyssey is an account of Odysseus’ journey to his island home
after the Trojan War.
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Hesiod (c. 900 B.C.) was a poor farmer whose life was hard and
bitter. He emphasized Zeus as a just god and defender of the poor
 Theogony is an account of the creation of the universe
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Pinder (c. 600 B.C.) known as the greatest lyric poet
 Odes in honor of athletic victors. These Odes alluded to various myths.
Greek Dramatists
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Aeschylus (c. 500 B.C.) wrote Tragedies
 Agamemnon is a story of how the king returns to Athens after
the Trojan war, only to be killed by his wife
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Sophocles (c. 400 B.C.) wrote Tragedies
 Antigone is a story of a woman who seeks a
proper burial for her brother
 Oedipus is a story of a man who accidentally
kills his father and marries his mother
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Euripides (c. 400 B.C.) wrote Tragedies
 Medea is the story of a revengeful wife who kills her children
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Aristophanes (c. 400 B.C.) wrote Comedies
 The Clouds
Greek History
and Philosophy
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Herodotus (c. 400s B.C.) was considered the 1st European
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Socrates (c. 400’s B.C.) 1st great philosopher
historian
 Wrote history of the Persian Wars
 used a dialectic (series of questions called the Socratic method) to
examine philosophical ideas
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Plato (300’s B.C.) disciple of Socrates
 wrote Socratic Dialogues-ideas he learned from Socrates as well as his
own ideas in many works including one called The Republic
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Aristotle (300’s B.C.) disciple of Plato
 wrote Metaphysics
Ancient Roman
Poets
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Ovid (43 B.C.-17 A.D.) during Caesar Augustus’ reign
 Wrote a compendium of mythology including Metamorphoses
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Virgil (70 B.C.-19 A.D.) during Caesar Augustus’ reign
 The Aeneid --an account of Aeneas fleeing from burning Troy and
staring a new race of people, the Romans.
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Apuleius (200 B.C.)
 Wrote about Cupid and Psyche