Future Fame in the Iliad: Epic Time and Homeric Studies

The concept of kleos, or fame, in the Iliad is explored in this volume, arguing that it affects the heroes' thoughts and psyche, as well as the nature of poetry and Homeric scholarship. It questions whether epic time is continuous or if a gap intervenes to doubt the self-identity of meaning and the possibility of memory. The book also reads modern scholarship on Homer as forms of reception that have produced distinct responses to the temporality of ancient epic.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 240 pages
Publication date: 24 August 2023
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

When Homeric heroes contemplate the significance of their actions, they anticipate that it will manifest as kleos, fame, and a future song. This volume delves into the ramifications of this mindset, particularly in the Iliad, and posits that the manifestation of kleos and the temporal gap between events and their meanings have far-reaching consequences. These effects extend not only to the thoughts and psyche of the heroes but also to the nature of poetry and Homeric scholarship. The question at hand revolves around whether epic time is continuous, perpetuating the fame of heroes in the flow of poetic tradition, or if a gap intervenes to challenge the self-identity of meaning and the possibility of memory. This inquiry establishes a connection between the poetic logic of fame for heroes and singers of epic and the implicit temporalities of Homeric studies. Alongside an analysis of literary figures from the Iliad, including narrative, objects, and similes, this volume also engages with modern scholarship on Homer, encompassing oral theory, neoanalysis, and traditional referentiality, as forms of reception that have yielded distinct responses to the temporality of ancient epic. Within the realm of epic kleos, heroes, poets, and scholars come together through a tradition that weaves together memories and presentiments from a past that never occurred and futures that will never materialize.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781350239203