西方文学源头

1、西方文学源头What is an epic (史詩)? It is an extended narrative poem, exalted in style and heroic in theme. early or primary epics vs. literary epics Epic conventions: invocation, in medias res (in the middle of things), heros notable deeds (descent into the underworld), etc. E.g.: Iliad, Odyssey, Beowulf;

2、Aeneid, Paradise Lost荷馬的史詩荷馬的史詩 Homers Epics： 作品：The Iliad (伊里亞德) & The Odyssey (奧迪賽) 內容：the Trojan War (c. 1200 B.C.) Iliad: for Ilios (Troy) or for Helen Odyssey: Odysseus homeward wanderings 趣事：a. The Golden Apple: “To the fairest” Peleus & Thetis, Eris (Discord) Hera, Athena, Aphrodite Zeus, Par

3、is, Helen, Menelaus, AgamemnonTo the Fairest荷馬的史詩：荷馬的史詩： 趣事趣事：b. Achilles Anger: Agamemnon, Chryseis, Apollo Briseis, Achilles, Patroclus, Hector, Priam c. The Escape from Sirens: Odysseus and his men, the Sirens Filling ears with beeswax, tying to the mast d. The Chaste Penelope: 50 suitors, weavin

4、g a shroud, Telemachus, Odysseus bow Achilles and Patroclus Odysseus & the Sirens Penelope & her Suitors聖經聖經 (The Bible)： 包括： the Old Testament, the New Testament (& the Apocrypha) 舊約：共 39 Books (篇) in 6 groups (類) written originally in Hebrew： History, Prophetic Books, Lyric Poetry Drama, Wisdom Li

5、terature, Tales 故事：Genesis: the creation of the world and man, the fall of Adam and Eve, Noahs flood, the Tower of Babel Tower of Babel聖經聖經 (The Bible)： Exodus: the escape by the Jews from their bondage in Egypt, led by Moses, crossing the Red Sea, wandering 40 years in the Sinai wilderness, reachin

6、g Canaan. “The Book of Job” (drama): the problem of evil. Satan, God, Job, the Voice out of the Whirlwind theodicy (神義論) “Jonah and the Whale” (tale): Jehovah wanted the prophet to preach in Nineveh. Rebelliousness & selfishness; universality & mercifulness of God. Job suffering from boilsMoses & Ta

7、blet二源二源 即即 二元：二元： The Hellenic Tradition The Hebraic Tradition 希腊的：神話的文化 希伯萊的：宗教的文化 Mythological culture Religious culture Polytheistic 多神 Monotheistic 單神 Humanism 人文主義 Theism 神文主義 Hedonism 享樂 Asceticism 禁慾 For this world 今生 For the other world 來世 Secular life 世俗生話 Divine life 神明生活 Id (抑德) & Ego (本我) Super-ego (超我)至今的影響：至今的影響： 建築、雕刻： 繪畫、音樂： 戲劇、文學、電影： 日常