FOUNDATIONS OF WESTERN LITERATURE.pptx.12

This is a presentation about the foundations of western literature. This is a presentation about the foundations of western literature. This is a presentation about the foundations of western literature. This is a presentation about the foundations of western literature. this is a topic for grade 11 21st century literature

1. Foundations of Western Literature

2. History Book Origin Western literature , also know as European literature , is the literature written in Indo-European languages . It started with the ancient Greeks and Romans and continuing today. It began with the classical age of ancient Greece around 500 BCE .

3. History Book Characteristics Oral Traditions Roots Focus on the Human Formal Perfection and Clarity Establishment of Genre Mythology and History

4. Prominent Authors

5. History Book Homer Sophocles Virgil Aristophanes Herodotus

6. Homer He was a Greek poet often called “The Father of Western Literature” was one of the world’s greatest literary heroes. Many historians believe that the Greek poet, Homer, lived between the 7 th and 8 th centuries BCE. Due to the depiction of a blind poet in the Odyssey, Homer is customarily believed to have been blind himself. ·While the two epics have their similarities, some researchers believe the Iliad was only recited by Homer, while the poet himself composed the Odyssey.

7. He was renowned ancient Greek playwright , born around 497/6 BC Born in Colonus, close to Athens, circa 497 BCE, Sophocles was a well-known ancient Greek tragedian. Because of his well-to-do and well-respected family, he received a solid education in literature, the arts, and music. ·He is celebrated for his contributions to tragedy, notably through works like "Oedipus Rex" and "Antigone." His innovative use of character and dialogue significantly shaped Western drama. Sophocles

8. He was born on October 15, 70 BCE, Andes near Matua (Italy)-- died September 21, 19 BCE. Virgil was a Roman poet and best known for his national epic, the Aeneid (from c.30 BCE, unfinished at his death) Virgil was regarded by the Romans as their greatest poet , an estimation that subsequent generations have upheld. His fame rests chiefly upon the Aeneid, which tells the story of Rome’s legendary founder and proclaims the Roman mission to civilize the world under divine guidance. Virgil

9. The most famous writer of Old Comedy, known for satirical and often political plays like Lysistrata and The Frog. “Father of Comedy” Aristophanes (c.446-386 BCE)

10. He was the author of The Histories, and considered the “Father of History” . Herodotus (c.484-425 BCE)

11. Their Literary Works

12. History Book The Iliad by Homer The Odyssey by Homer Antigone by Sophocles Oedipus the King The Aeneid by Virgil

13. The Iliad by Homer

14. The Odyssey by Homer

15. Antigone by Sophocles

16. Oedipus the King

17. The Aeneid by Virgil

18. Themes of the Literary Pieces

19. History Book Themes of the Literary Pie ces The Heroic Ideal : Exploring concepts of honor, glory, courage, and reputation (e.g., the heroic code in the Iliad). Fate vs. Free Will : The conflict between divine will or predetermined fate and the consequences of human choices (e.g., Oedipus the King). Duty, Piety, and Patriotism : The importance of civic duty, moral obligation to the gods and state, and the founding/glorification of the nation (e.g., the Stoic-influenced themes of the Aeneid).

20. History Book Themes of the Literary Pieces Justice and Law : The nature of right and wrong, human law versus divine/natural law, and the quest for ethical order in society (Antigone). The Journey/Quest : Physical and spiritual journeys as metaphors for personal growth, survival, and the return to stability (The Odyssey). Gods and war : Narrating events centered on the adventures of gods and war epics.

21. Historical and Sociocultural Significance

22. History Book Historical Significance Preservation of Culture : These works were the primary means of transmitting cultural knowledge, values, and history across generations. They functioned as both literature and historical record (e.g., Herodotus's Histories). Educational Foundation : Works like Homer's epics served as the principal textbooks for moral and civic education in Ancient Greece, shaping the values of future leaders and citizens. Influence on Later Literature : Greek and Roman forms (epic, tragedy, comedy, lyric) and rhetorical styles became the formal models for all subsequent Western literature, from the Renaissance through the present day.

23. History Book Sociocultural Significance Shared Identity : The myths and heroic narratives provided a shared cultural identity for disparate city-states and, later, the vast Roman Empire. Exploration of Morality : Drama, particularly tragedy, served as a communal forum for examining complex moral, ethical, and political issues, allowing citizens to confront the limits of human action and wisdom. Secularization of Thought : The emergence of philosophical prose (e.g., Plato, Aristotle) marked a transition toward rational inquiry and a systematic study of the human condition, distinct from purely religious explanation, laying the groundwork for Western intellectual tradition.

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