Sappho

1. Sappho By: Angeleena Staton

2. Things you might not know. Born between 630 and 612 BC Greek lyrist (wrote her poems to be performed with a lyre) An aristocrat Married a prosperous merchant Had a daughter named Cleis

3. Her work In the 7 th century BC, Lesbos was a cultural center and that influenced her work. Her works were very sensual, mainly love songs The target of her affections was females Her poetry was not condemned in her time, but disparaged by scholars centuries later.

4. Praises Plato praised Sappho for her work, asking to be taught a song, “Because I want to learn it and die.” Other poets like Michael Field, Marie Madeleine, and Amy Lowell said Sappho had a strong influence over their work.

5. Findings Due to censorship, natural disasters, and neglect much of her work was lost In the late 19 th century they found manuscripts dating back to the 8 th century AD in Nile Valley They found strips of papyrus containing her poetry, from 1 st century BC to 10 th century AD. They were being used to wrap mummies, stuff animals, and wrap coffins. They’re still being piece together today.

6. Piecing together what remains Piecing together the poems are extremely difficult. There are many approaches the translator can take on the language. The most difficult part though, pieces are missing, so the translator could make their best guess or trail off… But breaks in the poem that has an effect on the reader, that’s like robbing us, like getting all the way up past the rising action, almost to the climax, but it skips that, and you’re at the falling action. WHAT?

7. Sappho has remained an important literary and cultural figure. Poets are constantly inspired by her. She shows bravery through out her writing, when she writes she does not hold back.

8. Works Cited North, Alix . "Sappho circa 630 B.C.." Isle of Lesbos: Poetry of Sappho. Alix North, 1 Jan. 2007. Web. 21 Apr. 2014. <http://www.sappho.com/poetry/sappho.html>.