Homeric Soundings: The Shaping of the Iliad (Revised)

The Iliad came into existence to be heard from start to finish. While this is generally accepted in theory, the poem has not been properly studied in light of what this means in practice. Many connections, which are not obvious when the poem is read, become prominent if it is approached as an oral and aural creation, particularly if the poem is divided into three segments, probably a product of three night-long sessions of performance. This book contends that the shapings that these soundings, or sample explorations, bring into focus extend from details of wording and theme to the entire moral, religious, and political significance of the Iliad.