The hottest Narrative Traditions Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Literature Topics

That Mare is Mine!

Painful Signs, Or, Joel's Substack • 59 implied HN points • 18 Mar 24
📚 Literature Classics Narrative Traditions
  1. Iliad 23 is dedicated to honoring Patroklos through burial and funeral games, reflecting themes of heroism, politics, and narrative traditions.
  2. Funeral games in Greek narratives serve as settings to explore shared elite culture and establish identities through non-destructive competition.
  3. The funeral games in Iliad 23 provide a ritualized space for re-imagining politics, resolving conflicts, and showcasing Achilles' character growth.

Concerns For Those About To Die

Painful Signs, Or, Joel's Substack • 39 implied HN points • 26 Feb 24
📚 Literature Narrative Traditions Heroism
  1. Book 20 of the Iliad brings out the themes of narrative traditions, the interactions between Gods and humans, and heroism.
  2. Zeus in Book 20 shifts from being an internal audience to briefly shaping the narrative, showing his concerns for the consequences of actions beyond fate.
  3. The pleasure Zeus takes in watching the narrative unfold hints at the vicarious experience of resolving suspense and the ending of a tale.

Rescuing the Bod(ies)

Painful Signs, Or, Joel's Substack • 59 implied HN points • 05 Feb 24
📚 Literature Narrative Traditions Performance
  1. Book 17 of the Iliad offers important details and character development, adding depth to the narrative beyond just advancing the plot.
  2. The discussion of the Epic Cycle and Neoanalysis highlights the complexities of understanding how different narratives influence each other in ancient storytelling traditions.
  3. The rescue of Achilles' body in Book 17 showcases the richness and depth of oral traditions, and raises questions about the relationships between various epic traditions.

Major Themes for Reading and Teaching the Iliad

Painful Signs, Or, Joel's Substack • 59 implied HN points • 11 Oct 23
📚 Literature Themes Narrative Traditions Gods Politics Heroism
  1. The Iliad presents interwoven themes like politics, heroism, gods and humans, family and friends, and narrative traditions.
  2. In the Iliad, politics are explored through conflicts among Greeks, Trojans, and Gods, delving into questions of authority and consequences of dysfunctional politics.
  3. Heroism in the Iliad is depicted through characters like Achilles and Hektor, exploring themes of strength, wisdom, and narrative patterns of withdrawal and return.

Seeing (and Wounding) the Gods

Painful Signs, Or, Joel's Substack • 39 implied HN points • 06 Nov 23
📚 Literature Mythology Epic poetry Narrative Traditions Gods Heroes
  1. Book 5 of the Iliad presents the first full aristeia of the epic, focusing on Athena supporting Diomedes in his opposition to the gods and victory over Aeneas and Aphrodite.
  2. Book 5 contributes critically to major themes in the Iliad such as narrative traditions, heroism, and the interactions between gods and humans.
  3. The gods engage in indirect conflict in Book 5, setting the stage for more direct divine confrontations in later books, emphasizing the importance of their behavior in understanding human messages in the epic.
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(Re-)Starting the Trojan War

Painful Signs, Or, Joel's Substack • 39 implied HN points • 23 Oct 23
📚 Literature Classics Epic poetry Mythology Scholarship Narrative Traditions
  1. Book 3 of the Iliad provides examples of Homeric style through delays in the fighting and unconventional scenes.
  2. The dominant theme of the third book of the Iliad is the past, showcasing how the narrative weaves together different stories and traditions.
  3. Helen's role in creating a visual narrative sets the stage for the action in the Iliad, showing the interplay of characters and suffering in the Trojan War.

Time, Feet, and Serious Wounds

Painful Signs, Or, Joel's Substack • 19 implied HN points • 18 Dec 23
📚 Literature Classics Themes Analysis Narrative Traditions Characters
  1. Book 11 of the Iliad involves a day full of battle, highlighting themes of conflict, heroism, and the role of gods in ancient literature.
  2. The plot of Book 11 includes scenes such as the conflict renewed by Zeus, Achilles' response to the suffering of others, and Nestor's persuasive speech to urge Achilles back to war.
  3. The foot wound of Diomedes in Book 11 reflects a tradition of the Trojan War, introduces elements of myth and realism, and positions the Iliad as critically engaging with the epic tradition.