Tag Archives: epic
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Zemeckis’ Beowulf

by grlucas on 16. Nov, 2008 in Film, Literature, Politics

I couldn’t help but be struck by the interesting re-telling of the Anglo-Saxon epic Beowulf, by Robert Zemeckis, Neil Gaiman, and Roger Avary. They kept the basic story intact, but added a twist with Grendel’s mother and more subtle characters. In fact, the theme of fatherhood in the time of heroes was nicely problematized: the [...]

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The Strangeness of Homer’s <i>Iliad</i>

The Strangeness of Homer’s Iliad

by grlucas on 30. Jul, 2006 in Literature, Scholarship

Can Achilles really be the first great hero of our literature? He seems a fool, an infantile narcissist. The first word of Western literature is menin — in old Greek, “rage” or “wrath.” Homer means Achilles’ rage, the kind of rage that has an element of divine fury in it and that destroys armies and [...]

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Iliad Observations

Iliad Observations

by grlucas on 30. Jul, 2006 in Literature, Notes

In my old undergraduate notes, I found some sections from Great Books that deal with the Iliad. I cannot give the exact reference, as whatever professor gave me the photocopy had neglected to put in that information. If anyone knows, please let me know so I can give proper credit. From David Denby’s The New [...]

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Nobody’s Hero: They Should Have Sent a Poet

by grlucas on 02. Jun, 2006 in Film, Literature, Teaching

To begin this summer’s section of World Literature I, the class and I brainstormed about just what we mean when we call someone a “hero.” As they suggested ideas, I wrote them on the board, and the whole class discussed each trait. We agreed that the idea of a hero changes with the needs of [...]

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