Narrators and Focalizers: The Presentation of the Story in the Iliad

by Irene J.F. de Jong

Acclaimed as one of the pioneering texts to introduce narratology (the theory that deals with the general principles underlying narrative texts) to classical scholarship, Irene de Jong's work explains the key concepts such as "narrator", "focalization" and "prolepsis", highlighting their relevance by using them for the analysis and interpretation of Homer's "Iliad". What is the role of the narrator and how do the parts of the story told by the narrator relate to the many speeches for which Homer is famous? This work was first published in 1987 and it is reissued here with a new introduction by the author, offering an overview of the trends in Homeric narratological scholarship over the last decade.

Genres: Nonfiction

346 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2004

Reviews

[Realini Ionescu · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Iliad by Homer adapted for The BBC

Another version of this note and thoughts on other books are available at:

- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list...

This is not just a masterpiece.
It is a fundamental work.

Classics of literature keep referring to it.
And yet, I did not enjoy it, even on this second or third taking.

We all know about Achilles, Hector, Paris and all the other heroes- mainly- and heroines involved in this tragic tale.
Without knowing about the Iliad and all that is involved in it we would probably not be able to read classic works.

The Achilles heel is a well-known frailty and myth, so much so that we refer to it in common language and say:

- This is his Achilles heel

On the other hand, there is so much violence that it turned me off, even in the abridged format of a play.
Yes, one can see the grandiose, spectacular confrontation of Greeks against Trojans and be mesmerized by it.

Or repelled.
I hesitated between the awe and the disgust provoked by the gory scenes of clashes in magnificent and yet gruesome battle scenes.

And it was the same some years back.
To compare with, I am including the notes written some years ago, on the same classical subject as left to posterity by Homer.

The Iliad by Homer…a note from 2012, added to a recording from 2017, with, alas, about the same lack of enthusiasm


The first time I‘ve read The Iliad, some 30-35 years ago; it must have been an abbreviated version. The version included in the Guardian top 100 list and on which should be on the must-read list of any serious reader is way too complex for an ordinary teenager, in my view.

My teacher of Literature, Chevorchian was an excellent man and extraordinary mentor. Among the many wonderful things he taught us was that we need to start reading with mythology, in order to understand the references made in Any of the great books. I do not remember all the short list of great books he insisted upon, but my guess is that the Iliad was on it. I know that Chevorchian insisted on Flaubert.

Back then I did read, but without any system, I did not consult the internet (there wasn’t any). Now I try to read and re-read the best books ever written.

The Iliad is a very complex, tough book. In the future, if political correctness I all the rage, some books will fall from the top lists.

Homer is describing with great talent the epic battles of Troy. Many men die, an outrageous number of animals are mutilated, sacrificed.

I did not count for an accurate statistics, but there might be a beheading on every other page.

That being said, the book is indeed extraordinary… the bravery, the beauty of the fights is sometimes shadowed by the cowardice of defeated fighters.
I felt very sad when Hector dies. Disappointed by the way his corpse was treated by the “brave, unique” Achilles- dragged through the dust.


There would be much more I’d like to write about it, making my impression as long as the book itself, but I’m no Homer so I better stop here.