Quote:
Originally Posted by crich70
The structure of works like The Iliad and Odyssey when performed was quite different as well. They had a Chorus that would introduce the audience to what was going on and of course back then they could have divine intervention in events. What we would consider cheating on the part of the author they saw as normal. Their mental outlook on the world was very different from ours. To them everything was dependent on the 'Gods' who could be angered by almost anything or who could decide to do something that caused harm to mortals on a whim if nothing else. And woe to any man who offended the Gods somehow. Their plays weren't only entertainment but warnings to not attract the attention of their Gods lest you find yourself in deep trouble.
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I didn't know about choruses for epic poems either. I thought it was just for plays.
I love the quotation from
King Lear about the gods:
Quote:
As flies to wanton boys, are we to the gods, —
They kill us for their sport.
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