tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7495382709151625398.post1291269144831246679..comments2024-02-09T16:13:32.416-08:00Comments on Classical Carousel: Metamorphoses ~ Book XIICleohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152128642971612433noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7495382709151625398.post-77184111631383089662016-03-31T15:52:07.951-07:002016-03-31T15:52:07.951-07:00To compare, I think you really need to read a good...To compare, I think you really need to read a good translation of both; translations can make all the differences, especially in Greek. As I learn more Greek I'm realizing the difficulties in translating it. Words don't just have one definition .... it's all context, context, context!<br /><br />I have to say that I'm impressed with Ovid's ability to sound both Greek and Roman ...... his stories, as they change from one to the other, certainly have a different tone (more scientific, matter-of-fact, and military-ish for Rome). But for grandeur and majesty you can't beat Homer. Try reading Richard Lattimore for The Iliad if you can get a copy of his translation. For that particular poem, in my books, he's the best!Cleohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13152128642971612433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7495382709151625398.post-34148599298241750672016-03-31T14:31:13.792-07:002016-03-31T14:31:13.792-07:00"the warriors themselves appear more importan..."the warriors themselves appear more important" - agreed. Ovid has a Woolf vibe :)<br /><br />As for Ovid or Homer... I do think I prefer Ovid! I know that is blasphemous! And I know what you're going to say - I need to re-read The Iliad. And I will, and then I'll make my judgement.<br /><br />And, actually - I have read another Ovid, the title escapes me, The Art of Love I think, and I would say with certainty Homer is the better author. But for Metamorphoses... I think I've enjoyed it more than The Odyssey (which, by the way, I loved too!).<br /><br />Tough call, anyway! ohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01245931629228090133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7495382709151625398.post-59944841879972037712016-03-24T09:35:33.555-07:002016-03-24T09:35:33.555-07:00Thanks! I've listened to neither poet in full...Thanks! I've listened to neither poet in full, so thanks for this assessment. You've reminded me that poetry needs to be heard to truly get the original purpose and effect of it. The next time I'm going to listen ..... that is if I can find a good translation and unabridged editions.<br /><br />Cleohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13152128642971612433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7495382709151625398.post-80062019971981014192016-03-24T09:30:36.756-07:002016-03-24T09:30:36.756-07:00Defending Ovid? Cirtnecce, should you see a docto...Defending Ovid? Cirtnecce, should you see a doctor? ;-) Seriously though, I do know that you mean about their purposes being different. What often disturbs me about Ovid his the tone of graphic joy of situations that harm or demean people (men and women alike) in his poetry. Personally, that's not art and equivocally on the same level as a Hollywood blockbuster (movie) with lots of special effects ...... shocking, astounding, yes, but because of the effects and not because of the art.Cleohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13152128642971612433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7495382709151625398.post-68942684690393966692016-03-24T02:33:26.349-07:002016-03-24T02:33:26.349-07:00From an audio perspective...
Homer wins the contes...From an audio perspective...<br />Homer wins the contest hands down...rhythm and rhyme were seductive.<br />Ovid 's strong point on the audio...was the voices: raging, lamenting, mocking.<br />Great summation of book 12!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7495382709151625398.post-418356587770338132016-03-23T23:10:39.637-07:002016-03-23T23:10:39.637-07:00I cannot believe I am defending Ovid, but to be fa...I cannot believe I am defending Ovid, but to be fair, his and Homer's focuses are different. Homer's subject was "The War" in all its terrible awe-struck glory; while Ovid has a breath of subjects where Gods are not awe inspiring but more take it as they come variety. Therefore the grandiose element naturally comes to Homer far more easily than Ovid! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7495382709151625398.post-76952727095601359562016-03-23T15:27:22.308-07:002016-03-23T15:27:22.308-07:00It is curious, isn't it? The Greeks didn'...It is curious, isn't it? The Greeks didn't seem to be afraid of violence, and honestly if you look at the world as a whole, perhaps we're as violent today, we just like to downplay it and cloak it in hopes or platitudes. Or perhaps the violence is perpetrated in less obvious ways. Even when later on, Aristophanes criticizes the Peloponnesian War with Sparta, it seems like he focuses on <i>unnecessary</i> loss of life, the wasted money that went into it, and the damage to their social structure. The violence didn't appear to be an issue. Moving from Ovid (& Aeschylus) to other Greek works, I'm going to keep an eye out for any references to it and opinions. I'm guessing that the Greeks realized that the real world (and life) was not kind, and simply acknowledged and dealt with it. <br /><br />I also wonder if these stories could be like fairy tales, in that fairy tales were cautionary and perhaps also helped children prepare for life. Could part of the function of these myths be similar? <br /><br />I wonder when the philosophical element became important in Greece? I know that pre-Aeschylus, the society moved from a dictatorship to a democracy, but much more than that I haven't discovered yet. Hopefully it becomes clearer as I continue to read through my semi-chronological mental Greek reading list!Cleohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13152128642971612433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7495382709151625398.post-75370375953011592442016-03-23T12:27:09.778-07:002016-03-23T12:27:09.778-07:00i t seems quixotic that greek mythology portrays a...i t seems quixotic that greek mythology portrays a violent world, indicating a violent society, but the most famous greeks were placid and thoughtful; i.e.: plato, socrates, aristotle, et. al. Mudpuddlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17194891656971454279noreply@blogger.com