Metaphor in Homer: Time, Speech, and Thought

by Andreas T. Zanker

Overview

How are time, speech, and thought presented in the Iliad and Odyssey? What role does metaphor play in these portrayals? How might metaphor have aided the poet in the production of his song? In this book, Andreas T. Zanker considers these and other questions from the perspective of conceptual metaphor theory, investigating the commonalities and differences between the ancient and modern conceptualizations of, for example, the passing of time, communication of information, and internal dialogue. In so doing, he takes a stance on broader questions concerning the alleged 'primitive' quality of the Homeric conceptual system, the process of composition in performance, and the categories of the literal and the figurative. All Greek is translated, and readers in disciplines beyond classics and cognitive linguistics will find something of interest in this investigation of the conceptual metaphors lodged within a corpus of extremely early poetry.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781108491884
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	08/01/2019
Pages:	272
Product dimensions:	6.18(w) x 9.25(h) x 0.79(d)

About the Author

Andreas T. Zanker is Assistant Professor of Classics at Amherst College, Massachusetts. He is the author of Greek and Latin Expressions of Meaning: The Classical Origins of a Modern Metaphor (2016) and a coeditor of Horace and Seneca: Interactions, Intertexts, Interpretations (2017).

Table of Contents

Introduction; 1. Ancient and modern views on metaphor in Homer; 2. Conceptual metaphors for time in Homer; 3. Conceptual metaphors for speech in Homer; 4. Conceptual metaphors for mind, intention, and self in Homer; Conclusion; Appendix 1. Metaphor and composition in performance; Appendix 2. Homeric metaphor and the lexicon – the case of ὄσσομαι.

Editorial Reviews

‘This excellent, timely, and lucidly written book, the first monograph to explore the significance of conceptual metaphor theory in any ancient literary corpus, stands at the cutting edge of contemporary classical studies. Zanker's careful and comprehensive account of Homeric metaphors for time, speech, mind, and selfhood will immediately establish itself as a landmark study in the field.' Douglas Cairns, University of Edinburgh

‘Zanker intervenes in a long-standing debate on the supposed ‘primitiveness' of Homer. His insightful study of metaphor in Homer argues that early epic ideas about time, the mind, and speech are more in line with the modern conception (though without fully coinciding with it) than was previously thought. Refreshing work!' Egbert Bakker, Yale University, Connecticut

From the Publisher