The Greeks discovered the individual, it is said, but in what sense is this true? Characters in Greek literature may often seem strangely different from their modern counterparts: less idiosyncratic, less real, and with less psychological depth or interest. Personality traits seems to cluster more predictably in the characters of Greek authors than of those today. Despite the wide-ranging scope of this aspect of Greek literature, most previous discussions on Greek
characterization and individuality have been limited to particular authors or genres. This volume attempts to illuminate the connections and mutual influences of the various
genres in the portrayal of the individual. Ten essays explore the question of the distinction of character and personality (C. Gill); how the Greeks viewed the concept of character (S. Halliwell); characterization in epic (O. Taplin), in tragedy (P. E. Easterling, S. Goldhill, and J. Griffin), in comedy (M. Silk), in philosophical dialectic (L. Coventry), in oratory and rhetoric (D. A. Russell), and in biography (C. B. R. Pelling). This work will be invaluable to anyone interested in Greek
literature and in the phenomenon of characterization and individuality in literature in general.
The Greeks discovered the individual, it is said, but in what sense is this true? Characters in Greek literature may often seem strangely different from their modern counterparts: less idiosyncratic, less real, and with less psychological depth or interest. Personality traits seems to cluster more predictably in the characters of Greek authors than of those today. Despite the wide-ranging scope of this aspect of Greek literature, most previous discussions on Greek
characterization and individuality have been limited to particular authors or genres. This volume attempts to illuminate the connections and mutual influences of the various
genres in the portrayal of the individual. Ten essays explore the question of the distinction of character and personality (C. Gill); how the Greeks viewed the concept of character (S. Halliwell); characterization in epic (O. Taplin), in tragedy (P. E. Easterling, S. Goldhill, and J. Griffin), in comedy (M. Silk), in philosophical dialectic (L. Coventry), in oratory and rhetoric (D. A. Russell), and in biography (C. B. R. Pelling). This work will be invaluable to anyone interested in Greek
literature and in the phenomenon of characterization and individuality in literature in general.
Christopher Gill: The character-personality distinction; Stephen
Halliwell: Traditional Greek conceptions of character; Oliver
Taplin: Agamemnon's role in the Iliad; P. E. Easterling:
Constructing character in Greek tragedy; Simon Goldhill: Character
and action, representation and reading: Greek tragedy and its
critics; Jasper Griffin: Characterization in Euripides: Hippolytus
and Iphigenia in Aulis; Michael Silk: The people of Aristophanes;
Lucinda Coventry:
The role of interlocutor in Plato's dialogues: Theory and practice;
D. A. F. M. Russell: Ethos in oratory and rhetoric; C. B. R.
Pelling: Childhood and personality in Greek biography; C. B. R.
Pelling:
Conclusion
'I would especially commend Pelling's paper, an illuminating study
of ancient biography with a neat twist in the tail ... stimulating
collection'
Times Literary Supplement
`the book contains important contributions to an important debate.
It is well-researched, well-edited, and well-produced'
Classical Review
`This is a splendid collection of papers'
Peter Jones, The Times
'The volume coheres well, despite the diversity of views expressed,
and several of these essays are likely to become standard reading
for both classicists and students of drama.'
Greece & Rome, Vol.37, No.2, Oct '90
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