The stranger's welcome

By Steve Reece

Subjects: Epic poetry, history and criticism, Outsiders in literature, Homer, Oral tradition, Criticism and interpretation, Hospitality in literature, Greek Epic poetry, Aesthetics, greek, History and criticism, Ancient Aesthetics, Oral-formulaic analysis

Description: This is a book about the rituals of hospitality (xenia) in Homer. But it is only secondarily so; it could just as well be about sacrifice, assembly, arming, or any of a number of frequently recurring actions in Homer. This book is primarily about how oral poetry works; it is an attempt to define the aesthetics of oral poetry on its own terms.