[B-Greek] studying Homeric Greek

Steven Lo Vullo slovullo at mac.com
Sat Aug 14 13:16:59 EDT 2004


Hi all:

This is not directly related to the study of Koine, but I would 
appreciate any responses, especially from Carl and others who have 
spent a considerable amount of time in the study and teaching of 
Classical Greek.

My only exposure to Homer has been various excerpts in the course of 
studying Classical Greek. And this was about ten years ago. So I have 
decided to undertake the necessary study to read the whole of the Iliad 
and Odyssey. I have _Homeric Greek: A Book for Beginners_ by Pharr 
(revised by Wright), _A Homeric Dictionary_ by Autenrieth, and _Homeric 
Vocabularies_ by Owen and Goodspeed.

First, are these sufficient, or can anyone think of anything else I may 
need?

Second, in _Homeric Greek: A Book for Beginners_ it is argued quite 
forcefully that the study of Greek should always begin with Homer 
rather than with Attic, particularly Xenophon. Various arguments are 
adduced, which I shall not repeat here. The recommended sequence of 
proceeding through the study and reading of Greek is as follows: (1) 
Homer; (2) Euripides followed by more drama or some Plato or some New 
Testament; (3) Herodotus; (4) Plato (5) the Lyric Poets; (6) Hesiod; 
(7) the New Testament (recommended for those intending to enter the 
ministry; (8) Xenophon.

Does anyone have any comments about this approach to Greek? Have any of 
you teachers of Classical used this approach? Do you think it is on the 
whole a good plan or deleterious? TIA
============

Steven Lo Vullo
Madison, WI




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