The Iliad Aloud: Empirical Effects of Rhythm in Homer

Abstract

This thesis aims to set forth principles to analyze what the universal, cognitively based effect of the Iliad’s rhythm is. Rhythm is known to have a powerful role in shaping the perception of literature, especially poetry, and yet, studies of Homer’s rhythm have traditionally not included any empirical reasoning in their evaluation of what atmosphere specific rhythmic elements generate. This study looks specifically at dialog to show that the same principles of understanding rhythm in speech and in other poetic contexts still apply to the Iliad, largely drawing off of literary theorist Reuven Tsur’s studies of cognitive poetics. I start by adapting Reuven Tsur’s universal principles onto the Greek hexameter and consult other literary theorists to see how the Iliad’s rhythm may influence the way its speech acts are perceived. From there, I explain what audible tension the Iliad’s enjambment patterns create and how and to what effect those may be realized in performance. I also investigate the atmosphere created by the basic prosodic features of the hexameter—the dactyl and spondee—in order to ascertain how they influence the audience’s perception of a section of dialog. Lastly, remembering that the Iliad is a performance piece, I unite the principles developed over the course of the previous three chapters in an analysis of a continuous scene—the Iliad’s climax—to see how the tensions between the metrical and prose rhythms separate the scene and highlight the character’s emotional states. This cumulative understanding unlocks a deeper level of possible engagement with the Iliad, insight into Homer’s craft, and the ancient audience’s reception.