Transcript Ancient Greek Literature - English With Mrs. Pierce

Ancient Greek
Literature
By: Abdul Abbas
Grade: 10
Section: 1
Introduction
 Did you know ancient Greek literature
influenced modern literature the most?
 Ancient Greeks were the first to use vowels
in their language.
 Greek literature is known as the birth place
of western intellectual life.
 Ancient Greek literature, and people who
contributed to literature, influenced modern
society and the world.
Introduction II
 Whether you know Greek literature or
not, you should know it influenced
modern literature.
Mythology
 Ancient Greeks
were polytheistic.
 A body of stories
about gods and
heroes that tries to
explain how the
world works is
called mythology.
 Greek mythology
has gone on to
influence modern
literature, art and
film.
Ancient Greek Literature
 30% of the words in a ordinary dictionary
comes from the ancient Greek language.
 Ancient Greeks were the first to use
vowels.
 Our alphabet came from the Greek
language.
 For example: the word “alphabet” came
from ancient Greek words “alpha” “beta”.
Ancient Greek Literature II
 Ancient Greek literature had four major
writings; epic traditions, lyric poetry, tragedy
and comedy.
 An example of the epic traditions are the
Iliad and the Odyssey.
 Lyric poems got its name from a group of
individuals singing while playing the lyre.
 Tragedies and comedies were dramas and
used to honour Greek god Dionysus.
Ancient Greek
Contributors to Literature
 An ancient Greek called Homer is famous
for his two writings Odyssey and Iliad.
 Homer was a blind man and people would
gather around too hear him sing epic songs.
 He is still read today, almost 3,000 years
later.
 Another contributor was Theocritus.
Ancient Greek Contributors
to Literature II




Theocritus was the creator of pastoral poetry.
He wrote mime plays.
Alexandria was a book and poem maker.
Goethe was a Greek man who made classical
and romantic poems.
 “Clearness of vision, cheerfulness of
acceptance, easy grace of expression, are
qualities which delight us” quoted Goethe
Ancient Greek Literature
Influence to Modern Society
 English grammar, punctuation and
paragraphing came from the ancient Greek
literature.
 Greek literature influenced English writing
most during the 18th century.
 Roman, Latin and English literature was
most influenced by ancient Greek literature.
 Greeks created many genres such as
tragedy, comedy, poetry and historic writing.
Ancient Greek Literature
Influence to Modern Society II
 The ancient Greek alphabet was the first to
have vowels.
 The vowels made the language easier to
learn and speak.
 Their poetry was made to allow man the
chance to think and clear our minds.
 Ancient Greek poetry was referred to
medicine for the mind.
World Without Ancient
Greek literature
 A world with out ancient Greek literature would
be very different.
 Vowels would not be made which would make
our languages much harder to learn and
speak.
 We would have many more letters.
 There would not be any creative books for us
to read.
 There would be many languages in one small
country.
World Without Ancient
Greek literature II
 Without ancient Greek literature our
society would be less socially advanced –
we base our writing, law, philosophy and
civic codes on Greek culture and writing.
 With no start to creative writings we would
still be reading only historical texts and
religious texts.
Conclusion
 Ancient Greek literature, and people who
contributed to literature, influenced modern
society in writing, the alphabet, government,
philosophy, drama and civics.
 Remember Greek literature is known as the
birth place of western intellectual life.
 Don’t forget whether you know a piece of
Ancient Greek literature or not, you should
know it influenced modern literature.
Work Cited
 Books
Frey, Wendy, and Diane Hart. History Alive! Palo Alto,
CA: TCI, 2004. Print.Internet
"Ancient Greek Literature - History for Kids!" Kidipede History and Science for Kids - Homework Help for
Middle School. Web. 24 Apr. 2010.
<http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/greeks/literature/g
reeklit.htm>.
"Homer." Washington State University - Pullman,
Washington. Web. 24 Apr. 2010.
<http://www.wsu.edu:8080/~dee/MINOA/HOMER.HT
M>.