Feminism in Greek Literature from Homer to Aristotle

Wright, F. A. (Frederick Adam), 1869-1946Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

Rating 3.0

Word count: 296K words
Chapters: 30

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.Feminism in Greek Literature from Homer to Aristotle by F. A. WrightAuthor: Wright, F. A. (Frederick Adam), 1869-1946,Language: English, Class: PA: Language and Literatures: Classical Languages and Literature, Release Date: Apr 4, 2019

Editor's review

This book is a specialist study written in English by the British classicist F. A. Wright. Following a chronological thread from the Homeric epics to the works of Aristotle, it systematically surveys the textual material in ancient Greek literature that bears on the question of women. The author examines the images of women and the relevant remarks found in epic, tragedy, comedy, and philosophical writing within the context of their own eras, presenting both the various conceptions of women in ancient Greek society and the differences and tensions between genres and schools of thought. As an early specialist work, its value lies not in offering the conclusions of contemporary feminist theory but in gathering scattered threads of classical texts so that readers may compare and judge for themselves. The prose is primarily academic exposition, clearly argued, with fairly abundant notes and quotations, making it suitable as an introductory reference for understanding this subject. It should be read as a guide to the sources rather than a definitive work; key quotations may be checked against the original texts and supplemented with later scholarship.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Students of classics and ancient Greek literature who need to survey women-related texts along a chronological thread
Readers studying gender history or the history of feminist thought who wish to learn about early specialist discussions
Advanced readers interested in images of women in the Homeric epics and Athenian drama
Enthusiasts with good English reading ability who are willing to consult classical quotations directly

Not a good fit for

Readers seeking a systematic exposition of contemporary feminist theory
Beginners who want only narrative content and are unused to academic argument and quotation
General readers whose English is not yet proficient and who need a Chinese translation

Reading tips

Read the introduction and conclusion first to grasp the book's central questions and chronological framework, then go through the chapters in detail.
Note down the classical passages the author cites as you read, and check key sections against the corresponding chapters of the original texts.
Read in four stages—Homer, tragedy, comedy, philosophy—summarizing for yourself the differences in the images of women after each stage.
Understand the author's judgments in light of the scholarship of his time, and read the conclusions critically.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Is this book a work of contemporary feminist theory?

No. It is an earlier specialist study in classics whose main task is to survey and comment on the texts and remarks concerning women in ancient Greek literature, rather than to construct a feminist theoretical system in the contemporary sense. Readers should treat it as a guide to the sources and a historical investigation, and examine critically the judgments that bear the marks of their era.

Can I understand it without any background in ancient Greek literature?

You can read it, but it will be somewhat difficult. The book quotes extensively from epic, drama, and philosophical texts; if their plots and characters are entirely unfamiliar, following the argument will be hard. It is advisable to learn at least the basic content of the Homeric epics and a few Athenian tragedies before starting.

What period does the book cover?

As the title indicates, the discussion ranges from the Homeric epics to the works of Aristotle, covering material concerning women in epic, lyric poetry, tragedy, comedy, and philosophical writing, and roughly tracing the main lines of development in the relevant ideas in ancient Greek literature.

What form is this edition?

This is the English e-book edition released by Project Gutenberg, a free public-domain electronic text in English, classified under classical languages and literature. It is convenient for searching and copying quotations, but it is not a scholarly critical edition with modern translation notes; care should be taken with the edition information when citing it.

This site is an index: you start “Search all sources” in your browser, and the entries it lists all point to third-party sites; please judge their availability yourself.

About the author

Wright, F. A. (Frederick Adam), 1869-1946 Author

Frederick Adam Wright (1869–1946) was a British classical scholar and translator. Public information about his life and academic background is limited; his known representative work is Feminism in Greek Literature from Homer to Aristotle. Taking ancient Greek literature as its thread, the book examines ideas about women's status and gender from epic and tragedy to philosophical writings, combining close reading of texts with a social-historical perspective. Written in plain and clearly argued prose, it is a useful reference for readers in classical studies and gender studies. Wright emphasizes citation of primary sources and tends to understand Greek writers' attitudes toward women within their historical context, and his discussion offers an early survey that later scholarship can draw on.