These are great recommendations but would also be interested to know if there were specific translations that are also recommended. I know there are some feelings and potential controversy around different translations providing a different interpretation of the original works.
Thank you for this latest of your short pieces. I confess to have never read any of the works that you mention, a good education yes, but no great literature 😕.
Having said that, I know the story of the Iliad and the Odyssey, they seem to seep into most people's cultural consciousness like the stories of Oedipus Rex, Romeo and Juliet or 1984 although many (most?) have never seen the play or read the book. I mean, it's about Helen of Troy and Ulysses and his adventures getting home past all those giants and women etc (yes, I have seen the films). And I did some evaluation work on the OU course on Homer that presented students with a searchable digital copy of the text on a CD-ROM with accompanying historical contextual information back in the '90s.
But after your post I have determined to seek out some of your 5 and attempt to improve my education! They must be out of copyright by now so fairly easily available.
Guilty as charged. My greek literature reading began and ended with Homer. I’ll be looking to pick some of these up soon!
Exactly the response I was hoping for! 🙌
I know two of them, 'Oedipus Rex' and 'The Clouds'. The other three, I shall look for the other three. Excellent advice.
Wow!!! Such a fantastic article, thank you for sharing.
These are great recommendations but would also be interested to know if there were specific translations that are also recommended. I know there are some feelings and potential controversy around different translations providing a different interpretation of the original works.
Back in middle and high-school (I grew up in Russia) Greek literature was a mandatory part of the program in public schools.
I do wish they would have the same approach to literature in Canadian schools.
Thank you for this post, it inspired me to add Greek classics to the reading list of the year.
Thank you for this latest of your short pieces. I confess to have never read any of the works that you mention, a good education yes, but no great literature 😕.
Having said that, I know the story of the Iliad and the Odyssey, they seem to seep into most people's cultural consciousness like the stories of Oedipus Rex, Romeo and Juliet or 1984 although many (most?) have never seen the play or read the book. I mean, it's about Helen of Troy and Ulysses and his adventures getting home past all those giants and women etc (yes, I have seen the films). And I did some evaluation work on the OU course on Homer that presented students with a searchable digital copy of the text on a CD-ROM with accompanying historical contextual information back in the '90s.
But after your post I have determined to seek out some of your 5 and attempt to improve my education! They must be out of copyright by now so fairly easily available.