Phemius Suite

Thomas, Oliver

Abstract

This article examines four connected aspects of Phemius’ performance in Odyssey 1. The first section examines the poet’s unusual technique in relating Phemius’ music to other, simultaneous sounds in the ‘soundscape’ of Odysseus’ hall. The second argues that the suitors’ initial dancing develops into a theme of appropriate and inappropriate nimbleness which, in particular, creates significant connections between books 1 and 22. The third section shows that the poet is suggestive but studiedly vague on the politics of Phemius’ first song which, in the final section, I interpret as a self-reflexive and open-ended ‘lesson’ in how to read epic.

Citation

Thomas, O. (2014). Phemius Suite. Journal of Hellenic Studies, 134, https://doi.org/10.1017/S007542691400007X

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2014
• Deposit Date: Mar 16, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: Mar 16, 2016
• Journal: Journal of Hellenic Studies
• Print ISSN: 0075-4269
• Electronic ISSN: 2041-4099
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 134
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S007542691400007X
• Keywords: Homer, Odyssey, Phemius, metapoetics, reader-response
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/997676
• Publisher URL: http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=9456980&fileId=S007542691400007X
• Additional Information: Copyright Cambridge University Press