The Expression of Sarcasm in the "Odyssey"

I begin with a survey of relevant literature on sarcastic talk as it occurs in the anglophone world today. Having developed a 'view' of sarcasm in this contemporary world, I turn to the expression of sarcasm in Homer. My examination of the spoken exchanges in the second half of the Odyssey...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published inMnemosyne Vol. 63; no. 4; pp. 533 - 556
Main Author Minchin, Elizabeth
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Leiden Brill 01.01.2010
Brill Academic Publishers, Inc
Subjects
Discourse
Epic literature
Homeric epics
Insults
Irony
Jokes
Literary criticism
Palaces
Poetry
Politeness
Rhetoric
Taunting
Verbs
Online AccessGet full text

Cover

More Information
Summary:I begin with a survey of relevant literature on sarcastic talk as it occurs in the anglophone world today. Having developed a 'view' of sarcasm in this contemporary world, I turn to the expression of sarcasm in Homer. My examination of the spoken exchanges in the second half of the Odyssey reveals many features in common with sarcastic talk in the contemporary world. I go on to demonstrate that the poet has used sarcastic talk to shape character, to establish mood, and, above all, to give structure to the scenes which bring together Odysseus and the suitors in the palace on Ithaka.
ISSN:0026-7074
1568-525X
DOI:10.1163/156852510X456192