Orality Mini-Project

Book IX of the Odyssey tells us much about the use and power of language. For this assignment, you will write a 500 word essay examining the use of persuasive words and the evidence of orality in the Cyclops story. Your essay should utilize a strong deductive argument structure (claim-reason-evidence).

First, what notions of eloquence and persuasion do the characters reveal within this tale? Second, some scholars claim (such as Havelock) that Homeric literature is the result of oral composition. What evidence do you see that could lead you to argue that this written document is best understood as oral literature?

Please submit your completed essay as a double-spaced Microsoft Word document to the Blackboard assignment location.

Due: Monday, January 27th