Space and Time in Ancient Greek Narrative [Paperback]

Traces a shift in authorial perspective in ancient Greek narrative inspired by advances in cartography, travel, and geometry.In this wide-ranging survey of ancient Greek narrative from archaic epic to classical prose, Alex Purves shows how stories unfold in space as well as in time. She traces a shift in authorial perspective, from a godlike overview to the more focused outlook of human beings caught up in a developing plot, inspired by advances in cartography, travel, and geometry. Drawing on the methods of classical philology, narrative theory, and cultural geography, Purves offers new readings of texts by Homer, Herodotus, and Xenophon, among others, and reveals previously unnoticed connections between epic and prose.In this wide-ranging survey of ancient Greek narrative from archaic epic to classical prose, Alex Purves shows how stories unfold in space as well as in time. She traces a shift in authorial perspective, from a godlike overview to the more focused outlook of human beings caught up in a developing plot, inspired by advances in cartography, travel, and geometry. Drawing on the methods of classical philology, narrative theory, and cultural geography, Purves offers new readings of texts by Homer, Herodotus, and Xenophon, among others, and reveals previously unnoticed connections between epic and prose.In this wide-ranging survey of ancient Greek narrative from archaic epic to classical prose, Alex Purves shows how stories unfold in space as well as in time. She traces a shift in authorial perspective, from a godlike overview to the more focused outlook of human beings caught up in a developing plot, inspired by advances in cartography, travel, and geometry. Her analysis of the temporal and spatial dimensions of ancient narrative leads to new interpretations of important texts by Homer, Herodotus, and Xenophon, among others, showing previously unnoticed connections between epic and prose. Drawing on the methods of classical philology, narrative theory, anlS.