Imitation In The Odyssey

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The “Imitation” entry, within the framework of classical philosophies, explores imitation in three facets of poetics, which are theories of representation, practices of instruction, and strategies of writing. The entry of “Epic” define epic, while cautioning from rigid distinctions for the genre unrecognized by the original authors. Observing common characteristics, and exploring theories on epic, the authors focus mostly on the Classical and European epics, with textual examples narrowed down to works such as Iliad, Odyssey, Aeneid, and Paradise Lost, to name a few. The “Mimesis” entry outlines views on mimesis from its beginning to its modern legacy, with historical focus on Plato, Aristotle, and the Greek views following them. An entry on a literary device, “Dream Vision” defines the subject, employing examples pulled from literature and a theoretical example; the entry also features historical usage, including dream vision’s decline in use as a literary introspection. …show more content…

This metaphor rises from these sentences: “Plato…attacks Homer for teaching the young morally pernicious ideas by the method of imitation…Since, for Plato, Homer is also the founder of tragedy, both genres stand condemned”; stand condemned, a phrase found countless times in the Bible , not only indicates a court of law, but points toward a divine court of law. The allusion, therefore, supports the notion of “ethical standpoint” the author introduces, as he states that Plato presented a corollary invective to Xenophanes’ objection to the deprecating depiction of the divine within Homer and Hesiod. The historical accusation of sacrilege ties well with the author’s usage of a Biblical allusion, which brings forth the divine courtroom within which sinners and Satan stand condemned for angering the

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