Homeric Variations on Lament by Briseis

by Casey Due

Casey Dué examines the figure of Briseis, the concubine of Achilles in the Iliad , as an example of the traditional artistry enabled by a complex and self-contained oral poetic system. Briseis' lament for Patroclus in Iliad 19 hints at her role in the larger epic tradition. Dué argues that Briseis' role in the Iliad is enormously compressed, both in relation to the Iliad and the entire tradition of the epic cycle. Through a close reading of Homeric passages, Homeric Variations on a Lament by Briseis shows how the Iliad refers to expanded and alternative traditions about Briseis even while asserting its own version of her story.
It seems likely that there were at least two variations on the story of Briseis, because of the two-fold pattern she fulfills in ancient references. In one variation she is a wife whose husband is killed by Achilles in the sack of his city; in another she is an unmarried girl, the daughter of a king, whose father is killed when Achilles captures her town. Our Iliad alludes to multiple variations on these two basic themes.

240 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 2002

Reviews

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author of this book TRULY understands Greek literature and she explains it in a way that most people can understand. If you're into Greek literature, then you will LOVE her writing. She was an AWESOME prof and I had the honor of working for her for one year. A great writer as well!

[Samrat · Rating 5 out of 5]

A splendid exploration of the Iliad's Briseis by way of every other narrative tradition around the Trojan War Dué reached for, across visual representations, other epic, and other poetry for how they suggest traditions the Iliad compressed and represented. Chapter 3 (Girl), discussing the shifting nature of Briseis through the multiformity of the word kourê was fascinating. I should really read the Silence of the Girls.