HUMN 115-10 TROY AND THE TROJAN WAR RESEARCH PROJECT ASSIGNMENT AND GUIDELINES Title: Homer’s Poetic Language: The Use of Nouns in Metaphoric Expressions and the Iliad’s Visual Imagery Preliminary note: Ahuvia Kahane wrote: “Although the language of Homer’s poetry is often flowing and elusive, it conforms to strict metrical and formulaic rules and is closely embedded in the rigid musical and rhythmic patterns of the hexameter. It is a language that invites formal and even statistical analysis.”1 Research question: Analyze the occurrence of nouns in one of the books of Homer’s Iliad and their distribution patterns among conceptual/thematic categories. How does the visual imagery created by the poet through the use of specific nouns correlate to the “bare-bone” plotline of the narrative? Initial thesis/observation: In 17.27-29, Homer puts the following words in the mouth of Menelaos (Menelaos speaks about the death of the Trojan Hyperenor): I don’t think that he went home on his own feet to bring joy to his beloved wife and caring parents! We may make a claim that there are two levels of narrative in Homer. On the level of the plot, the passage conveys a simple message: “Hyperenor died.” But paradoxically, Homer communicates this message through the nouns belonging to the categories semantically opposite to “death”. In fact, on the level of metaphoric language, Homer “wants” the listener/reader to visualize the concepts, which are anything but “death”: home, feet, joy, wife, parents. This is a part of poetic artistry of Homer. Metaphoric language and similes enhance the listener’s/reader’s experience, but what other kinds of observations can you make on the basis of a statistical analysis of all nouns in a given book of the Iliad? 1 Kahane, Ahuvia, Homer: A Guide for the Perplexed, London and New York: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc., 2012, p. 17. Instructions: 1. Choose a book (or episode) of the Iliad. YOU MAY NOT CHOOSE BOOK 5. (Ideally, you should analyze the entire book of your choice, except book 5. It is OK to choose an episode—but a complete episode, with clear beginning and the end—no less than 200 lines). 2. Underline all NOUNS in the book or episode. (Do not worry about the noun “son” and proper names, like, e.g., Achilles. You may, however, include the Trojans/Achaeans/Danaans etc. in your analysis). E.g., But why am I having this conversation with myself? I must not go to him! He will not pity me nor have any regard. He will kill me right there, all unarmed, as if I were a woman, once I have taken off my armor. There is no way, as if from an oak or a rock, I may exchange pleasantries with him, such as when a young girl chats with a youth – a young girl! a youth! Better to fight this out, and the sooner the better, Then we will know to which man Zeus the Olympian gives glory. (22.105-122) 3. Assign the nouns to conceptual/thematic categories which you will create yourself. (You may borrow some categories which I have created for book 5 [see below] and add your own, when necessary. But better create your own). For example, such nouns as “conversation”, “regard” and “pleasantries” above may be assigned to the category of “human interaction”, the nouns “oak” and “rock” to the category “nature”. 4. Make a chart of noun occurrence in the selected episode of the Iliad according to thematic categories. Make sure to indicate specifically in which line every noun occurs. It may look like this (this is just a random example, incomplete and unrepresentative. Your chart may include up to 20-50 categories, or even more): Category Animals Military equipment Number of nouns within the category 20 Noun Where occurs (line numbers) Horse Animal Lion Sheep Calf How many times used 12 1 4 2 1 38 Armor Helmet Crest Shield Car Chariot Spear Ship 4 2 1 3 11 4 10 3 44,60,170,225 4,187 188 4,132,187 14,21,30,48,112,113,169,199,205,224,225 23,115,165,200 17,42, 47,52,57,75,76,123,150,173 28,65,171 28,107,112,170,188,198,201,205,207,224,226,227 54 140,143,146,166 141, 145 167 5. This chart will be an appendix to your research paper. This appendix is an essential part of your project, but it is only its starting point. Make sure not to “invent” the occurrence of nouns, work out of REAL DATA! (Otherwise, there is absolutely no point in wasting time on this). 6. Look at your data carefully. You will certainly find some curious tendencies. Formulate questions, try to come up with your own interpretation of the selected passage based on your familiarity with the entire Iliad. 7. Write a paper, aiming at approximately 2000 words (appendix extra), which perhaps equals to around 6 pages (appendix extra) analyzing your data. • • • • How does the noun occurrence in the episode correlate to what the episode is about? Why, according to your own perception, does Homer emphasize the use of certain categories over others, and/or certain nouns over others? In what way could it be significant for our interpretation of the Iliad? What this episode and the Iliad are really about? (This is the ultimate question the answer to which is not simple. But what is your own opinion based on your own observations and statistical analysis?) 8. For some ideas, possible theses, and proposed outline refer to my “Notes on Iliad Book 5” [see below]. You may analyze/compare the categories within the selected passage/book or compare your data to my data based on book 5. (You may NOT choose book 5 for your own analysis, however). Formal requirements: 1. Length: 2000 words (appendix extra). 2. The entire project must be based on a fragment from Homer's Iliad, which is no less than 200 lines. 3. You must use Barry Powell's translation of the Iliad and refer to the line numbers used in 2014 Oxford University Press edition (ISBN: 9780199925865). 4. Emphasize content, not form. (While I recognize that formal requirements are important, I am more interested in your creative ideas, than in the format of the paper.) 5. You must include the data of your noun analysis in the appendix to your paper. Your paper is the discussion based on the concrete data which you gathered in this appendix according to the guidelines outlined above. 6. Submit on Canvas (.docx or .pdf). Deadlines: 1. At the VERY LATEST: On the day of the Final Exam, May 11, 2020 by 11:59pm. 2. Submit preliminary drafts on Canvas anytime before now and then and I shall suggest comments. Grading criteria: A strong paper: • • • • • • • • relies on the actual data collected by the student himself/herself demonstrates careful analysis of the data, emphasizes curious correlations, rather than spells out the numbers from the chart brings forth many questions, shows the ability to make meaningful connections between ideas, insights, and hypotheses demonstrates the familiarity with the entire text of the Iliad of Homer refers to concrete passages, and provides citations to the exact book/line numbers attempts at formulating a clear thesis and provides valid evidential support for it subordinates the observations and insights to one (or several) related idea(s) or thesis(es) shows an original and creative attempt at interpreting Homer (the goal of which is understanding his poetry better) by analyzing an example of Homer’s diction in detail A weak paper: • • • • • • • while relying on some actual data, betrays the incompleteness and selectiveness of research “cuts corners” by creating fewer (but more general) categories in the appendix instead of making meaningful connections between the categories, simply spells out the numbers from the chart abounds with general and trivial statements, unsupported by concrete references/quotes makes no attempt at subordinating the observations and insights to one (or several) general thesis/theses lacks a clear thesis in the appendix, lacks the references to concrete line numbers where the nouns actually occur A failing paper: • • • • is based on “invented”, falsified, or “rigged” data is not related to the research question outlined above, even if deals with Homer in general lacks analysis of the use of nouns, as outlined above is plagiarized THE OCCURRENCE OF NOUNS IN BOOK FIVE OF HOMER’S ILIAD AND THEIR DISTRIBUTION PATTERNS AMONG CONCEPTUAL/THEMATIC CATEGORIES Category Noun How many times used Where occurs (line numbers) Time Number of nouns within the category 16 Night Day Today Month Time 5 3 1 1 6 26,315,496,515,662 215,496,641 309 395 444,445,531,592,641,895 Metals 26 Bronze 18 Gold Iron Silver 4 1 3 19,78,137,186,296,322,337,353,394,563,567,678,685,704,729,7 94,828,897 367,725,729,733 728 731,733,734 Architecture and engineering 21 Wall Embankments Outbuildings Courtyard House Hall Gates 4 2 1 1 5 3 5 33,93,142,463 91,92 144 147 197,204,217,405,420 199, 276,812 474,650,754,758,798 Agricultural sphere 10 Harvest Farms Gardens Barley Wheat Chaff Grain 1 1 1 1 2 3 1 6 562 93 202 202,618 506,508,509 508 Food 5 Food Wine Bread Juice Milk 1 1 1 1 1 377 348 348 913 914 Trojans/ Greeks 68 (38/30) Trojans 38 Argives Achaeans Danaans 7 14 9 9,34,66,96,97,106,129,140,148,181,123,185,205,216,269,280,33 0,387,430,458,469,503,515,529,532,542,597,610, 612,622,628,649,706,797,816,840,841,870, 3,505,702,716,795,829,840 34,107,302,330,387,421,459,473,490,504,509,595,670,870 322,352,388,519,528,534,549,685,688 Strength Courage Boldness Glory 11 3 1 5 2,130,251,260,300,338,478,480,514,800,897 129,521,524 2 35,230,266,290,918 Positive heroic qualities and values 32 Contending Might Fame Reputation Honor Valor Bravado Boast 2 2 2 1 1 2 1 1 88,869 143,303 177,539 279 558 722,744 567 657 Negative warrior qualities 3 Flinching Ferocity Folly 1 1 1 498 528 652 Occupation and inclination 34 Murderer Adviser Helper Warrior Soldier Shield-man Destroyer Charioteer Driver Horseman Stormer Tamer Carpenter Messenger Goader Fighter Forefighter Counselor Cloud-gatherer Gatherer Spearman 2 1 2 4 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 6 1 1 1 1 2 33,462 636 814,834 313, 574,710,752 749 582 526 513,584 709 131 463 790,856 62 810 106 139,541,566,607,684,809 570 185 771 772 202,607 Characteristics of personality 3 Scoundrel Fool Coward 1 1 1 409 412 647 Language and speech 13 Words Command Order Question 9 2 1 1 128,248,358,426,500,687,617,888,905 499,516 536 524 Legal 3 Trial Agreement Law 1 1 1 134 326 769 Human – emotions and states of mind (and body) 42 Delight Sorrow Agony Terror 1 1 1 2 768 765 907 685,743 Unwillingness Fear Weariness Shame Grief Panic Anger Fury Rage Wrath Pain Pity Pleasure Laughter Wailing Suffering 1 2 1 3 1 1 3 2 4 1 11 2 1 1 2 1 824 818,823 817 537,538,795 27 31 36,452,881 121,147 140,146,611,891 184 162,362,391,401,404,406,410,424,666,773,895 565,614 216 383 420,879 390 Human interactions 22 Care Praise Attention Suggestion Favor Respect Criticism Reproach Instructions Violence Aid Recompense Harm Help 4 1 1 1 2 2 1 1 1 2 2 1 2 1 73,670,712,768 4 887 905 654,883 769,837 499 795 825 181,409 618,840 27 66,181 190 Human mind 11 Thought Dream Concern Experience Mind Habit Reason Devices 2 2 1 1 2 1 1 1 120,822 155,155 437 638 679,902 773 828 882 Human – age, stages of life 4 Old age Age Youth Birth 1 1 1 1 159 556 813 884 Human – natural physiological functions 5 Feed Sleep Breath Sweat Trembling 1 1 1 1 1 208 419 699 804 869 Family relations, kin, and nation Human relations, subordination Body parts 61 106 173 Son – not counted Brother Brother-in-law Father 4 1 16 Papa Grandson Bastard Child Husband Daughter Heir Kin Race Line Descendant Wife Mother Stepmother Marriage 1 1 1 6 2 11 1 1 2 2 1 4 5 1 1 Being Men and man 1 60 Women Friend Subject People Companions Comrade Stranger Captain King Leader Lead Young man Age-mate Mortals Phantom 3 2 1 8 9 1 1 5 6 3 1 1 1 2 1 135 8,14,33,40,64,95,121,134,154,172,177,180,186,189,208,250,268 ,273,308,316,339,369,392,402,412,434,450,462,464,475,478,48 8,507,525,536,538,549,562,563,564,576,578,602,609,612,637,6 40,641,642,645,752,777,788,789,794,800,847,868,883,914 357,430,431 536,606 887 82, 149,386,472,492,521,574,605 28,170,332,522,541,579,666,694,697 477 218 40,212,222,497,651 40,109,273,316,472,553 41,470,581 598 182 332 308,912 457 Wrist Temple Forehead Heel Flesh Skin Elbow Tendon Hip 3 1 1 1 3 4 1 1 1 345,466,893 589 591 624 343,664,791 313, 342,362,866 586 312 310 23,366,367,482 482 26,120,130,161,217,370,465,550,643,665,690,739,753,763,770, 880 415 634 73 74,381,390,414,436,889 74,421 119,135,317,355,380,419,618,737,821,826,885 160 163 270,449 273,551 164 217,422,487,493 254,318,378,902,907 396 437 Thigh Belly Chin Head Shoulder 4 4 1 5 17 Collar bone Neck Foot Limbs Hand 2 3 5 2 27 Palm Chest Breast Nipple Blood Vein Back Body Face Buttock Bladder Bone Cup Knees Teeth Tongue Arm Forearm Eye Heart Brow Nose 1 4 5 2 12 1 3 4 4 1 1 4 2 6 3 2 6 1 7 12 2 1 310,663,668,698 289,547,621,864 298 7, 76,219,745,747 7,17,43,49,59,83,101,114,116,152,152,192,195,407, 591,626,742 151,583 153,167,661 14,127,210,474,736 126,817 19,63,127,179,220,315,343,373,380,423,432,466,514,562,564,5 72,578,587,599,650,656,660,740,842,861,892 346 20,43,323,353 130,400,460,521,673 21,150 33, 104,117,213,259,293,346,349,806,851,878,907 347 42,58,153 50,510,698,732 60,610,826,826 69 70 70,311,311,665 311,312, 71,182,314,365,378,415 77, 78,296 77,296 85,85,351,424,440,805 319 86,132,217,295,315,662,699 250,406,413,500,536,554,643,647,673,832,878,890 258,898 295 Life/death 32 Death Life Breath-soul Killing Spirit Corpse Dead 5 8 5 1 8 3 2 71,86,558,656,666 158,161,257,676,688,694,700,860 300,323,657,698,855 266 407,478,518, 672,674,701,800,813 302,577,851 404,896 Riches and possessions 7 Inheritance Possessions Spoil Loot Ivory Wealth 1 2 1 1 1 1 163 487,617 494 772 587 712 Animals 80 Horse 57 28,107,112,170,188,198,201,205,207,224,226,227,233,235,246, 263,268,269,272,278,280,300,322,327,328,335,353,365,366,367 Steed Pigeon Animal Lion Dog Boar Sheep Calf Mare Bull Prey Weakling 1 1 1 9 1 1 3 1 1 1 2 1 ,371,373,376,422,511,557,586,593,594,644,654,709,725,736,75 4,758,761,776,780,784,790,802,807,835,848,856,859 658 787 54 140,143,146,166,303,484,559,643,791 483 791 141,145,561 167 274 459 493,687 792 Herd Stock Flock Cattle Sheepfold Yoke Lash Goad Stall 2 1 1 3 1 6 3 1 1 166,167 275 144 166,319,561 142 201,734,735,735,507,858 754,775,847 759 276 Animals – body 5 parts Mane Hooves Hide Feathers 1 2 1 1 329 335,511 459 461 Tools and objects of domestic and agricultural use 2 Peg 1 215 Jar 1 395 Military/battle/ martial tactics – general 66 War 21 Battle 20 Fight Fighting Attack Combat Hand-to-hand Enemy Battleground Battlefield Assault Rampage Weapon Flight Pursuit 8 3 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 121,136,203,239,324,339,356,358,385,395,416,435,512,537,613 ,667,737,741,871,884,901 12,37,163,172,356,357,363,387,463,503,514,519,556,573,638,7 97,827,845,868,902 465,474,477,528,579,705,771,892 484,671,829 703, 745 716 836 494 416 830 817 920 19 39,258 336,529 Animals – domestication 19 Rout War cry Defense Protection Conflict Troops Allies Cuffing 3 6 3 2 1 1 4 1 97, 277,743 118,326,354,439,601,863 143,627,648 145,321 206 256 481,484,485,497 770 (Military) (loosely) organized formations (of people) 11 Throng Crowd Gang Army Battalion 2 3 1 4 1 13,362 341,453,535 505 481,502,595,766 597 Wounds and medicines 6 Wound Poultice 4 2 69,803,879,911 408,911 Military equipment 199 Armor Helmet Ridge Head-piece Crest Shield Car 12 5 2 3 1 13 28 Chariot Wheel Tire Hub Axle Breast-collar Spear 6 1 1 1 2 1 43 Missile Ship Shaft Arrow 2 8 5 18 Archery Sword Bow Chest-protector Belly-protector Breast-plate Plate Whip Reins Strap Shinguard Rail 1 4 9 3 2 1 3 1 10 2 2 3 44,60,170,225,298,442,458,501,548,622,626,849 4,187,683,691,748 748,761 366,372,725 188 4,132,187,285,294,301,304,459,460,544,545,624,804 14,21,30,48,112,113,169,199,205,224,225,233,236,255,261,298, 334,372,376,588,590,613,726,784,802,843,844,861 23,115,165,200,501,750 726 729 730 728,845 735 17,42,47,582,52,57,75,76,123,150,173,284,285,301,304,341,343 ,364,502,540,544,545,567,573,600,616,620,623,623,625,629,65 7,659,664,666,668,697,750,798,859,861,863,861 295,627,660 28,65,171,331,557, 645,703,799 43,47, 108,193,283 55,110,114,116,128,176,180,195,249,282,400,402,406,410,455, 617,803,880 56 83,150,517,589 100,176,210,215,220,252,456,525,768 102,104,196 711,865 288 103, 196,749 231 231,234,237,268,328,334,372,587,847,858 804,806 270,330 268,328,733 Rods Bonds Meshes Net Spear-point 1 2 1 1 1 236 394,398 494 495 287 Natural phenomena 27 Rain Fire Heat wave Flood Mist Cloud Wind Dawn Weather 1 2 1 1 3 10 7 1 1 94 5,221 872 91 132, 698,785 192,352,364,530,533,635,741,757,872,875 222,506,508,531,532,700,873 273 530 Celestial phenomena 8 Star Sunlight Sun Heaven Sky 1 1 1 4 1 6 125 273 512,754,756,777 875 Nature 36 Water Air River Stream Foam Sea Lake Dust Dirt Sand Forest Fir tree Oak Fig Ash Mountains Ocean Bank Woodland Boulder Stone 1 2 4 1 1 2 1 4 1 1 2 1 2 1 1 3 1 1 1 1 4 93 590,872 90,551,603,782 783 604 603,779 713 78,510,588,591 594 593 54,561 564 696,845 913 659 54,531,560 6 38 167 307 308,312,313,586 Garments 15 Shirt Dress Clothes Gown Brooch Veil Belt Buckle 3 1 2 2 1 1 2 1 117, 186,740 321 344,916 432,738 433 515 546,620 864 Cap Cloth 1 1 852 200 Sensory perception (hearing, vision) 13 Thud Thump Din Darkness Voice Cry View Image Outlook 2 1 1 1 3 2 1 1 1 44,547 621 503 49 240,271,794 350,737 383 458 779 Religion and gods, divine 76 Prayer Oracle God 1 1 39 Goddess Ichor Ambrosia Deathless one Heavenly one Priest Temple Sanctuary Goatskin fetish Sacrifice 14 2 1 4 1 2 1 2 7 1 126 67 67,81,134,134,182,184,189,190,193,198,293,338,347,348,375,4 11,414,434,441,446,449,450,467,607,611,633,667,695,708,760, 769,826,876,882,886,891,893,900,908 346,389,427,715,762,774,786,801,806,821,831,844,846,860 347,424 786 191,368,388,833 381 10, 81 454 455,520 119,639,696,618,742,747,821 123 Abstract – classification and distribution, measures, units 30 Kind Thing Rank 2 Sort Part Situation Stature Case Number Likeness End Account 4 5 6 2 2 2 1 1 1 2 3 1 12, 63,556,642 63,223,767,882,905 96, 100,172,469,596,752 226,524 297,510 683,715 809 322 628 470,793 525,558,920 654 Abstract – home/nostalgia 4 Homecoming Home 1 3 156 217,689,720 Abstract – action, movement and force 33 Blow Blast Use Hold Burden Havoc Carnage 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 124,897 533 539 869 846 561 599 Walk Bound Ruin Works Labor Haste Force Effort Act Flow Chaos Fray Tumult Strife Shot Deed 1 1 2 3 1 1 1 1 3 2 1 1 1 3 1 2 787 781 95,608 95,435,436 524 668 93 571 764,881,885 91,553 171 327 172 631,737,901 194 307,888 Abstract – directions, coordinates, and orientation 81 Ground Forefront Distance Edge Peak Pole Earth Point Rim Side Plain Way Stand Seat Place Field Floor Pasture Mark Land Direction Purpose City Street Point Tip Top 12 1 2 2 2 1 3 4 1 12 4 4 2 3 2 2 2 1 2 4 1 1 8 1 1 1 3 15,85,115,492,498,501,529, 534,576,588,594,843 580 359,778 603,713 559,760 733 315,450,777 16, 297,662,664 728 35,89,527,578,608,609,670,726,732,748,801,815 90,99,228,602 104,116,256,447 111,504 368,375,876 522,778 141,519 507,739 168 194,291 217,552,689,714 228 719 229,339,481,496,646,688,749,799 646 297 734 468,531,729 Abstract – forms and shapes, unidentifiable objects 12 Form Object Pile Heap Fold Thicket Fill 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 60 743 145,509 896 320 560 209 Awesome (supernatural) forces (beyond human control) 11 Substance Strip Marvel Wonder 1 1 1 1 551 733 729 746 Fate Evil Trouble Luck Good 5 3 1 1 1 24,86,618,632,656 66, 410,838 669 214 211 RESEARCH PROJECT: TIPS AND SUGGESTIONS Here is how the essay may be structured (here I use the example of my analysis of book V, but you may borrow this structure to discuss/analyze your data based on a different book). BUT REMEMBER: YOU MUST INCLUDE THE DATA OF YOUR NOUN ANALYSIS IN THE APPENDIX TO YOUR PAPER. YOUR PAPER IS THE DISCUSSION BASED ON THE CONCRETE DATA WHICH YOU GATHERED IN THIS APPENDIX. 1. Explain your choice of the episode from the Iliad. Why exactly did this particular episode attract your attention? What are you hoping to learn/uncover about this episode by analyzing the occurrence of nouns in it? Clearly state the purpose of your research project. 2. Talk about the limitations of the approach. You may want to say a couple of words about the limitations of the method used for this research project. Obviously, we are analyzing Homer in translation, and the translator can afford certain poetic liberties, at times departing quite significantly from the original Greek. However, say a few words about the ways in which this type of analysis can help us understand Homer better. 3. Give a summary of your passage/episode in your own words. After you provide this summary, make a transition to the next section by stating, whether, at least at the first glance, the “bare-bone” plot of the episode is consistent with the categories of nouns most represented in your Appendix. For example, if your episode is about fighting, it would not be logical if the majority of nouns belonged to the category “Love”, right? But if it is so, it would be extremely interesting and would require explanation! [I would say about book V: One of the most represented categories of nouns is “Body parts” and it is consistent with the plot of book V: in this book, Homer describes the fighting of Diomedes and pays special attention to the details of the acts of killing: it is no surprise that the category “Body parts” has 173 nouns! Another question, however, is why Homer puts so much emphasis on the gory details.] 4. Now point out the most outstanding examples and outline the unusual instances in your data. What is unusual, unexpected, or contradictory in your data? Why exactly does your observation constitute a contradiction or a problem? Point out a few such instances – these are the most interesting points in your research. Formulate the questions which you will address later in your essay. [I would say about book V: If one were to judge what this book is about solely on the basis of the usage of nouns, one could claim that book V is about horses: this noun is used 57 times (the noun “man” is used 60 times, for comparison). Yet the horses are typically not used in fighting in Homer: they simply drag the chariots which deliver the warriors to the battlefield. Why, by insisting on using this noun, does Homer make the image of horses prominent in book V?] 5. Now go over these examples in detail. For each of them, formulate a question. Then suggest a hypothesis (=a possible way of explaining something). Then, try to support your hypothesis with the evidence from other books/episodes in the Iliad. [I would say about book V: Here is my explanation for the use of the noun horses. Horses were an extremely expensive possession at the time of Homer, and definitely an attribute of aristocracy. It is the aristocratic class who had horses, knew something about horses, enjoyed hearing about horses, and liked to brag about their horses. The fact that this noun is used so many times perhaps reflects the tastes of Homer’s audience which comprised of the social and economic elite of the time. This insight may corroborate the theory that the Iliad was the epic of exclusion: it is a work written for the small elite class (or responding to the tastes/demands of the elites). And indeed, the animal which would be more familiar to an ordinary farmer, sheep, is only used 3 times in book V. In your episode, what animals are mentioned the most? Another example worth discussing in my data sample is the following. Within the category “Body parts” we find that shoulders and hands are the most represented nouns (used 17 and 27 times respectively). The usage of the noun shoulder is perhaps logical, because strong shoulders are important for the warriors whose primary weapon is a spear. Homer wants us to imagine the strong, muscular warriors who are fighting in hand-to-hand combats. Yet why is the noun hands used so many times? We can hardly imagine a Homeric warrior bragging about his hands. Why so much focus/emphasis on the hands in Homer? I would suggest the following explanation. Animals do not have hands. Hands are associated specifically with the humans and symbolize an inherently human connection: we greet each other with hands, we console someone by touching their hands, we can insult someone with an offensive hand gesture, we pray using hands, we caress our loved ones with hands, we beseech using hands… Perhaps in the Iliad, the emphasis on hands serves as evidence that Homer wants to show another dimension of war by underscoring its human constituent. The point that Homer intentionally or unintentionally may be making is that even these larger-than-life heroes, the sons of deities, are, after all, human and need to learn to be human. The war is not only the place to win glory and honor, it is the place where humans suffer and bring suffering to each other, but also, like Achilles, through suffering, learn what it is to be human. Curiously, in book 24, hands become important again: Priam falls on his knees and kisses Achilles’ hands. It is then that Achilles finally transforms and rediscovers his human side; the act of kissing the hands becomes here a symbol of this transformation. – Here I would also quote the relevant passage from the Iliad.] 6. Another option: compare your data with mine [see my data for book V above]. Is the distribution of categories is more or less the same in your episode, compared to book V? If yes, why? If no, why? (According to your personal insight and your own reading of Homer, naturally). Is the distribution of nouns within each category more or less the same in your episode and in book V? 7. Conclusion. Revisit the research assignment and its goals (as formulated above). Formulate your own solution to the problem posed under the rubric “Research question”. On the basis of your observations and close analysis of the usage of certain nouns and certain categories of nouns, can we say that the “visual” story of your episode significantly differs from the “bare-bone” plot of the episode? If by insisting on repetition of certain nouns (categories of nouns) Homer wants his listener/reader to imagine certain things beyond what is required by the plot of the story, to which sphere these extra nouns belong: human, divine, the sphere of emotion, or natural world, and why? Do not panic! These instructions alone are around 1200 words. And I did not even go into details! You need only around 2000 in your paper, in addition to the Appendix. Just look carefully at your data, think about your passage, ask yourself questions, be creative!
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