"The earliest surviving works of ancient Greek literature, dating back to the early Archaic period, are the two epic poems the Iliad and the Odyssey."
This subfield focuses on the literature written in Ancient Greek by authors such as Homer, Hesiod, Sophocles, and Euripides.
The Greek Epic Tradition: Examines the development and function of epic poetry in ancient Greek literature through the works of Homer, Hesiod, and Apollonius of Rhodes.
Greek Tragedy: Discusses the origins and evolution of tragedy as a dramatic genre, focusing on the works of Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides, particularly their use of mythology and social commentary.
The Greek Lyric Tradition: Explores the diverse range of lyric poetry in ancient Greece, including the works of Sappho, Pindar, and Anacreon, and examines the poetic forms and themes typical of this tradition.
Greek Comedy: Investigates the history and significance of comedic plays in ancient Greek theater, with a particular focus on the works of Aristophanes and Menander, and their use of satire, parody, and political commentary.
Greek Philosophy: Examines the philosophical works of ancient Greek thinkers, including Plato, Aristotle, and Epicurus, and their contributions to fields such as ethics, metaphysics, and politics.
The Homeric Question: Analyzes the debate surrounding the historicity and authorship of the epic poems attributed to Homer, and the implications of these questions for understanding ancient Greek literature.
The Greek Historians: Explores the works of Herodotus, Thucydides, and other Greek historians, and their approach to writing history, with a focus on issues such as accuracy, bias, and the role of individuals in shaping historical events.
Greek Mythology: Introduces the gods, goddesses, and mythical creatures of ancient Greek mythology, and their function in the literary tradition, including their influence on epic poetry, drama, and lyric poetry.
The Sophists: Examines the teachings and methods of the Sophists, a group of ancient Greek thinkers who imparted rhetorical and philosophical skills to their students, and their impact on Greek culture.
"The lyric poets Sappho, Alcaeus, and Pindar were highly influential during the early development of the Greek poetic tradition."
"Aeschylus is the earliest Greek tragic playwright for whom any plays have survived complete."
"Sophocles is famous for his tragedies about Oedipus, particularly Oedipus the King and Antigone."
"Euripides is known for his plays which often pushed the boundaries of the tragic genre."
"The comedic playwright Aristophanes wrote in the genre of Old Comedy."
"The later playwright Menander was an early pioneer of New Comedy."
"The historians Herodotus of Halicarnassus and Thucydides, who both lived during the fifth century BC, wrote accounts of events that happened shortly before and during their own lifetimes."
"The philosopher Plato wrote dialogues, usually centered around his teacher Socrates, dealing with various philosophical subjects."
"His student Aristotle wrote numerous treatises, which later became highly influential."
"Apollonius of Rhodes, who wrote The Argonautica, an epic poem about the voyage of the Argonauts."
"Archimedes, who wrote groundbreaking mathematical treatises."
"Plutarch, who wrote mainly biographies and essays."
"The second-century AD writer Lucian of Samosata was a Greek, who wrote primarily works of satire."
"Ancient Greek literature has had a profound impact on later Greek literature."
"Ancient Greek literature has had a profound impact on western literature at large."
"In particular, many ancient Roman authors drew inspiration from their Greek predecessors."
"Dante Alighieri, [an] author in general, [...] drew heavily on classical themes and motifs."
"William Shakespeare [...] drew heavily on classical themes and motifs."
"John Milton and James Joyce [...] drew heavily on classical themes and motifs."