"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."
Studying the written works and literary devices used in the dead language.
Literary terminology: Understanding key literary terms will allow you to understand and analyze texts in more detail.
Literary genres: Familiarizing yourself with the different types of literature will give you a deeper understanding of the literary landscape.
Literary movements: Understanding the movements that shaped literature and culture will help you contextualize texts.
Literary theory: Exploring different theories about literature and how it works will help you develop a critical approach.
History of literature: Studying the history of literature will give you a sense of how literature has developed and changed over time.
Analysis and interpretation: Learning how to analyze and interpret texts will help you identify key themes, symbols, and motifs.
Writing about literature: Developing your skills in writing about literature will help you communicate your ideas more effectively.
Comparative literature: Exploring literature across different languages and cultures will broaden your understanding of the world and its people.
Creative writing: Studying creative writing will help you understand the craft of writing and how it can be used to create literary works.
Poetics: Understanding the techniques and forms that writers use to create poetry will deepen your appreciation for the art of writing.
Epic Poetry: These are lengthy poems narrating legends and heroic exploits. Examples include the Iliad and the Odyssey by Homer.
Tragedy: These are dramatic pieces, often dealing with tragic events that end in catastrophe. Examples include plays by Sophocles, such as Oedipus Rex and Antigone.
Comedy: These are generally funny and humorous works that aim to amuse and entertain their readers. Examples include The Birds by Aristophanes.
Satire: These works typically use humor, irony, and exaggeration to criticize human faults and foibles. Examples include The Satires by Juvenal.
Fable: These are short stories that convey moral lessons through the use of animals and other imaginary creatures as characters. Aesop's Fables is an example of this type of literature.
Mythology: These are stories that attempt to explain natural phenomena, and are often filled with gods and goddesses, as well as supernatural creatures. Examples include The Metamorphoses by Ovid.
Historical Writing: These works record events of the past, often with a focus on political or military events. Examples include The Histories by Herodotus and The Annals by Tacitus.
Philosophical Writing: These works deal with various philosophical concepts and theories. Examples include The Republic by Plato and The Enchiridion by Epictetus.
Religious Texts: These works are related to the beliefs and practices of various religions, often written in a poetic or inspirational style. Examples include The Bible, The Quran, and The Bhagavad Gita.
"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."