Literature Analysis #1

Literature Analysis: Nonfiction Analysis

‘’The Greek Way’’

Topic(s) and/or Event(s):

1.       A) This book begins 5 hundred years before Christ in a little town on the far western border of the civilized world, a different new power was at work. The formation of civilization as we know it today. It was a miracle; the anthropologists and archeologists have been unable to explain how the passion of truth, beauty, simplicity and freedom developed in a rocky little seaport in the midst of barbarian superstition, despotism, and splendor. There a light was lit that can never go out and that have never been matched in the centuries since. For in those brief centuries, which reached their summit in the few years of the Great Age of Pericles, literature, science, philosophy, art, democracy, religion-the main achievements of the modern world-developed almost overnight, full-blown  in many cases and as perfect as they could ever be. Edith Hamilton, the author of this book, has illumined it for us with a spirit similar to its own, complete sympathy and identification, and in a style that is an echo of the Greek grace, clarity, simplicity and warmth. B) This book describes in detail the formation of civilization, that of which is known today, formed by the Greek.

2.       I think the author wrote this book because he wanted to recognize the people responsible for one of the greatest contributes to the new free world.

3.       I chose this book because I find the ancient civilization interesting. I’ve always loved learning about the Greeks. Mainly on their beliefs. For example, Greek mythology. It was just fascinating to me. I found it appealing because it explained what the Greeks contributed to the world we know today. To be honest nothing really made me want to continue reading the book. I only did it because I was assigned to.

4.       I did find this book realistic, because it’s part of ancient history. Now I don’t know if the Greeks believed in a civilization of peace. I made a connection with the world we have today and how we believe in peace and equality. The Greeks had some of the same rules as we do. Like one of the examples in the book, if I were to kill a person it wouldn’t be right and I’d be punished for my actions.

People:

1.       In this book the author, Edith Hamilton, didn’t include any characters specifically, but he did include the people of Greece. He described them as prideful people. All over Greece there were games, all sorts of games; athletic contests of every description: races-horse, boat, foot, torch races; contests in music, where one side out sung the other; in dancing – on greased skins sometimes to display a nice skill of foot and balance of the body; games where men leaped out of flying chariots; games so many one grows weary with the list of them. They valued life. I think the author chose to write about the Greeks and their ways to show how magnificent those people really were.

2.       Like I stated earlier the author doesn’t give us specific characters, he talks about the people in general of Greece. It does say that while one of the largest and most powerful civilizations in the world at the time, Egypt, submitted and suffered and turned her face towards death, Greece resisted and rejoiced and turned full face to life. The Greeks brought something new into the world; the joy of life found expression.

3.       Everything about these people makes it great to write about them. Their beliefs, their ideas, their, their life styles, their talent, and interests.

Style:

1.       The author used a journalist style as a tool to write his piece of nonfiction. He explains how the world was when Egypt ruled most of the world. Because they had such a huge influence on the world, people adopted their beliefs. Then Greece entered the picture. People wanted to life of peace and happiness so they began to adopt the Greek ways. Then eventually, thanks to the Greeks, the world today was formed.

2.       The author uses lengthy descriptions lengthy descriptions of places. For example, the book states that Egypt is a fertile valley of rich river soil, low-lying, warm, monotonous, a slow-flowing rover, and beyond, the limitless dessert. While Greece is a country of sparse fertility and keen, cold winters, all hills and mountains sharp cut in stone, where men must work hard to get their bread. Because the author includes this in the book it gives the reader and overall effect of how different Greece was compared to other nations at this time.

3.       The author only states positive things about the people of Greece and how they contributed to life as we know it today. It’s shocking how people centuries ago thought similar to the way we think today.

4.       Well like I’ve stated earlier I think he just wanted to give some recognition to the people of Greece. They had a huge impact on the world.

5.       The author doesn’t use any resources. He just stated what we know about the Greeks so far. Of course not everything about the Greeks has been revealed. We still lack some information on them.

Enduring Memory:

                This book talks about the many things the Greeks contributed to life. They not only secured the safety of the people, but they also changed the way people thought and viewed the world. One of the things this book states that I’ll never forget is the poem that was written during that time. The poem:

‘’And, truly, what of good ever have prophets brought to men?

Craft of many words.

Only through evil your message speaks.

Seers bring aye terror, so to keep men afraid.’’

The conclusion might be drawn from the words that something of that sort of power was in fact wielded then by the priest and prophet, but what is certainly true is that the poet who spoke them to a great audience, with the most important priests sitting in the front row seats, win for himself not disapproval but the highest mark of favor the people could give. There is nothing clearer and nothing more astonishing than the strict limits the Greeks set to the power of the priests.