The Evolution of Greek Prose Style

Kenneth Dover

ISBN 10: 0198140282 / ISBN 13: 9780198140283

Published by Oxford University Press (UK) Nov 1997, 1997

About this Item

Neuware - Greek prose literature evolved much later than poetry, and rapidly became a sophisticated art-form. The book examines how this evolution progressed, from about 500 BC down to the time of Plato and Demosthenes. Stylistic choice is treated from the point of view of the relations between speaker and hearer and the balance between innovation and the hearer's expectations.

Seller Inventory # 9780198140283

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Evolution of Greek Prose Style
• Publisher: Oxford University Press (UK) Nov 1997
• Publication Date: 1997
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0198140282
• ISBN 13: 9780198140283
• Binding: Buch
• Condition: Neu

About this title

Synopsis

The transmission of literature in writing began in the Greek world with poetry; the publication of laws and regulations came later, and prose literature last, about 500 BC. This book examines the stages by which prose was turned into the sophisticated art-form practised in the fourth century BC, in particular by Plato and Demosthenes. An attempt is made to determine the linguistic conventions which can reasonably be attributed, on the analogy of other cultures, to unwritten narrative and oratory. The extent to which `content' and `form' can be separated is considered, and the stylistic choices which constitute form are treated as determining the relationship (e.g. of authority or familiarity) between creator and receiver and the balance sought by the creator between innovation and deference to the receiver's expectations.

Review

An extremely interesting and characteristically unconventional collection of pieces on Greek literary style by one of the greatest Hellenists of the post-war generation. The book is full of important methodological insight and interesting asides on the workings of the Greek language: and the author's own style is lively, imaginative, and direct... These essays tackle many important gaps in our approach to Greek prose, and in this sense the book may be regarded as a modern complement to Denniston. It is indispensible reading for anyone concerned with Greek prose style, and useful also for contextualizing the language of Greek poetry. (Stephen Colvin. Journal of Hellenistic Studies 119 1999.)

this is a wonderful book, one that will be read and reread and consulted with profit for years to come. ... will both facilitate and encourage further research. The book itself is very well produced (Bryn Mawr Classical Review)