Seminar 3 - Literacy And Orality

Question 1

What do we mean by ‘oral tradition’?

Answer 1

The passing of stories through the generations.

Question 2

Herodotus Book 2.98-120: his accounts

Answer 2

He is relying on oral accounts. In certain elements he admits he doesn’t really know what he is talking about, such as his accounts of the expeditions of the mainland. He also receives different accounts of the same story such as the story of Helen and Alexander.

Question 3

Herodotus Book 3.1-38

Answer 3

He has two alternative accounts of the death of Cambyses’ sister.

Question 4

Thucydides 1.22

Answer 4

He says he is not the first source of his narrative - different versions of the same story arise due to imperfect memories. He claims he is sacrificing entertainment for accuracy.

Question 5

Was Archaic Greece an oral or literary culture?

Answer 5

Oral - Herodotus is good evidence for this.