Mimetic Theory, Sacrifice, and The Iliad?
This essay strives to apply Girard's mimetic theory to Homeric sacrifice scenes, poetic characterizations, and the plot of the Iliad. The theory is found to be wanting at the level of sacrifice scenes, and barely salient at the levels of poetic characterization and plot. On the whole, Girard...
Main Author: | |
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Format: | Electronic Article |
Language: | English |
Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
Journals Online & Print: | |
Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
Published: |
Equinox
[2016]
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In: |
Bulletin for the study of religion
Year: 2016, Volume: 45, Issue: 3/4, Pages: 46-57 |
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains: | B
Homerus, Ilias
/ Sacrifice
/ Mimesis
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RelBib Classification: | AG Religious life; material religion BE Greco-Roman religions |
Online Access: |
Volltext (Verlag) Volltext (doi) |
Summary: | This essay strives to apply Girard's mimetic theory to Homeric sacrifice scenes, poetic characterizations, and the plot of the Iliad. The theory is found to be wanting at the level of sacrifice scenes, and barely salient at the levels of poetic characterization and plot. On the whole, Girard's theory of sacrifice is anachronistic for the Iliad, and the Iliad's poetic characterizations, particularly of Achilles, defy the lack of interiority presumed by Girard's mimetic theory. However, Girard's discussion of our fascination with violence does resonate with the Homeric Weltanschauung, as well as with persistent themes in ancient Near Eastern literature and art. |
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ISSN: | 2041-1871 |
Contains: | Enthalten in: Bulletin for the study of religion
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Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1558/bsor.v45i3-4.31345 |