classic literature

1. Ancient Literature
Classic Literature
Classic- the term implies age or
anything.
INTRODUCTION:
The history of literature begins with the history on
writing Bronze Mesopotamia and Ancient Egypt.

2. EGYPTIAN LITERATURE (500 years before the birth of
Christ)
Egyptian built edifices and monument which stand as a
symbol of IMMORTALITY.
OSIRIS- the God of the Nile. He is the symbol of
immortality.
THE BOOK OF THE DEAD- most significant Egyptian
writing.
“When you rise from mean rank to highest position grow
rich after being poor, forget not your past. Do not be
proud of your wealth and do not be arrogant remember
you are no better than your mates who had relapsed into
poverty”

3. THE PRECEPTS OF FLAHHOTEP
 the world’s oldest book is a collection of shewd and
homely reflection on life, its conduct and meaning.
ASSYRO-BABYLONIAN LITERATURE( 2,000 B.C)- Ptah Hutep.
 The Assyro-Babylonian were great worshippers of
nature, gods and objects.
 The Gilgamesh epic- Great work.

4. PERSIA LITERATURE
 Literature was dominated by religious writings. The bible
of Zoro-astrinism

5. INDIAN LITERATURE
 Mahabarata- longest epic in the whole world.
 Ramayana- representation of perfect man and woman

6. 4 Types of VEDA’s
1. RIG VEDA
2. SAMA VEDA
3. ATHARVA VEDA
4. YAJUR VEDA

7. MEDIEVAL PERIOD (1066-1485)
 Norman Conquest
 Feudalism
 Origins of Constitutional Government
 Wars of the roses
 The Code of Chivalry
GREAT POETS:
 William Langland
 Geoffrey Chaucer

8. CHINA LITERATURE
Confucius- founder of Chinese literature.
 GREEK LITERATURE
 they laid the foundation of western civilization.

9. ODYSSEUS-THE GREAT KING OF ITHACA

10. TELEMACHUS- SON OF
ODYSSEUS

11. AEOLUS
-GOD OF WIND

12.  POLYPHEMUS:
THE Cyclops who captures Odysseus and his men with the
intention of eating them.
 CIRCE:
the witch- goddess who falls in love with Odysseus and
his man stay for one year.
 CALYPSO:
The nymph goddess who falls in love with Odysseus
and keep him on her island home for seven years.

13. THE ADVENTURES OF ODYSSEUS
1. TROY- After the victory of Troy, Odysseus and his
2. The Island of the Gicones
3. The Island of the lotus Eaters
4. The Island of Cyclopes
5. The Island of Aeolus
6. The Island of the Laestrygonians
7. Arc’s Island
8. The underworld
9. The Island of the sirens
10. Scylla and Charybdis
11. Island of the sun God

14. THE TROJAN WAR
 The most important Greek mythology
 The ten year war came around after parts of Troy stole
the wife od Menelaus, the king of Sparta.
 During this war, the Archaens battled the city of Troy.
 The Trojan war started because of a feud between three
goddesses: Athena, Hera and Aphrodite.
 The goddesses went to Paris, the king of Troy, who judge
Aphrodite as a fairest.
 The conquering of Troy with the Trojan Horse is believed
to be ended the Trojan war.

15. EPIC OF GILGAMESH
Gilgamesh was an actual king of ancient Uruk about 2700 B.C
Gilgamesh was written down on clay cuneiform tablets.
Tablet 1: Gilgamesh reign, prowess and tyranny creation of his rival Eukidu.
Tablet 2: The taming of Eukido.
Table 3: Preparation for the journey to the forest of in Cedar.
Table 4: Journey to the forest of Cedar.
Tablet 5: Combat with Aumbaba.
Table 6: Ishtar and the bull of Heaaven.
Table 7: Eukido’s vision of the Netherworld and his own death.
Table 8: The wandrings of Gilgamesh.
Table 10: Gilgamesh travels to the utah-napishti at the edge of the world.
Tablet 11: Utah-napishti denies him immortality, Gilgamesh return to the Uruk.