The Use of Dreams in Epic Form
Present in most epics, dreams are used by Homer and Virgil in the Iliad, Odyssey, and the Aeneid to catalyze action in the plot. These epic dreams serve a vital purpose to the bard in his formulation of the epic and to the audience in their understanding of the epic. Inspired by gods, formulated in the minds of men, and acted upon to further the plot, these dreams bring about great changes in the course of the epic in which they are contained. Using these aspects of dreams to examine the concept of the dream among the early Greeks and Romans, we have to rely mainly on the literature that has survived to arrive at any conclusions about their dreams. However, reliance on literature, such as epic poetry, presents difficulties. Drama and literature are reflections of society, but not exact ones. Using American television as an example, there is very little accuracy in television as a reflection of American society. Keeping this tendency for inaccuracy in mind, the Greek view of dreams that has developed from the study of dreams in ancient literature is that the dreams present information that otherwise would not be know to both the character and the audience, clarify problems, and inspire action (Robbins 3). In addition to dre
is given to true Shades; the other is made lets go wash these clothes at the break of day-- . . ." Bury me, quickly - let me pass the gates of Hades. Once you have given me the soothing rites of fire. This dream takes place while Aeneas is deep asleep whereas the dream Penelope has about the return of Odysseus in Book Nineteen of the Odyssey is never described while she is asleep. One of the assumptions the audience can make about this dream is that it did not take place while she was asleep, which places it in the visium category.
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Approximate Word count = 3077
Approximate Pages = 12 (250 words per page double spaced)
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