THE ROLE OF GREEK AND ROMAN LITERATURE IN THE SOCIETY

Over the years, literature of ancient Greece and Rome has affected art, religion, philosophy, science and mathematics, medicine, drama, and poetry profoundly. It has served as a basic model for the development of later European literatures and, consequently, the writings of the historians, geographers, philosophers, scientists, and rhetoricians are read today as sources of historical information and enjoyment.
Alfred Whitehead, the famous British philosopher-mathematician, once commented that: “[A]ll philosophy is but a footnote to Plato” (Comptons Encyclopedia). A similar point can be made regarding Greek literature as a whole. The Greek world of thought was far ranging and ideas discussed today have been previously debated by ancient writers. In fact, until recently, in Western culture, an acquaintance with classical Latin (as well as Greek) literature was basic to a liberal education. Roman literature such as epic and lyric poetry, rhetoric, history, comic drama and satire (the last genre being the only literary form that the Romans invented) serve as today’s backbone for a basic understanding of expression and artistic creativity, as well as history.
Greek comedies such as those of Naevius and Andronicus, as well as historical writings in epic poems (First Punic War), tell the story of Rome and its conquests and served as prototypes for Aroman epics. Later poets imitated early Roman writers as they used these early writings for springboards into further development of drama. For example, Plautus’s lively plays were a model for much subsequent European comedy and are still performed today (encarta.msn).
Epic Greek poetry was exclusively in verse, but evolved from the folk ballads of early people of Greece who had an oral literature composed of songs about the actions of their heroes. Mythical and heroic events that are not celebrated in the Homeric works became the subject matter of a number of subsequent epics. Many of these epics, composed from the 8th century to the 6 century B.C. by unknown poets called the cyclic poets, concerned the Trojan War and war of the Seven Against Thebes. Historians have learned a great deal about Greek life through poems such as Hesiod’s major work Works and Days, which draws from everyday life of a Boeotian farmer (encarta.msn 2).
Tragedy in drama as we know it today is said to have been originated in the 6th century B.C. by Attic poet Thespis, who is credited with spoken passages for actors to complement the lyric utterances of the chorus. Sophocles and Euripides, Greek playwrights, used psychological insight into their characterizations. Comedy, grouped in two divisions (Middle and New) from 400-336 B.C. and 336-250 B.C. replaced satire with social comedy which involved family types, plot and character development, and romantic themes. Menander was the chief writer of New Comedy and his work had a strong influence upon the Latin dramatists of the 3rd and 2nd centuries BC, notably Plautus and Terence. Extensive portions of many of these plays survive today.
Plato and Aristotle were two major Greek philosophical writers. Plato developed some aspects of Socrates’ philosophy and expressed, in written dialogues, the philosophy later called idealism. They are also literary masterpieces, having many qualities common to poetry and drama. Aristotle, a pupil of Plato, wrote a large number of works on logic, metaphysics, ethics, rhetoric, and politics. These writings are read and analyzed by many people still today (encyclopedia.com).
Greek culture was very widespread in the Mediterranean world during the Hellenistic Age, 4th century to 1st century BC. Literary schools that came into being and the greatest library of antiquity were located in Alexandria, Egypt. Alexandrian poetry concentrated on foreign customs, names of months, and local nomenclature. It was at this time that Callimachus perfected the epigram, literary didactic poems and pastoral poetry. Others followed him in pastoral verse that is cherished even today (encyclopedia.com).
Theological writings after the fall of the Byzantine Empire in 1453 attacked the various heresies that arose during the first millennium of the Christian era. Accounts of saints’ lives were also published, i.e., Acts of the Martyrs by Metaphrastes and Fathers of the Church by Saint Gregory of Nazianzus and by Cosmas of Jerusalem in the 86h century. These were filled with beautiful poetry, dramatic forces and easy flow of vividly descriptive colloquial idioms.
Ancient Greek and Roman literature has affected literally every phase of societal intelligence over the years. As noted, this is evident in areas such as medicine, history, geography, philosophy, science and mathematics, drama, poetry, and religion. Even today, mankind frequently refers to early Greek and Roman writings for knowledge and expertise in directing their creative talents in a more precise and meaningful manner.

References

Greek Literature. Comptons Encyclopedia. Online. Available at:
http://www.comptons.com/encyclopedia
Greek Literature. Comptons Encyclopedia. Online. Available at:
http://encarta.msn/index/conciseindex
Greek Literature. Comptons Encyclopedia. Online. Available at:
http://encarta.msn.com/kind.print
Latin Literature. Encarta Encyclopedia. Online. Available at:
http://encarta.msn.com/find/rint
Philosophy of Aristotle: Aristotle’s Life and Heritage. Monarch Notes Aristotle;
01-01-1963. Encyclopedia.com

गजल

रश्मी झै चम्किलो हँसिलो छ सधैं भरी
मिलनसार मुस्कान छ मुहार भरी भरी ।

गरिमा भरिएको कर्म छ, बेग्लै स्फुर्तिको
रौशिलो ब्यक्तित्व, सदा रमाउने घरीघरी ।

तौलियेको होइन,यथार्थको हो बर्णनन
लाली गुराँस फुले जस्तै, फक्रिएको सधैं भरी ।

In This Path Of Life

The rush and crowd in worship ,
These chime , chantings , offerings ;
To invoke and gather blessings .
All seems to fall ,
Fall into their proper place of chaos .
A chase for their own shadow .
For , peace and power dwell within;
In solitude and contemplation .
Whence truth transpires and illuminates ,
A Path with no trail of fear .
Where ideas and hopes spring.
If only we seek this clarity .
Break down barriers and fences ;
The volcano of hatred embedded ,
Be flooded by love and compassion .
Discern anger that destroys ; love that builds.
If only we look at the reflection so fair ,
In the mirror of life that never fails .
A destiny in our ploughing hands ;
Sowing sprouting seeds of a strong will .
Dedicating to victory and rejoicing failure as a giving of no return.
If only we blend in the heart and mind ;
A heart of no vices , given a free ride .
A mind tamed upright in control of life .
Walking in this Path of life ;
Let every moment kindle a hope ,
A new inspiration and a new beginning .

मुक्तक

जीवनमा संघर्श गर्नु परेर के भो र,
आधा जसो हाँसेकै छ
भेटघाट कैलाई नभएर के भो र,
असल मित्रता गाँसेकै छ ।

Ten things to know about Anna Hazare and Jan Lok Pal Bill.. !

1. Who is Anna Hazare ?
An ex-army man.Fought 1965 Indo-Pak War

2. What's so special about him?
He built a village Ralegaon Siddhi in Ahamad Nagar district, Maharashtra

3. So what?
This village is a self-sustained model village. Energy is produced in the village itself from solar power, bio fuel and wind mills.
In 1975, it used to be a poverty clad village. Now it is one of the richest village in India. It has become a model for self-sustained, eco-friendly & harmonic village.

4. Ok,...?
This guy, Anna Hazare was awarded Padma Bhushan and is a known figure for his social activities.

5. Really, what is he fighting for?
He is supporting a cause, the amendment of a law to curb corruption in India.

6. How that can be possible?
He is advocating for a Bil, The Jan Lokpal Bill (The Citizen Ombudsman Bill), that will form an autonomous authority who will make politicians (ministers), beurocrats (IAS/IPS) accountable for their deeds.

8. It's an entirely new thing right..?
In 1972, the bill was proposed by then Law minister Mr. Shanti Bhushan. Since then it has been neglected by the politicians and some are trying to change the bill to suit thier theft (corruption).

7. Oh.. He is going on a hunger strike for that whole thing of passing a Bill ! How can that be possible in such a short span of time?
The first thing he is asking for is: the government should come forward and announce that the bill is going to be passed.
Next, they make a joint committee to DRAFT the JAN LOKPAL BILL. 50% goverment participation and 50% public participation. Because you cant trust the government entirely for making such a bill which does not suit them.

8. Fine, What will happen when this bill is passed?
A LokPal will be appointed at the centre. He will have an autonomous charge, say like the Election Commission of India. In each and every state, Lokayukta will be appointed. The job is to bring all alleged party to trial in case of corruptions within 1 year. Within 2 years, the guilty will be punished. Not like, Bofors scam or Bhopal Gas Tragedy case, that has been going for last 25 years without any result.

9. Is he alone? Who else is there in the fight with Anna Hazare?
Baba Ramdev, Ex. IPS Kiran Bedi, Social Activist Swami Agnivesh, RTI activist Arvind Kejriwal and many more.
Prominent personalities like Aamir Khan are supporting his cause.

10. Ok, got it? What can I do?
At least we can spread the message.