Audience
The main and original audience for Hesiod’s Theogony would be the religious Ancient Greeks. They would be the ones who would actually see the content of the text as fact. The Ancient Greeks would want to learn about the origins of the gods they were worshipping. It would also keep them from worshipping gods that would not be approved of by the Olympians. For example, worshiping one of the Titans might bring on the wrath of the Olympians. Obviously, no one
wanted this. They valued the truth in this epic poem.
The second audience I’ll consider would be today’s Greek Mythology fans. I’m think of Rick Riordan and Percy Jackson fanfiction writers. Since the time of the Ancient Greeks, their beliefs and mythology have effected everything from architecture to music to art to government to literature. There has been a fairly recent swelling of Greek Mythology use that brings the legends to life, instead of just using them as metaphors and images. The mythology is valued by us, today, because it is well known and ingrained in our society.
Purpose
The purpose Hesiod had when writing his Theogony was to take all of the oral traditions that has been passed down and put them in the written form. This allowed easier access to learning and understanding the religion. It taught how the gods came from Chaos and set up their rule in the Cosmos. Another possible reason for Hesiod to write this, could be simply to throw his lot among the other epic writers such as Homer.
Context
The original medium of Hesiod’s Theogony would be print. Specifically, it would have been
written on papyrus with some sort of reed pen. There would not have been many copies of this near the time it was written. After it was written, it may have been kept in a temple. We cannot be completely sure how it was stored. This was written in Ancient Greece. There was not publishing and media in the same way as there is now. While this is true, this text is culturally and historically vital to the Ancient Greeks. It is on par with the works of Homer.
Author
Hesiod is considered one of the great Ancient Greek poets. He’s also one of the oldest. His works outline parts of the the Ancient Greek religion and is seen as truth by believers. His works are still read today, over two thousand years after he originally wrote it. What he has written has affected art, music, architecture and literature. His Theogony has, by far, been his most impactful work.
Genre
The Theogony is an Ancient Greek epic poem. At the time of it being written, it was seen as a religious piece. It showed how the gods came to be. During the present time, we see it as a fiction mythological piece. It’s longevity is similar to that of Homer’s works. All of these Ancient Greek epics have stood the test of time; the Theogony is not an exception.
Overview – Rhetorical Situation – Design Choices – Modes of Communication – Affordances and Constraints – Conclusion
Josh Oliver 