Description THE Department of Classical Philology of Columbia University has approved this monograph as a contribution to knowledge worthy of publication.
He is at his best in pointing out that Penelope\'s Dream of geese and eagle (Odyssey XIX.) is unlike other dreams in Homer, an allegorical vision which demands interpretation, "a new departure for the ep.
That the author is no mere compiler is shown by many touches of just literary appreciation.
If only he had added a short chapter summarizing his results, his work would have been more likely to be recognised for what it is -- a very sound and useful piece of not particularly inspired research.
Accordingly there is too much repetition, and a bewildering abundance of cross-references.
His method is to plough solemnly through the whole field, noting and discussing each Dream as it appears.
His style is somewhat inelegant, and his arrangement unattractive.
D., and his footnotes give proof of his wide reading and of the intrinsic interest of his materials.
The author has collected, for his own purposes, all dreams and references to dreams that he can find in Greek or Latin literature down to the second century A.
It deals particularly with the dreams in Homer, Hesiod, and the Tragedians, (I) as a part of the machinery, a motive force in the development of action, narrative, plot, and (2) as artistic ends in themselves, more or less complete, more or less refined, more or less natural or artificial.
His present work is really introductory to a more general study of the ancient dream, especially as portrayed in Latin literature.
He was led to the study of the dreams in Greek literature by the discovery -- which every serious student of Latin literature will make -- that without Greek you cannot get far into Latin; for he first set out to investigate Roman dreams (see "Mnemosyne," 45, 78-92).
Messer will be able to fulfill his promise of further contributions to his chosen subject.
We are happy to agree, and we hope that Mr.
Description THE Department of Classical Philology of Columbia University has approved this monograph as a contribution to knowledge worthy of publication
