27 Sep 2004
Memory

Laudator Temporis Acti has a great post up on memorization. He mentions several Greek poets and playwrights whose works had to be committed to memory, but think about it: nearly all ancient literature had to be committed to memory. In cultures that had not yet developed writing, such as Anglo-Saxon England, there was no other choice but memory: Beowulf, all 3180 lines, was memorized many times, by many people. How many of us could do such a thing today?

Ancient Greeks memorized Euripides and Homer. Modern Americans memorize the lyrics to Gilligan's Island.

(link) [Laudator Temporis Acti]

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