INTRODUCTION

This chapter is not meant as a complete or exhaustive study of all aspects of Archaic narrative, but as a general introduction to Archaic primary narrators, and as a survey of the main features relevant for a study of the adaptation of Archaic narrative models in the early Hellenistic poets. It concentrates on the use in Archaic poets of quasi-biography, the development of consistent narratorial personas across an author's corpus, the relationship of such a narratorial persona to the historical author's biography, the creation of an impression of extempore composition by the narrator, the depiction of the narrator's relationship with the Muses, and characteristics such as the use of emotional and evaluative language by the primary narrator. These features, which are those which most clearly draw attention to the presence of a narrating voice, are the most important elements which Archaic poets use in the construction of their primary narrators. Hence they are the best means by which to obtain a clear sense of the nature and variety of Archaic primary narrators. They are also the features of Archaic narrators which Callimachus, Theocritus and Apollonius employ most widely, and hence they can best demonstrate their interest in, and exploitation of, Archaic narrators and narrative. While narratorial use of quasi-biography, emotional and evaluative language etc. is more common in poets other than Homer, whose narrative techniques and use of the narrator have been well studied, I shall still regularly refer to the Homeric epics, as good comparative material and models (to avoid as well as to emulate) for both Archaic and Hellenistic poets.