Sardonic Smile Nonverbal Behavior in Homeric Epic

In his book "The Ironic Smile: Nonverbal Behavior in the Homeric Odyssey," Donald Lateiner examines all the major types of nonverbal behavior in the Homeric Odyssey, especially in the Odyssey. Noting differences from modern gestures, he pays attention to diversity resulting from gender, age, and social status, exploring the “silent language” and “the self-evident” in the heroes Odysseus, Telemachus, and Penelope, as well as in the savage Cyclops, suitors, and servants. No study has ever comprehensively analyzed nonverbal behavior in the Homeric Odyssey. Gestures and postures, conscious and unconscious manipulation of space and time, and involuntary "leaks", such as trembling and trembling, all add impact and emphasis to, or contradict and mock, the characters' speech and the hexagrammatic narration. Choice Outstanding Academic Book for 1995. "An important contribution to Homer studies." - Choice The book “The Ironic Smile” opens new horizons for the study of ancient literature. It can be predicted that the analysis of non-verbal “parallel texts” will become more popular as a result of this important study. -Walter Donlan, The Classic Magazine