Flesh and Spirit in the Songs of Homer: A Study of Words and Myths Book

This book was not what I expected. I expected to read the medieval tales of the robbers with minimal discussion. Instead, the book was largely discussion with summaries and excerpts from the tales.

The discussion was very good. Keen identified several patterns in the tales and made a good central argument of literature reflecting class struggles. The introduction to the second edition changes the thesis by stating the intended audience was the upper-lower class and the lower-middle class rather than the previously believed lower class.

One of the most interesting observations was that the audiences glorified the robbers, rather than those who rose against the existing order and sought to use violence to bring about change. This observation led to a discussion that those who stood up on principle universally lost...their lives. Conversely, a large number of the robbers adapted to the system and succeeded...at least, that is how their epics ended. The moral for the audience was to give up ideals of a utopia and craft out your resistance by adapting to the system and using it to your advantage.