Herodotus and Holberg

Herodotus 484-425 BCE "The Father of History"

I. Historical Goals and Methods

A) Historian's task: to present what really happened

B) Poet's task: to present what might have happened

C) Established the idea of monumental history

II. Herodotus in Egypt

A) Tries to find rational explanations for things.

1. The bird spoke with a human voice.

2. How could a dove speak with a human voice?

3. Because it was an Egyptian woman.

B) Describes foreign customs and cultures.

1. King buries his daughter in a hollow cow.

2. Statues without hands are nearby.

3. "I myself saw that they had lost their hands through the force of

time."

III. Herodotus' History or "The Inquiries"

A) His work is a collection of stories which he has gathered about the past

and about contemporary customs, buildings, and geographical features.

B) From Herodotus to Holberg

1. Both authors describe fantastic cultures . . .

2. People whose ears are so big they sleep in them at night (Hdt.)

3. An entire country where women rule over men. (Holberg)

IV. "Human prosperity never remains in the same place." (Hdt.)

1. Mycerinus goes from fortunate king to grieving father.

2. Niels Klim is crowned emperor but loses his throne.

Ludvig Holberg and Science Fiction Niels Klim’s Journey to the World Underground

•Born in Bergen 1684

•Educated in Norway and Denmark

•Travels England, the Netherlands, Germany

•Professor

•Baron

•Dies 17

Having agreed for my passage, I went aboard, and with the highest pleasure imaginable began my voyage, inasmuch as I presently observed that these Subterranean vessels are impelled by secret springs and machines which cleave the waters with an astonishing rapidity, and all without the agency of rowers.

IX 99

The learned, and especially such of them as are conversant in physical inquiries, who know how fertile Nature is in her productions, will look with a more favorable eye upon the wonderful parts of this narration.