If you can get past the clickbait title, this is interesting.
Why Doesn’t Ancient Fiction Talk About Feelings?
It massively overstates the premise. My first reaction was, I can think of lots of counter examples
. But keep reading!
The middle bit is interesting and touches on thoughts I've had for a while on what is the actual point of studying literature?
Then the end bit seems to undermine the argument. Again, I can think of at least one example from ancient literature where emotions are implied and you have to read between the lines: the Norse sagas.
This instance is from Hrafnkels saga Freysgoða. Þorbjörn and Sám are about to bring a lawsuit against powerful and dangerous landowner Hrafnkel, a lawsuit they have no hope of winning.
Þat var einn morginn snimma, at Þorbjörn karl vaknar. Hann vekr Sám, ok bað hann upp standa, Ok má ek eigi sofa.
It was early one morning that old Þorbjörn awoke. He woke Sám and told him to get up:And I can't sleep.
That's all it says, but we know exactly what they're feeling.
