This study attempts to bridge the now classic gap between fixed form and functioning context which continues to limit our understanding of the Homeric phrase.
The first part of the study uses the presence of Homeric phrases in other Greek poetry, especially the notoriously "Homeric" Theognis 237-254, to help identify potentially significant phrases. The second part considers the epithets of Hector, in an attempt to re-examine Parry's notion of traditional fixed epithets and their importance for understanding the Iliad and the Odyssey. The author offers original interpretations of the workings of the traditional phrase in Homer, and also of Theognis 237- 254 and of the Iliad's much-debated characterization of Hector.
Along the way, Sacks suggests how his method may help with other problems, including contested emendations in Homer, the relationship of the Iliad and the Odyssey, and the relationship between epic and other genres. The central concern of the book, however, is the traditional artistry of Homer.