Steinmeyer, Elke Gisela.2012-11-132012-11-1320032003Steinmeyer, E. 2003. Chanting the song of sorrow : threnody in Homer and Zakes Mda."Current Writing"15(2), pp.156-172.1013-929Xhttp://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1013929Xhttp://hdl.handle.net/10413/7839This article examines the role of threnody in ancient Greece and contemporary South Africa. The main focus is on its representation in literature, in this case a passage from Homer's Iliad and the novel Ways of Dying (1995) by Zakes Mda, which are read in their respective historical contexts. The aim is to compare the different functions which threnody fulfills in different societies in different times with special emphasis on societies in crisis and transition.enLaments--History and criticism.Homer. Iliad.Mda, Zakes. Ways of dying.Peer reviewed journal article