Eros

Eros is the Greek concept of love that Carson analyzes throughout the entire book. Carson argues that Eros is inevitably bittersweet, that it could not possibly be otherwise.

Bittersweetness

The necessary quality of Eros that makes it both wonderful and painful at the same time.

The Triangular Relation

The essential relation Eros creates between lover, loved and the space between them.

The Edge

The boundary between the lover and the loved that cannot be traversed.

The Greek Alphabet

The first alphabet capable of profound poetic expression and philosophical analysis.

Greek Lyric Poetry

Carson analyzes Greek lyric poetry in order to uncover the nature of Eros.

Sappho's Fragment 31

One of Sappho's more famous fragments, Carson uses it to analyze Eros.

Plato's Phaedrus

One of the Socratic dialogues where Socrates analyzes one of the Greek speechwriter Lysias's speech which leads to a disagreement over the nature of love.

Lysias's Speech