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The Odyssey

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The Odyssey What is it besides being a Rollicking Great Story? ... Homer is fascinated with depicting his protagonist tormented by temptation: in general, ... – PowerPoint PPT presentation

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Title: The Odyssey


1
The Odyssey
  • What is it besides being a Rollicking Great Story?

2
The Odysseys Construction
  • The Odyssey begins in medias res, meaning that
    the action begins in the middle of the plot, and
    that prior events are described through
    flashbacks or storytelling.
  • This device is imitated by later authors of
    literary epics, e.g. Virgil in the Aeneid, as
    well as modern poets such as Alexander Pope in
    the mock-epic/ mock-heroic "The Rape Of The
    Lock.
  • Nearly all modern editions and translations of
    the Odyssey (like the Iliad) are divided into 24
    books.
  • This division is handy but it is not original it
    was developed by Alexandrian editors of the 3rd
    century BC.

3
  • In the Classical period, moreover, several of the
    books (individually and in groups) were given
    their own titles the first four books, focusing
    on Telemachus, are commonly known as the
    Telemachy
  • Within Odysseus' narrative, Book 9, featuring
    Odysseus' encounter with the cyclops Polyphemus,
    is traditionally called the Cyclopeia
  • and Book 11, the section describing his meeting
    with the spirits of the dead, is known as the
    Nekuia.
  • Books 9 through 12, wherein Odysseus recalls his
    adventures for his Phaeacian hosts, are
    collectively referred to as the Apologoi
    Odysseus' "stories."

4
  • Book 22, wherein Odysseus kills all the suitors,
    has been given the title Mnesterophonia
    "slaughter of the suitors.
  • The last 548 lines of the Odyssey, corresponding
    to book 24, are believed by many scholars to have
    been added by a slightly later poet.
  • Several passages in earlier books seem to be
    setting up the events of book 24, so if it is
    indeed a later addition, the offending editor
    would seem to have changed earlier text as well.

5
The Journey
  • http//www.cs.iupui.edu/cfarring/Odyssey/index.ht
    ml

6
http//www.philipresheph.com/demodokos/odyssey/boo
ks.htm
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Argos and Odysseus
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Themes, Motifs Symbols
Themes
  • The Power of Cunning over Strength
  • If the Iliad is about strength, the Odyssey is
    about cunning.
  • Odysseus relies much more on mind than muscle. .
    .He knows that he cannot overpower Polyphemus,
    and that, even if he were able to do so, he
    wouldnt be able to budge the boulder from the
    door. He thus schemes around his disadvantage in
    strength by exploiting Po1yphemuss stupidity.
  • Penelopes clever notion of not remarrying until
    she completes a burial shroud which she will
    never complete buys her important time.

Themes are the fundamental and often universal
ideas explored in a literary work.
15
  • The Pitfalls of Temptation
  • The initial act that frustrated so many Achaeans
    homecoming was the work of an Achaean himself
    Ajax (the Lesser Ajax, a relatively unimportant
    figure not to be confused with the Greater
    Ajax, whom Odysseus meets in Hades) raped the
    Trojan priestess Cassandra in a temple while the
    Greeks were plundering the fallen city. That act
    of impulse, impiety, and stupidity brought the
    wrath of Athena upon the Achaean fleet and set in
    motion the chain of events that turned Odysseuss
    homecoming into a long nightmare.
  • It is fit that the Odyssey is motivated by such
    an event, for many of the pitfalls that Odysseus
    and his men face are likewise obstacles that
    arise out of mortal weakness and the inability to
    control it.
  • The submission to temptation or recklessness
    either angers the gods or distracts Odysseus and
    the members of his crew from their journey they
    yield to hunger and slaughter the Suns flocks,
    and they eat the fruit of the lotus and forget
    about their homes.

16
  • The Pitfalls of Temptations
  • Even Odysseuss hunger for kleos is a kind of
    temptation.
  • He submits to it when he reveals his name to
    Polyphemus, bringing Poseidons wrath upon him
    and his men.
  • In the case of the Sirens, the theme is revisited
    simply for its own interest. With their ears
    plugged, the crew members sail safely by the
    Sirens island, while Odysseus, longing to hear
    the Sirens sweet song, is saved from folly only
    by his foresighted command to his crew to keep
    him bound to the ships mast.
  • Homer is fascinated with depicting his
    protagonist tormented by temptation in general,
    Odysseus and his men want very desperately to
    complete their nostos, or homecoming, but this
    desire is constantly at odds with the other
    pleasures that the world offers.

Kleos (Greek ?????) is the Greek word often
translated to "renown", or "honor". It is related
to the word "to hear" and carries the implied
meaning of "what others hear about you". A Greek
hero earns kleos through accomplishing great
deeds, often through battle.
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Motifs
  • Storytelling Storytelling in the Odyssey, in
    addition to delivering the plot to the audience,
    situates the epic in its proper cultural context.
  • Disguises From the first line of the epic, Homer
    explains that his story is about a man of twists
    and turns (1.1). Quick, clever, and calculating,
    Odysseus is a natural master of disguise, and the
    plot of the epic often turns on his deception.
  • Seductresses Women are very important figures in
    the Odyssey, and one of the most prominent roles
    they fulfill is that of seductress. . . While
    these women do gain a certain amount of power
    through their sexual charms, they are ultimately
    all subject to divine whim, forced to wait and
    pine for love when it is absent.

Motifs are recurring structures, contrasts, or
literary devices that can help to develop and
inform the texts major themes.
21
Symbols
  • Food Although throwing a feast for a guest is a
    common part of hospitality, hunger and the
    consumption of food often have negative
    associations in the Odyssey. . . these cases,
    excessive eating represents not just lack of
    self-control, but also the total absence of
    humanity and civility.
  • Wedding Bed The wedding bed in Book 23
    symbolizes the constancy of Penelope and
    Odysseuss marriage .. The symbolism is
    heightened by the trick that Penelope uses to
    test Odysseus, which revolves around the
    immovability of their beda metaphor for the
    unshakable foundation of their love.

Symbols are objects, characters, figures, or
colors used to represent abstract ideas or
concepts.
22
Sites Cited
  • Farrington, Crystal. The Odyssey. 9 Oct. 2007
    lthttp//www.cs.iupui.edu/cfarring/Odyssey/index.h
    tmlgt
  • Phillips, Brian and Hunter, James. SparkNote on
    The Odyssey. 9 Oct. 2007 lthttp//www.sparknotes.co
    m/lit/odyssey/gt.
  • The Trojan WarAn Illustrated Companion. 9 Oct.
    2007. lthttp//www.philipresheph.com/demodokos/home
    r.htmgt
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