Title: The Odyssey
1The Odyssey
- What is it besides being a Rollicking Great Story?
2The 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.
5The Journey
- http//www.cs.iupui.edu/cfarring/Odyssey/index.ht
ml
6http//www.philipresheph.com/demodokos/odyssey/boo
ks.htm
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12Argos and Odysseus
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14Themes, 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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20Motifs
- 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.
21Symbols
- 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.
22Sites 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