Introduction to Homer and The Odyssey Why

Introduction to Homer and The Odyssey

Why are there so many translations? • The Odyssey is three thousand years old! • Numerous translations exist. Each focus on different aspects of the story. Some focus on the poetry, some on the prose, others on the imagery. – Imagine playing Telephone with a room full of painters, poets, rappers, and actors; the same story would be interpreted beautifully, and very differently, by each artist.

W. H. D. Rouse • A British teacher and Latin scholar. • Translated numerous Latin works specifically so that they would be didactic teaching and learning tools. Rouse, William Henry Denham in Venn, J. & J. A. , Alumni Cantabrigienses, Cambridge University. Press, 10 Vols, 1922– 1958.

HOMER: Made beards cool long before Zack Galifianakis stole a baby.

Facts about Homer the Author • Nothing certain; many theories • Some scholars believe the poems cannot be attributed to a single “author” • He was probably a blind bard who wandered from place to place reciting poems – bard bärd: a composer, singer, or declaimer of epic or heroic verse

Homer’s Language • Attempted to be as natural, simplistic, and realistic as possible. • Tellings occurred most often after large feasts. – Audience was usually full, rowdy, and in party-mode. Short attention spans abounded. • Homer had to keep his story interesting if he expected to be invited back. – Word of mouth was the only form of advertising.

The Odyssey The epic poem

Our Friend Odysseus • The hero of The Odyssey goes on one of those dangerous and long journeys, coming across many obstacles and fighting for his life numerous times before being able to return home after 10 years! • He comes home to suitors trying to take over his house.

Why we read The Odyssey • Considered one of the most important works in The Canon – can·on ka-nən: noun: an authoritative list of books accepted as: the most influential or important books that have shaped a culture • Like Greek Mythology, its widely alluded to in classic and modern literature. • It is everywhere; I am not kidding. Pretty much every high-schooler around the world reads it at some point. It will come up in conversation. – Professor Stokol, Harvard-Westlake High School

Homer’s Major Works • The Iliad • Hero: Achilles • Main Conflict: The Trojan War • The Odyssey • Hero: Odysseus • Main Conflict: Odysseus’ attempt to return home

The Odyssey Od·ys·sey noun Etymology: the Odyssey, epic poem attributed to Homer recounting the long wanderings of Odysseus 1 : a long wandering or voyage usually marked by many changes of fortune 2 : an intellectual or spiritual wandering or quest

The Heroism of Odysseus • The Odyssey is about Odysseus’ adventures in Ithaca on his way home from Troy. • He departed from Troy with a fleet of 12 ships carrying 720 men. • He encounters various monsters who attempt to keep him from his wife, Penelope and his son, Telemachus. • He uses many tricks to get out of these difficult situations.

Epic: adjective Etymology: Latin epicus, from Greek epikos, from epos word, speech, poem. Date: 1589 : extending beyond the usual or ordinary especially in size or scope b : heroic Epic Poem: • a long narrative poem describing a hero's deeds • a narrative poem is one that tells a story Epic and Yucky.

Divine Intervention

Tea Time Discussion: Which is more important: the journey or the destination?

• The following are the first two paragraphs of The Odyssey. Pay attention to the initial details of the story. – What kind of man is Odysseus? How is he characterized? – What is important to him? – Describe the language of the text.

The Story of Odysseus Book One: What Went On in the House of Odysseus This is the story of a man, one who was never at a loss. He had travelled far in the world, after the sack of Troy, the virgin fortress; he saw many troubles and hardships in the struggle to save his own life and to bring back his men safe to their homes. He did his best, but he could not save his companions. For they perished by their own madness, because they killed and ate the cattle of Hyperion the Sun-god, and the god took care that they should never see home again.

At the time when I begin, all the others who had not been killed in the war were at home, safe from the perils of battle and sea: but he was alone, longing to get home to his wife. He was kept prisoner by a witch, Calypso, a radiant creature, and herself one of the great family of gods, who wanted him to stay in her cave and be her husband. Well then, the seasons went rolling by, and when the year came, in which by the thread that fate spins for every man he was to return home to Ithaca, he had not yet got free of his troubles and come back to his own people. The gods were all sorry for him, except Poseidon, god of the sea, who bore a lasting grudge against him all the time until he returned.

What did you notice? Why does it matter?

Book One: Pay attention to: • • Athena’s intervention The suitors Telemachus Penelope