We are now reading my favorite epic, The Odyssey. Unlike The Iliad, it is rich in scenes from real life and shows great depth of human nature. It still maintains all of the elements of the epic. In a module called “The Odyssey,” I have posted the story, a very good lecture on it, and the full movie of The Odyssey. It is really a great movie, one of my personal favorites. Please watch this lecture and film. What you will want to notice is that there are 2 stories happening simultaneously. The lecture you will watch explains that one story takes place in Ithaca. Odysseus is king of Ithaca, and he is married to the beautiful Penelope, who has just borne him a son, Telemachus. Unfortunately, he is called to war — and here we have some of the background to the Trojan war, which is where he goes. Telemachus is left to grow up without a father. Suitors, wishing to marry his mother, swarm the palace of Odysseus, and there is no man in the household to keep them away. This part of the story shows Telemachus, inspired and helped by Athena, growing up and trying to save his father’s kingdom at the same time that he is trying to find himself. He is not sure that he is the son of Odysseus, as he has no memory of his father. So he does what all great heroes have to do — he goes on a journey. Athena sends him in search of his father. This part of the story, which is actually woven into the whole epic, is called The Telemachiad. The second story is the long tale of Odysseus trying to get home to Ithaca after the Trojan War, and all of the delays, dangers, and temptations he has to endure. Our book gives us only a selection of these side stories. The big story is his 10-year attempt to get back home. You have a choice in your topic for this response: 1. You can write about the story of Telemachus, and how his story is a quest for his own identity. It is really a coming-of-age story, where he grows up. OR 2. You can write about the way Odysseus is transformed by his adventures. He gets in trouble with the gods for his pride and arrogance. Notice in several episodes how his pride continues to be a big part of his problem, even though he IS the greatest Greek warrior. And then notice how he is humbled by Athena, his friend/goddess until he returns, a changed man. To answer one of these questions, you will need to use at least 2 quotes from the book, but I also STRONGLY suggest that you watch the movie, as it pulls the whole epic together.
