Odyssey

1Odyssey21.BackgroundTheOdysseyisoneoftwomajorancientGreekepicpoemsattributedtoHomer.Itis,inpart,asequeltotheIliad,theotherworktraditionallyascribedtoHomer.3ThepoemisfundamentaltothemodernWesterncanon.Indeeditisthesecond—theIliadbeingthefirst—extantworkofWesternliterature.ItwasprobablycomposedneartheendoftheeighthcenturyBC,somewhereinIonia,thethenGreek-controlledcoastalregionofwhatisnowTurkey.1.Background42.CharacterofOdysseyMaincharacter:OdysseusOdysseus'sheroictraitishiscunningintelligence;heisoftendescribedasthePeerofZeusinCounsel.Thisintelligenceismostoftenmanifestedbyhisuseofdisguiseanddeceptivespeech.Hisdisguisestakeformsbothphysicalandverbal.563.SynopsisTheGreekpeninsula,sometribesjoinedtogethertoattackonTroy.Odysseushadtoleavehisone-month-oldsonandhiswifePenelope,setoutforthewar.Onthetenthyearofthewar,OdysseuswontheTrojanwar,byhidingpeopleinTrojanHorseandcollaboratingwithGreekarmy.7Ontheirwayhome,heroOdysseusangeredthegodoftheseaPoseidon,Greekarmysufferedthestormandwerecompletelyannihilated.WithhiswitandcouragefinallyonlyOdysseus’sshipescaped.ButPoseidonwasstillangry,hemadeOdysseuscouldnotfindthewayhomeanddriftonthesea.3.Synopsis8Odysseussufferedeverythingonhisway.ThehurricaneblewthemtotheCirce’sisland.HesurvivedaftereatingthemolygivenbyHermes.Circefellinlovewithhimandreleasedhismen.Oneyearlater,guidedbyCirce'sinstructions,Odysseusandhiscrewcrossedtheoceanandreachedaharboratthewesternedgeoftheworld,whereOdysseussacrificedtothedead.3.Synopsis9Thenhemetthespiritofhisownmother,whohaddiedofgriefduringhislongabsence;fromher,helearnedforthefirsttimenewsofhisownhousehold,threatenedbythegreedofthesuitors.Afterthat,helandedontheislandofCalypso,whereshecompelledhimtoremainasherloverforsevenyearsbeforeescaping.3.Synopsis10Odysseusdisappearedforabouttenyears.Duringthattime,hismotherdied,suitorssharedhishouseandforcedhiswifetoremarriage,butsherefuseddeterminedly.WiththehelpofPhaeacians,hecamebackanddisguisedhimselfasawanderingbeggar.WhenhemetPenelopehetestedherintentionswithaninventedstory.3.Synopsis11FinallyOdysseusandhissonkilledthesuitors,restructuredthecourt.Afterthis,Ithacawasatpeaceoncemore,concludingtheOdyssey.3.Synopsis12OdysseusandCirce13Odysseuskilledsuitors14