Name: The Odyssey
Author: Homer
ISBN: 9780192815422

The Odyssey

Homer

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Author Description

The first English prose translation of Homer's The Odyssey to appear in over thirty years, Shewring's translation comes as close to the spirit of the original Greek as our language will allow.

Menrva's Summary

THE PULSE

Odysseus, the king of Ithaca, struggles to return home to his wife and son after the conclusion of the Trojan War. Tasked with navigating a world governed by capricious deities and supernatural obstacles, Odysseus must rely on his intellect and endurance to survive. He faces physical threats from mythical creatures and logical tests of loyalty and identity while his home is besieged by suitors. The narrative framework utilizes an epic structure, often employing non-linear storytelling through flashbacks and divine intervention to shape the protagonist's path.

INSIDE THE PAGES

Use of dactylic hexameter rhythm in the original Greek source
Extensive use of epithets to characterize gods and mortals
Incorporation of divine intervention as a primary plot driver
Focus on the concept of xenia, or guest-friendship
Episodic structure detailing various trials and locations
Exploration of themes regarding homecoming and identity
Shift between the perspective of Odysseus and his son Telemachus
Integration of oral tradition storytelling techniques

THE COLLECTIVE ECHO

Discussion often centers on the endurance of the narrative structure and its influence on Western literature. Readers frequently highlight the contrast between the domestic struggles in Ithaca and the fantastical trials faced by Odysseus at sea. Critics often examine the translation choices made by various scholars to capture the cadence of the original Greek text. The work remains a focal point for debates regarding the nature of heroism and the role of fate versus human agency in ancient storytelling.

Page Count:
370

Publication Date:
1981-08-06

Publisher:
Oxford University Press

ISBN-10:
0192815423

ISBN-13:
9780192815422

Adventure

Fantasy

Classic Literature

Greek Mythology

Epic Poetry

English literature