Dec 16, 2009
The Odyssey | Odyssey
At a glance:
- Author: Homer
- First Published: 725
- Type of Work: Epic Poem
- Genres: Poetry, Epic, Narrative poetry
- Subjects: Language or languages, Husbands, Wives, Africa or Africans, Traveling or travelers, Voyages, Mythology or myths, Poetry or poets, War, Legends, Folklore, Gods or goddesses, Reading, Sea or seafaring life, Egypt or Egyptians, Adventure, Heroes or heroism, Life and death, Greek or Roman times, Greece or Greek people, Antarctica, Fables, Trojan War
- Locales: Sparta, ancient, Greece, ancient, Mediterranean, Argos, ancient, Mount Olympus (mythic), Ithaca, ancient
The ODYSSEY begins in the tenth year of Odysseus’
wanderings following the Trojan War. The first four books, called
the Telemachy, focus not on Odysseus, but on his son Telemachus,
who undertakes a journey of self-maturation in search of his
missing father. These books establish the reputation of the hero
before he is introduced directly. They also underscore the plight
of Odysseus’ family in his absence and the need for the
hero’s return.
The main plot, Odysseus’ homecoming, is introduced in
books 5-8 by the hero’s departure from the island of the
nymph Calypso....
[The entire page is 615 words long]
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