The epic poem The Odyssey by the ancient Greek writer Homer takes us into the life of a man named Odysseus. As the reader learns about Odysseus multiple facets of his character are exposed through the challenges it faces. Although he and his crew face danger and obstacles at every step of the way the character of Odysseus hardly changes. The entire book Odysseus longs to see his wife, but he is a good man and a courageous leader. (Homer. And Lattimore)
Homer is one of the most famous Greek poets, the author of the Iliad and the Odyssey, two great epics that reveal the history of European literature. There are no precise data about the life of Homer, and all existing biographies are later in origin and often intertwined with legend (e.g. traditional story of Homer's blindness, the dispute seven cities for the right to be his birthplace). There are strong debates about authorship and about the history of the Odyssey, as the title of "Homeric question", which began in 1795 when F. Wolf published a book titled Introduction in Homer (Prolegomena ad Homerum). Many scientists collectively referred to as “pluralists”, argued that both the Iliad and the Odyssey essentially were not the works of Homer (many of them even adhere the position that Homer did not exist), and these books were written in 6th century B.C. probably in Athens, then they were brought together, recorded and handed down from generation to generation as songs of different authors. There is another group called which defended the idea of compositional unity of the poem, and thus put forward the individuality of its author. (Hays et al.)
New information about the ancient world, comparative study of East folk epics and detailed analysis of metrics and style provides enough arguments against the original version of “pluralists”, but complicated the position of their opponents. Historical, geographical and linguistic analysis of the Odyssey allowed to date them back to the 8th century B.C. Though there are attempts to assign this book to the 9th or to the 7th centuries B.C. It was apparently created on the coast of Asia Ionian Greece, inhabited by the tribes or one of islands surrounding it. Currently, there is no doubt that the Iliad and the Odyssey were the result of many centuries of Greek epic poetry, but not its beginning. (Homer. and Lattimore)
Different scientists have different assessments of how great the role of the creative personality was in the final design of these poems, but there is prevailing view that Homer in any case is not just random empty or collective name. In the works of Homer there was free processing of many epic traditions and forming one single entity with elaborate composition. Many modern scientists observe the opinion that this unity could be created only in writing. The announced desire of the poet added that the bulk of the work specified coherence by organizing the plot around one main rod-like construction of the first and last song, due to parallel linking individual songs, play the previous events, and predicting the future. But most of the unity plan epic shows a logical, coherent development actions and solid images of the main characters. It seems plausible that Homer has used the alphabetical letter, which, as we now know, the Greeks met within the 8th century B.C. Relic traditional style of creating these songs was used even in this new era of technology inherent in oral poetry. There are repetitive so-called formula epic style features. This style requires the use complex epithets, which is less determined by the properties and describes a person or object, but much more describes metric properties of the epithet. We find here the settled expressions that make up the whole metric (but never a poem), that are typical in situations in the description of battles, banquets, meetings, etc. These formulae have generally been in use in the circles of founders and the first written poetry. Epic poem is also the fruit of a long development of pre-Homer epic poetry. It does not correspond to any regional dialect or any stage of development of the Greek language.
The phonetic form of Homer language is close to ionic dialect and shows many archaic forms, reminiscent of Greek Mycenaean era (which became known to us through a plate with linear sheet). We may often meet next inflectional forms that never were used simultaneously in a living language. There are also many elements of the Aeolic dialect, which origin is still unclear. Formality and archaic language is connected in size of traditional heroic poetry, which was hexameter. In terms of content Homer epics are also placed in a multitude of motives, storylines, myths, drawn in early poetry. Homer can express the response of Mycenaean culture and even trace the connection of Hittite mythology. (Vivante, Homer and Cook)
However, the main source of epic material for Homer was the Mycenaean period. It was in this era of the action of his epic. Living in the fourth century after that period, and strongly idealizing the past, Homer cannot be a source of historical reports on the political, public life, material culture or religion of the Mycenaean world. But the political center of society, Mycenae, found items are identical to those described in the epics (mostly weapons and tools), some monuments are also Mycenae images, items and even a scene typical of the epic poetic reality. By the Mycenaean era were classified events of the Trojan War, around which Homer opened the action of both poems. This war, showed how an armed campaign of Greeks (Achaeans, Argives) led Mycenaean ruler Agamemnon against Troy and its allies. For the Greeks, the Trojan War was a historical fact dated 12-14 centuries. B.C. According to the calculations of Eratosthenes, Troy fell in 1184 BC. The current state of knowledge can assert that at least some elements of the Trojan epic are historical. As a result of excavations undertaken by H. Schliemann, were discovered the ruins of the great city, in the very spot where, according to Homer's descriptions and local age-old tradition had to lie Troy-Ilion, on a hill that now bears the name Hissarlik. (Homer. and Lattimore)
Only on the basis of Hissarlik discovered by Schliemann there are ruins on a hill called Troy. It is not clear which of the successive layers should identify with Homer's Troy. The poet could gather and perpetuate the legend of settlements in the coastal plain and lean with historical events, but he could rely on the ruins of the past are little known to move heroic legends that originally belonged to other periods, could also make them the scene of clashes that played out on a different ground. Iliad and Odyssey have many common features, both in composition and in ideological orientation. Typical organization of the plot around the central image, a small temporal length of the story, building plot independently of the chronological sequence of events, dedication of proportional to the volume segments of text important for the development of action points, contrast the following one after the other scenes, the development of the plot by creating complicated situations that obviously slows development actions and their brilliant resolution, saturation of the first steps episodic motifs and intensification of the main line at the end, the main opposing forces clash only at the end of the story (Achilles - Hector, Odysseus - grooms), using apostrophes, comparisons. (Lowenstam et al.)
In Homer epic picture of the world the most important moments of human existence are recorded, all the riches of reality in which we live. An important element of this reality are gods; they are always present in the human world, affect their behavior and fate. Although they are immortal, but their behavior and emotions remind people and likening it raises and how to sanctify all that is peculiar to man. Humanization is the hallmark myths epics of Homer, stresses the importance of individual experiences, stimulates compassion for the suffering and weakness awakens respect for labor does not accept cruelty and revenge; exalts dramatizes the life and death (praising, but its impact for the fatherland). In ancient times attributed to Homer and other works, and among them 33 hymns. (Hays et al.)
The Odyssey details Odysseus’ arduous return to his homeland. Ten years have passed since the end of the Trojan war and Odysseus, the “most cursed man alive”, has been missing and presumed dead by many. (10.79). Throughout the novel, gods play a significant role in the fate of Odysseus and other characters. The extent of the gods’ role though is not unqualified, contrary to Telemachus’ suggestion that, “Zeus is to blame./He deals to each and every/ laborer on this earth whatever doom he pleases” (1.401-403). While Zeus does have this power, his description of how humans meet their fate is more accurately depicted throughout the novel. As he aptly points out, “from us alone, the say, come all their miseries, yes,/ but they themselves, with their own reckless ways,/ compound their pain beyond their proper share”. While the gods do doom certain mortals, many of these mortals exacerbate their ill fate by making rash decisions and ignoring the gods’ warnings. (Murray)
Odysseus did not return from the war that opposed the Greeks and the Trojans and is retained in the nymph Calypso. In his home in the island of Ithaca, the suitors appeal to court against his wife Penelope who continues, after several years, to hope for the return of her husband. The son of Odysseus, Telemachus, as his mother hated these suitors feasting with him and feed his property.With the approval of Zeus, the goddess Athena encourages Telemachus to leave Ithaca to inquire about the return of his father. Telemachus went first to the King Nestor, and then to the king Menelaus and his wife Helene, telling him the courage of his father, nevertheless he did not know where he is. In Ithaca, the suitor learned everything from Telemachus against his will and decided to ambush him on his return. Zeus, at the instigation of Athena decided to permit Odysseus to return home and Hermes sent the news to Calypso. She reluctantly agreed and left Odysseus on a raft. After 17 days of navigation he fails or is not Phaeacia greeted Nausicaa, the king's daughter. (Vivante, Homer and Cook)
At a big party, Odysseus told, without naming his detention at Calypso and his days drifting from his island to that of the Phaeacians. The Pheacians promised to take him back to Ithaca and offered him gifts. In the evening, Odysseus is then called and showed his talents bard by telling his adventures to the Phaeacians: After a battle against the Kikones, storm, and a meeting with the strange people of the Lotus Eaters, Odysseus and his men were trapped in the Cyclops Polyphemus. After being blinded, they fleed and Polyphemus, enraged, invoked his father Poseidon, who promised to revenge. Odysseus met Aeolus, who enclosed all the unfavorable winds in addition and gives them companions of Odysseus and opened the addition trigger of a storm. Arrival in Lestrygons: Odysseus lost eleven of his twelve ships. Arrival on the island of Circe was very dangerous because there was a transforming the companions of Odysseus into pigs. Odysseus managed to save them with the help of Hermes. After a year in the company of Circe, he left the island and went on his advice, the land of the dead to interrogate the seer Tiresias. Odysseus spoke with several illustrious deceased and receives advice of Tiresias. Then Odysseus returned to Circe. This explains the dangers ahead. Odysseus and his companions escape the Sirens who are trying to bewitch them by their song. Odysseus spent with his grieves near the monster Scylla and lost six men. Landing on the island of the sun, the men of Odysseus disobeyd the advice of Tiresias and eat oxen Sun that demand revenge for Zeus. They were close, but as they were reaching the sea, a storm destroyed the ship and killed all the men except Odysseus, who took refuge on the island of Calypso. Odysseus just finished his story and received other gifts from his audience. The next evening, he took to leave of the Phaeacians and dozed in filing the ship, still asleep, on the coast of Ithaca. After waking, Athena coame to meet him, advised him to hide the gifts and the Phaeacians, warning of the danger of claiming transforms begging. She took the road to Sparta to bring Telemachus in Ithaca. Odysseus went to Eumaeus, his swineherd who granted him hospitality. Eumaeus told the "beggar" which looked like a Cretan adventurer who had brought recent news from Odysseus, the arrogance of the contenders and the danger to Telemachus. In Sparta, Athena precipitated the return of Telemachus and explained how to avoid the ambush of the suitors. Telemachus sailed for Ithaca and welcomeed aboard the Théoclymen soothsayer who predicted the return of Odysseus. Telemachus arriveed safe and sound and went to Eumaeus, press him to go announce his return to Penelope. Odysseus revealed his identity to Telemachus. They draw their plan to take revenge on the suitors. In the home of Odysseus, the pretenders, warned of the return of Telemachus seek another way to get rid of him. Telemachus and Eumaeus and Odysseus go into town. Who managed, still disguised as a beggar is give hospitality by Telemachus who must not reveal his return. (Murray)
After many bullying suitors, Odysseus is host Penelope giving him news of himself. It is by recognizing the Eurycleia nurse but her intimate silence. Later Penelope announcement "beggar" it will organize the next test of the arc, to choose a husband among the contenders: they must succeed to bend the bow of Odysseus and shoot an arrow through twelve axes. The evening arrived, Odysseus fell asleep dragging death of the suitors. None of the contenders managed to draw the bow. Odysseus asked his bow and passing the test, unchecked the victory. He killed Antinous, the chief of contenders with an arrow and shows his true identity to the suitors. Odysseus and Telemachus, accompanied by the swineherd Eumaeus and Philoetios engaged in combat. Athena helped them, they eliminated all the contenders. Then Eurycleia captured the maids who betrayed Penelope and Odysseus and hang them all. Penelope behaves overly self-confident to show resistance for Odysseus (it comes up with its intricate checks whether it is really in front of her husband), but here Odysseus and Penelope first gladly accepts her long lost husband. In the morning Odysseus went to visit his old father Laertus. However, relatives of the brides go after him. Odyssey, assisted his father and son, and a few loyal servants defend themselves. Athena with the consent of Zeus permitted to intervene and restore peace and prosperity on Ithaca. Regardless that in language, style, metric and outlining heroes Odysseus is extremely similar to the Iliad, plot, mood and general atmosphere, it looks more like a fairy tale or a romantic story, the heroic epic. The central character Odysseus is the real hero, but he goes through his main adventures not on the battlefield, not the council, and among wizards, monsters and enemies at home. Therefore, agility and cunning he needed not less than the strength and courage.
Works Cited
Homer., and Richmond Lattimore. The Odyssey Of Homer. New York: Harper & Row, 1967. Print.
Murray, Gilbert. A History Of Ancient Greek Literature. New York: Frederick Ungar, 1966. Print.
Lowenstam, Steven et al. "The Odyssey Of Homer". The Classical World 88.1 (1994): 70. Web.
Vivante, Paolo, Homer, and Albert Cook. "Homer. The Odyssey. A New Verse Translation, Backgrounds, The Odyssey In Antiquity, Criticism". The Classical World 69.5 (1976): 338. Web.
Hays, Gregory et al. "[Plutarch]: "Essay On The Life And Poetry Of Homer"". The Classical World 92.2 (1998): 168. Web.
