The World of Odysseus Essay - 2126 Words

The World of Odysseus was written by Sir Moses I. Finley, and it is an in depth analysis of the Iliad and the Odyssey. The period in history that helped to produce these two phenomenal works is veiled with uncertainty due to the fact that an actual written history doesnt exist. Homer put his history of the period together from the traditional custom of oral poetic story telling that originated from the late Dark Age and early Archaic Period. The first three chapters of Finleys text provide the reader with an understanding of the Greek world so the information presented in the fourth and fifth chapters is easier to understand. The first chapter introduces the world of the Greeks, their exposure to writing, the importance of Homer,†¦show more content†¦Finley ends his first chapter by noting that he believes that Greek history commenced with the world of Odysseus and like all history had an extensive story behind it. In the second chapter Finley explains why he believes the world of Odysseus was not the Mycenaean Age or the world in which Homer lived, but the intervening period-- the Dark Age. Finley also describes the adjustments the Iliad and Odyssey received from the archaic period of ancient Greece on. Finleys second chapter deals with Greek heroes and the bards that told of them throughout Greeces age of heroes. Bards were illiterate, so for them to pass on traditional stories about Greek heroic figures, they had to commit entire poems like the Iliad and the Odyssey to memory. This chapter begins with discussion of the story of the different ages of man was developed and how it began with four phases, but later, when Hesiod worked with the tale, it gained another phase. The Greeks applied metal names to the different ages in order to create a written history. The time of heroes is discussed in more detail in this chapter. Homer was given credit for having been an expert on the subject . Although, Homer was knowledgeable on the subject, he and Hesiod cared little about history in its modern sense. This caused the information the scholars possessed about the bards and heroes of the time to beShow MoreRelatedCharacteristics Of Odysseus1440 Words   |  6 Pagesby Homer, Odysseus goes through this epic sea voyage that takes him nearly 10 years. Along the way, Odysseus faces many challenges he has to overcome in order to reach Ithaka, his home, but all his crew members end up dying because of Odysseus’ actions. Like the quote said by the Prophet Muhammad, Odysseus isn’t able to reach home quickly because of his arrogance and other flaws to his personality. Many readers will argue that Odysseus is a hero for returning home heroically, but Odysseus has manyRead MoreRough Draft Of The Odyssey By Homers The Odyssey716 Words   |  3 Pagesâ€Å"The Odyssey† Rough Draft In â€Å"The Odyssey† by Homer, Odysseus is on a journey home to Ithaca after helping the Greeks win the Trojan War. 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Homer writes about the history, symbolism, and the characters in The Odyssey. The Odyssey is about the Greek gods and heroes and their adventures (Makman). Odysseus is the main character, and he is going on a questRead MoreAnalysis Of Homer s The Odyssey1533 Words   |  7 Pagesideal reflection upon the very definition of heroism because it details the strenuous journey of Odysseus, a crafty hero whose key priority is to return home to his family. As one of the most prominent themes, The Odyssey carries forth the idea of heroism through the portrayal of Odysseus, and establishes a connection with the real world through the expression of life lessons. Consequently, Odysseus is characterized to serve as a role model for the successful hero because, after all, the poem isRead MoreOdyssey Essay : Heros Journey And Odyssey726 Words   |  3 PagesHero’s Journey and Odyssey Essay The â€Å"Odyssey,† written by Homer, is a long epic that describes King Odysseus’ journey back to his home from Troy. 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I find this quite funny for Odysseus was not obligated to say anything to theRead MoreThe Odyssey Thesis Paper1620 Words   |  7 Pagescontrol there hunger the world and its people would be a safer and happier place. In this epic hunger rules all. In the Odyssey Odysseus shows several types of hunger. One that stands out above others is Odysseus hunger for knowledge. Odysseus is always on a quest for knowledge. To him knowledge is more powerful than anything else. No other weapon can stand up to knowledge. This has put Odysseus and even his crew in much danger and trouble in â€Å"The Odyssey†. Odysseus shows his hunger for knowledgeRead MoreRepresentation Of Memory In Station Eleven And The Odyssey Of Homer1465 Words   |  6 Pageslinks Kirsten, Clark, and the Prophet together, affect their futures, and the relationships between them. In The Odyssey of Homer, Homer uses memory to convey the idea that characters, although separated, can be connected through a shared memory. 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