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Research Topics for the Odyssey

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Research Topics for the Odyssey Research Topics for The Odyssey Authorship – There are a few modern theories about who Homer was and how the epic was composed. Was there a single author behind this story, or was it a collaboration of multiple authors? Explain the origin of the various theories and how their exploration of the “Homeric Question” informs our reading. The Epic Genre – What is an epic? What are the goals of this particular genre of poem? What are the characteristics of an epic? How does The Odyssey measure up against other epics of world literature? Geography – Our print version of The Odyssey presents three maps in the Introduction (pgs. 68-73). Use those maps to explain for us the Homeric geography of ancient Greece and the Mediterranean Sea. How do those maps help us read the story? Mythology – Homer’s original audience was totally familiar with the gods and goddesses of Greek culture. Provide some background for those of us who don’t know the ancient pantheon. What do we need to know about Zeus, Athena, Hermes, Poseidon, and the others in order to appreciate The Odyssey? Begin your research by considering Bernard Knox’s explanation on pages 41-48 in our book. Political/Social Structure – The Odyssey assumes a pre-modern view of the Mediterranean world—a world of kings and queens, warriors and princesses, prophets, priests, and the rest. Teach us something about the structure and function of these fiefdoms, like Ithaca, Sparta, and Troy, so that we comprehend the story better. Ancient Seafaring – Travel around the Mediterranean in ships is an important component of The Odyssey. What do historians have to teach us about their ships and the technology of travel, trade, and warfare upon the ocean? Ancient Warfare – The story of The Odyssey is the story of a man returning from the Trojan War. What sort of weapons were used in ancient battle? How were armies transported and deployed? What do we know, if anything, of the war between Sparta and Troy? The Art of Translation – We can’t read Homer’s original text. But scholars of the ancient Greek language can, and their attempts to translate for us provide our only access to the ancient stories. Study Robert Fagles’ “Translator’s Postscript” on pages 489-496 of our book. Summarize for us the particular challenges Fagles faced in this daunting task and examine his chief discoveries in the long process of translating Homer. The Trojan War – What do we know about the Trojan War? Examine the work of Heinrich Schliemann and his archeological discoveries in Turkey. What can you teach us about the historical research into this major military campaign that informs our reading of The Odyssey? Background on The Odyssey – Bernard Knox, a scholar of ancient history, has written the Introduction to the Fagles translation. Study his explanation of the poem on pages 3-11 of our book. Summarize his main points, highlighting information we need in order to appreciate the story. Textual History – The Odyssey has a long history as both an oral and written text. Study Bernard Knox’s explanation (pages 12-22) of the problems presented in a text like this, and help us understand how this information might serve our needs as modern readers of the story. The Odyssey as Sequel – Briefly tell us the story of Homer’s other epic, The Illiad, and explain how knowledge of that story helps us appreciate The Odyssey. Begin with Bernard Knox’s explanation on pages 23-24 of our book, but freely bring in any other helpful sources. Spelling & Pronunciation – Look at Bernard Knox’s brief essay on this subject in our book, on pages 65-67, as well as the extended Pronunciation Guide in the back of our book. Give us a brief lesson on pronouncing the names in this story, including any helpful hints you discover along the way. The Hero’s Journey – The modern scholar of mythology, Joseph Campbell, and others, have explained the pattern (or story template) for many of the ancient hero stories in which a central hero takes (or is sent on) a journey and returns forever changed. Research the topic of the hero and apply your knowledge to Odysseus. In what ways does he measure up to other heroes? In what ways is he unique? Ritual Sacrifice – The Odyssey depicts religious rituals that include both food and drink—sacrifices and libations. What can you tell us about the sacrificing of animals to the gods that helps us appreciate this behavior in The Odyssey? When was it appropriate to slaughter an animal, and how was it presented to the gods? What outcome was hoped for? Death and Burial – Beliefs about death and the afterlife in ancient Greece come into play in The Odyssey, as Odysseus visits the land of the dead, and is charged with the proper burial of one of his soldiers. Briefly explain how beliefs about death and the afterlife inform our reading of the story. What other topics does your reading of The Odyssey raise for you that a little research might help to address? Consider the “three worlds” of our reading heuristic—the world behind the text, the world within the text, and the world in front of the text. .
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