The Odyssey

11 Pages 2705 Words

“THE ODYSSEY” AS A HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL REPRESENTATION OF
RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THE PEOPLE AND THE GODS AND GODDESSES OF MT.
OLYMPUS
The overall objective of this research paper is to identify and discuss “The
Odyssey,” by Homer during his journey of Odysseus following the Fall of Troy. It was
during this sojourn that Odysseus encounters various characters, and gods as previously
indicated, which represent the essential source for this study including the primary source.
It is true that the story is set within the context of the Trojan War, but it has been argued
by scholars for a long time as to the factuality’s of the events in this story. Overall, it is a
tale of adventure and homecoming after a long absence. It has even been debated whether
or not the story took place during Greek times or pre-Greek times. Nevertheless, the story
is alive with characters and adventures. I believe that more than anything, Homer’s “The
Odyssey” is an exercise in the meaning of story telling through song and other aspects in
“The Odyssey,” including lying and the lore, as I shall explain. Homer’s “The Odyssey,” is
basically the story of the wanderings of Odysseus, but it is not in the form of a continuous
narrative that this story is told. Clearly, “The Odyssey” incorporates materials that are
older than the poem itself, and foremost among them in all likelihood was the tale of
Odysseus’ wanderings immediately falling the Fall of Troy which is narrated by Odysseus
at the banquet given in his honor by the Phaeaceans. This narration may well have
constituted a separate poem or lie which was worked into a longer narrative by a later
poet whom we know as Homer and his primary concern was not with the adventures of
Odysseus but with his relationship with his wife and son. This later poet undoubtedly had
to deal with the character of Odysseus as it was then current in folk lore - ...