Homer- The Odyssey
Homer’s epic poem, The Odyssey, was originally performed as a song. The poem is full of devices and compositional techniques that were used by the poet and which contributed to the oral tradition of the poem. Other methods were used by the improvising poet in order to make the task easier as well as to lyrically improve the story which was being narrated. The Odyssey is made up of 24 books, representing the 24 letters of the greek alphabet. The poem was originally performed by a bard and the poem would be performed partly, depending on the request of the audience.
According to Foley John Miles (2007), regardless of the versions which we have today of The Illiad or The Odyssey, an ancient Greek oral storytelling tradition …show more content…
While studying Homer’s The Odyssey, we should keep in mind the traditions which were prominent during that period. The giving and receiving of xenia is a moral value of utmost importance in the poem. All throughout the poem we witness this tradition being respected at its level best. Going to war or on a journey is also another great tradition whereby one is considered as brave and strong. Telemachus for instance, is almost ordered by Athena to go on a journey in order to seek information about his father. His departure would turn the little boy who had no control over the suitors into a man, the son of the great Odysseus. The repetition of these scene clusters helps to remind the audience of the tradition prevailing during that era. Since this Homeric poem is a fictional poem, we are put into the context and the culture in …show more content…
As Irene J.F Dejong argued, the nature of the poem is oral but at the same time it is a narration. Since originally, there was no written form of the poem, no quotation marks such as inverted commas could be used. Therefore, the poet would make use of different ways to make a smooth transition from the narration of the story to a kind of direct speech or a conversation between the characters. As she mentions, “ as a result of the large number of speeches in Homer, the introductory and capping verses tend to be highly formulaic ”. For instance, the poet makes more than often use of verses such as “Thus he spoke” or “And to him/her spoke in answer Odysseus of many devices”. Thus, this transition would not compromise the lyrical tone and rhythm of the poem.
Nearly every time we hear about Odysseus in The Odyssey, an epithet follows. This also happens with the Gods and Goddesses which we see such as Zeus, Poseidon or Athena. The repetition of these epithets clearly serves a purpose in the
Homer’s epic poem, The Odyssey, was originally performed as a song. The poem is full of devices and compositional techniques that were used by the poet and which contributed to the oral tradition of the poem. Other methods were used by the improvising poet in order to make the task easier as well as to lyrically improve the story which was being narrated. The Odyssey is made up of 24 books, representing the 24 letters of the greek alphabet. The poem was originally performed by a bard and the poem would be performed partly, depending on the request of the audience.
According to Foley John Miles (2007), regardless of the versions which we have today of The Illiad or The Odyssey, an ancient Greek oral storytelling tradition …show more content…
While studying Homer’s The Odyssey, we should keep in mind the traditions which were prominent during that period. The giving and receiving of xenia is a moral value of utmost importance in the poem. All throughout the poem we witness this tradition being respected at its level best. Going to war or on a journey is also another great tradition whereby one is considered as brave and strong. Telemachus for instance, is almost ordered by Athena to go on a journey in order to seek information about his father. His departure would turn the little boy who had no control over the suitors into a man, the son of the great Odysseus. The repetition of these scene clusters helps to remind the audience of the tradition prevailing during that era. Since this Homeric poem is a fictional poem, we are put into the context and the culture in …show more content…
As Irene J.F Dejong argued, the nature of the poem is oral but at the same time it is a narration. Since originally, there was no written form of the poem, no quotation marks such as inverted commas could be used. Therefore, the poet would make use of different ways to make a smooth transition from the narration of the story to a kind of direct speech or a conversation between the characters. As she mentions, “ as a result of the large number of speeches in Homer, the introductory and capping verses tend to be highly formulaic ”. For instance, the poet makes more than often use of verses such as “Thus he spoke” or “And to him/her spoke in answer Odysseus of many devices”. Thus, this transition would not compromise the lyrical tone and rhythm of the poem.
Nearly every time we hear about Odysseus in The Odyssey, an epithet follows. This also happens with the Gods and Goddesses which we see such as Zeus, Poseidon or Athena. The repetition of these epithets clearly serves a purpose in the