Tuesday, January 29, 2019

READING NOTES: HOMER'S ODYSSEY PART A

Homer's Odyssey as translated into English by Tony Kline, Web Link
Part A


I love how descriptive the story is translated by Tony Kline. In the very beginning we are introduced to the land of the Cyclops. Cyclops are a group of people that don't do any work themselves, but depend solely on immortal goods. Zeus is their source of water for crops, they don't have council meetings, basically don't have to lift a finger. Along the journey, Odysseus and his crew come upon a cave. They knew when they approached the cave that it belonged to Cyclops when they saw baskets and baskets of lambs and cheese. Odysseus tried to use his wit and charm to get by the Cyclops, but the Cyclops did not fall for it. As the Cyclops would carry on his daily duties, casually he ate a couple of Odysseus's men everyday. Odysseus was smart to give the Cyclops wine to maybe win him over so he could continue his journey. Thinking it through, Odysseus was very strategic, he got the Cyclops drunk and told the Cyclops his name was "Nobody." When the time was right Odysseus and the men left stabbed the Cyclops in his eye as he screamed in pain he yelled, “Nobody, my friends, is trying to kill me by violence or treachery.” And they were able to escape with ease, the plan worked!

Even though Greek mythology stories can be sometimes hard to follow with the complicated names and mythical creatures, I enjoy the style of this story a lot. It's more entertaining than I anticipated. When I think of a Greek story that's been around for awhile, I think of it to sound like an old folktale. However, that was not the case and I was consistently intrigued by Homer's Odyssey. Odysseus is quite the charmer and his witty personality really shines through this story. I hope to carry that same charisma throughout my story



Image: Web Link

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