Homer The Odyssey [Paperback]

This handy guide will introduce students to a text that has been fundamental to literature for nearly 3000 years.This handy guide to The Odyssey will introduce students to a text, which has been fundamental to literature for nearly 3000 years. It gives readers a summary of the poem and examines its structure. The unity, values and techniques of the poem are clearly outlined, as are the reasons for its longstanding appeal. Students will discover the essential themes of loyalty and betrayal, and will be guided through the narrative of Odysseus' adventures, in addition, the volume offers a helpful guide to further reading.This handy guide to The Odyssey will introduce students to a text, which has been fundamental to literature for nearly 3000 years. It gives readers a summary of the poem and examines its structure. The unity, values and techniques of the poem are clearly outlined, as are the reasons for its longstanding appeal. Students will discover the essential themes of loyalty and betrayal, and will be guided through the narrative of Odysseus' adventures, in addition, the volume offers a helpful guide to further reading.This handy guide to The Odyssey introduces students to a text which has been fundamental to literature for nearly 3,000 years. Providing a summary of the poem and examining its structure, Jasper Griffin clearly outlines the unity, values and techniques of the poem, as well as the reasons for its longstanding appeal. Students will discover the essential themes of loyalty and betrayal, and will be guided through the narrative of Odysseus' adventures, in addition to a helpful guide to further reading. First Edition Hb (1987): 0-521-32804-7 First Edition Pb (1987): 0-521-31043-1Preface; Part I. The Making of the Odyssey: 1. The background of the Odyssey; 2. The date of the Odyssey; 3. Bards and oral poetry; 4. The language of the Odyssey and the 'formulaic system'; 5. Is the Odyssey an oral poem?; 6. Alternative Odysseys?; 7. How the poem comes dol3a