People and Themes in Homer's Odyssey [Paperback]

Published in 1970, this important work interprets the poem with a focus on the idiosyncrasies of its originally oral composition.

In part I, the main themes of the Odyssey such as guest-friendship and testing are investigated. The incorporation of these and other themes, such as omens and the homecomings of the Achaeans, into the dramatic construction of the whole epic is also examined. In Part II, the main characters of the Odyssey are described: the Suitors, Telemachus, Odysseus and Penelope. So too are Theoclymenus and Laertes, whom traditional criticism has maligned or disregarded. The analysis of the characters tries to illumine features which are challenging for the contemporary reader. In the conclusion, the plan of the Odyssey is reconstructed. The author argues that it would probably have been performed over the course of three days: two sessions each day, with each recitation maintaining its own artistic unity.

Introduction  Part I: Themes and Composition in the Odyssey  1. The Homecomings of the Achaeans  2. The Wanderings of Odysseus  3. Guest-Friendship  4. Testing  5. Omens  Part II: The People in the Odyssey  6. Theoclymenus  7. The Suitors  8. Telemachus  9. Odysseus  10. Penelope  11. Laertes  Conclusion: The Structure of the Odyssey