The Odyssey

Homer's Odysseus is a vitally basic work of world literature, but oh, so confusing as reading experience. Over ten years ago I read a poem-version Finnish translversi of it in a reading group. Notes from that and these are like made from two different books. In the Finnish translation Greek-derived names of people and gods has been used, here instead Latin-based. This in itself is confusing for the inconvenience, until you get used to it. Another difference is thitinstead verse translation and this outspoken, yet somehow poetic-bound unusual prose text.The work and activity, the general course of events is quite clear, as long as it is kept in mind that they are not told as events as they occur, but afterwardas as a travel account. Here a terrible number of people and gods are included. Only a limited number of activities and a vague impression of the importance of things fasten in mind. When reading you cannot avoid comparing life now and then. Odyssian life seems to be concentrated to more essential things than is our life. Just eating, drinking, dressing, and homemaking get more attention than in our life. All the action is in every respect more grandiose than it is now. People are gathered in big numbers. Whole pigs will be eaten, a lot of washing, rough behavior. Fighting for petty reasons, ruthless killing, but also generous treating: clothes, lavish gifts are given.The difference in the relationship between man and god is really great. This of course, because of the fundamental difference between the polytheistic and monotheistic religions. We have only one God who is behind everything and decides everything perfectly. Ulysse's gods are many and they are dedicated to specific issues. There are contradictions between the gods and not just between people and in human relations to the gods. But the gods are also closer to the people and behave like people. While here man is created as image of God, Odyssian gods are vice versa enlarged pictures of man.Are there any books to which this unique story could be compared? Yes, to similar works of polytheistic worldview, such as the Kalevala, which also describes a journey, Sampo robbery and acquiring it back to its original use as the source of general well-being. Because the world of the Kalevala is more human and refined, it is in my eyes more appealing than the heights of mountains and jagged environments of Odyssean world.Although the plot is clear and justified, a question remains: Why does not Odysseus straight away go to meet Penelope? So would a hero of our world undoubtedly have done.However, no way avoiding full five stars, mainly for the clarity and great features of the plot.

Gives some history on Homer and how he came to be what he was. This is something I wish they'd stop doing with these old books--I want to read the book. I would accept a small biography section, but...I digress.It's very hard to understand due mainly (I think) to how old the words were and the resulting translation. It's like reading a book by Dante, or "Paradise Lost."I love reading, though, so I soldiered on. If you love reading and don't mind having to mentally translate certain words, or look some up, it'll be good for you.

I agree with other reviewers who were distracted by the Kindle presentation that strung the iambic pentameter couplets into paragraphs and distorted the poetic structure of the tale. Once I got into the sense and rhythm of the story, however, the appearance became less important than the substance of Homer's epic. This version of the Odyssey is a translation by English poet Alexander Pope, first published in 1726. It has a Shakespearean quality to it that, for me, captures the feel of something ancient, but universal. The introductory summary for each of the 24 "Arguments" helped to clarify some of the confusion that would otherwise exist in the subsequent text. Pope's frequent use of Roman names for the gods of a singularly Greek world bothered me some, but probably should be allowed the benefit of poetic license. I was overwhelmed by the ability of Homer (through Pope) to capture the violence of the climactic exaction of Ulysses' revenge. All in all, a tale well told, deserving of its place in classic literature, and certainly worth the time spent reading and enjoying it.

My children tell me this poem is not required reading in school any longer, but then it wasn't when I was in high school in the 1970's either. Western Civ was crammed into a semester. Understand who and what you are in an hour a day over a term. Yeah I am sure that is going to work out. But I got a drivers license and that at least identified my gender.Otherwise lost in this age I decided to go back to the beginning, and like our hero depart this never never land the nymph Calypso tells me I am in where all is beautiful and there is no mortality. Ulysses knows who he is and leaves, preferring humanity.In contrast we are unmoored from all we have been before. We have no epic mythology that tells us who we are. Instead we are informed by the cyclops television, desktop computer or smart phone. How reliable are the stories these things tell live by?What I learned from Ulysses was I had the power to sharpen a stick and poke these monsters in the eye. Then set sail for Ithaca.

Point: All the perils, deception, and monsters in the ancient world could not keep the hero Ulysses from returning to his home after the destruction of Troy.Path: Homer takes the reader on an epic adventure through the Greek world of ships, storms, gods, and battle. Set in poetic verse, this ancient rhyme rings of man's life in the shadow of the gods. At times they smile upon the finite man, and at others they seek to crush his frail existence.Agreement: This was an exciting story, told with great descriptions and flowing words. The arrangement of story told and retold added to the suspense of the adventure.Disagreement: The dated english mixed with the various names of greek gods made it difficult to follow all the conversations. The format of this kindle book also made it harder since the poetry was reduced to rhyming paragraphs.Favorite Quotes: "Beauty unchaste is beauty in disgrace." "Be thy soul at rest; and know, whatever heaven ordains is best." "Of all the ills unhappy mortals know, a life of wanderings is the greatest woe."It would be worth another read and I would recommend it.*I would recommend listening to Josh Garrel's song, Ulysses, after reading this.

OBRA PRIMA :)

I'm revisisting the classics because...well...let's face It...I don't remember them anymore so it's like reading them the first time.

An all time classic and must read

The Odyssey, although a piece of writing that is not too simple to understand, is one of the most brilliant masterpieces of Greek literature. Full of events and heroic characters (or not), the events will certainly involve you. Excellent edition for the study of Greek.How can you not read this masterpiece to which so many writers / artists have been inspired and compared? Our life is this journey that Homer undertakes ...

Written by Homer, which in Ancient Greek means "the man who cannot see", The Odyssey is one of the best books written in ancient times, and is a mixture of Mythology and History. Based on an historical event, such as the war between the Greeks and the city of Troy, The Odyssey is about the journey which Ulysses underwent to go back from Troy to his island, Ithaca, where his wife and family was waiting for him.The war against Troy took 10 years to end, and Ulysses will need another ten years to go back home in a series of adventures. The Book provides a good idea of human beings' life, feelings and habits in the centuries before Christ.