The Odyssey - Homer

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Résumé :
From some points of view it is impossible to take the Odyssey seriously enough; from others, it is impossible to take it seriously at all; but from which ever point of view it be regarded, its beauty is alike unsurpassable. The Odyssey is one of two major ancient Greek epic poems attributed to Homer. The poem mainly focuses on the Greek hero Odysseus (known as Ulysses in Roman myth), king of Ithaca, and his journey home after the fall of Troy. It takes Odysseus ten years to reach Ithaca after the ten-year Trojan War. In his absence, Odysseus is assumed to have died, due to which his wife Penelope and son Telemachus must deal with a group of unruly suitors who compete for Penelope's hand in marriage.

Biographie:
Homer, the legendary ancient Greek poet, is traditionally credited with composing The Iliad and The Odyssey, two foundational epics of Western literature. Believed to have lived in the 8th or 7th century BC, Homer's works are set in the context of the Trojan War and its aftermath, drawing on the rich oral storytelling traditions of ancient Greece. His epics not only narrate heroic exploits but also delve deeply into human emotions and moral dilemmas, showcasing a profound understanding of the human condition.The details of Homer's life remain shrouded in mystery, and scholars have long debated his historical existence. He is often portrayed as a blind bard, though this depiction is largely symbolic and unverified. The Homeric Question, a scholarly debate about whether the two epics were composed by a single individual or evolved through collective oral tradition, reflects the complex origins of these texts. Regardless, Homer's works became central to Greek education and culture, serving as moral and literary exemplars.Homer's influence extends far beyond antiquity, shaping the literary canon and inspiring generations of writers, artists, and thinkers. His epics introduced timeless themes of heroism, fate, and the pursuit of knowledge, resonating across cultures and eras. As the earliest surviving works of Greek literature, they provide invaluable insights into the mythology, religion, and social structures of ancient Greece, solidifying Homer's status as a cornerstone of Western literary heritage....

Sommaire:
Ancient readers and hearers, Greek and Latin, considered the poems printed here in translation to be the work of Homer, composer of the Iliad and the Odyssey, so they shared the great authority of the epics. Though we do not know their specific authors, they remain important sources of the mythical tales they recount. The Frog-Mouse-Battle occurs with countless variations in about as many manuscripts as the Odyssey, the most popular of all epics, thereby suggesting its use for instruction in the Byzantine empire, where the MSS of the poem were transcribed. The many variations in these MSS may indicate that some of the writers were teachers adapting the poem to their particular classroom needs. The translator has published dactylic-hexameter translations of the Iliad and the Odyssey at the University of Michigan Press, and privately of the Oresteia of Aeschylus, the Argonautica of Apollonius Rhodius, the Idylls of Theocritus, and Menander's Dyskolos, The Curmudgeon. He is currently working on translations of the works of Virgil, Homer's greatest follower in the Roman world....