[PDF] Para Narratives In The Odyssey eBook

Author : Maureen Alden
Publisher : Oxford University Press
Page : 445 pages
File Size : 22,91 MB
Release : 2017-09-15
Category : Literary Criticism
ISBN : 0192524283

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Readers coming to the Odyssey for the first time are often dazzled and bewildered by the wealth of material it contains which is seemingly unrelated to the central story: the main plot of Odysseus' return to Ithaca is complicated by myriad secondary narratives related by the poet and his characters, including Odysseus' own fantastic tales of Lotus Eaters, Sirens, and cannibal giants. Although these 'para-narratives' are a source of pleasure and entertainment in their own right, each also has a special relevance to its immediate context, elucidating Odysseus' predicament and also subtly influencing and guiding the audience's reception of the main story. By exploring variations on the basic story-shape, drawing on familiar tales, anecdotes, and mythology, or inserting analogous situations, they create illuminating parallels to the main narrative and prompt specific responses in readers or listeners. This is the case even when details are suppressed or altered, as the audience may still experience the reverberations of the better-known version of the tradition, and it also applies to the characters themselves, who are often provided with a model of action for imitation or avoidance in their immediate contexts.

Author : Maureen Joan Alden
Publisher :
Page : 424 pages
File Size : 15,41 MB
Release : 2017
Category : LITERARY CRITICISM
ISBN : 9780191746963

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'Para-Narratives in the Odyssey' is a full-length study in English of the function and significance of secondary 'para-narratives' in the poem and their relationship to its main story. Entertaining in their own right, they create illuminating parallels to their immediate context and enhance our understanding of the central narrative

Author : Maureen Alden
Publisher : Oxford University Press
Page : 437 pages
File Size : 29,6 MB
Release : 2017-09-15
Category : Literary Criticism
ISBN : 0192524275

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Readers coming to the Odyssey for the first time are often dazzled and bewildered by the wealth of material it contains which is seemingly unrelated to the central story: the main plot of Odysseus' return to Ithaca is complicated by myriad secondary narratives related by the poet and his characters, including Odysseus' own fantastic tales of Lotus Eaters, Sirens, and cannibal giants. Although these 'para-narratives' are a source of pleasure and entertainment in their own right, each also has a special relevance to its immediate context, elucidating Odysseus' predicament and also subtly influencing and guiding the audience's reception of the main story. By exploring variations on the basic story-shape, drawing on familiar tales, anecdotes, and mythology, or inserting analogous situations, they create illuminating parallels to the main narrative and prompt specific responses in readers or listeners. This is the case even when details are suppressed or altered, as the audience may still experience the reverberations of the better-known version of the tradition, and it also applies to the characters themselves, who are often provided with a model of action for imitation or avoidance in their immediate contexts.

Author : Stephen V. Tracy
Publisher : Princeton University Press
Page : 174 pages
File Size : 45,43 MB
Release : 2020-07-21
Category : Literary Criticism
ISBN : 069121641X

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Here Stephen Tracy offers a vivid, fast-paced narrative that serves as a reading guide to Homer's monumental epic. He not only provides translations of key passages and traces the evolution of major themes in the Odyssey, but also helps new readers to understand the artistry of one of the best tales ever told. Aimed at advanced readers as well, this book stresses an appreciation of how Homer has ordered his narrative, covering such topics as character interaction, family relationships, elements of poetic language, and the symbolic treatment of death, rebirth, growth, and knowledge. Given the controversy over the way the Odyssey was composed and handed down, Tracy concentrates on presenting the poem as a highly unified work. His analysis of the narrative structure reveals the epic to be arranged as a series of parallel journeys. The journey, seen here as a symbol of growth and self-knowledge, is among the major themes discussed in detail, along with the importance of women as overseers of life's journeys and the need for the sons of heroes to grow up worthy of their fathers.

Author : H. L. Havell
Publisher :
Page : 124 pages
File Size : 10,30 MB
Release : 2016-12-07
Category :
ISBN : 9781540859372

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Stories from the Odyssey Homers Odyssey By H. L. Havell B.A. The Odyssey begins ten years after the end of the ten-year Trojan War (the subject of the Iliad), and Odysseus has still not returned home from the war. Odysseus' son Telemachus is about 20 years old and is sharing his absent father's house on the island of Ithaca with his mother Penelope and a crowd of 108 boisterous young men, "the Suitors," whose aim is to persuade Penelope to marry one of them, all the while enjoying the hospitality of Odysseus' household and eating up his wealth. Odysseus' protectress, the goddess Athena, discusses his fate with Zeus, king of the gods, at a moment when Odysseus' enemy, the god of the sea Poseidon, is absent from Mount Olympus. Then, disguised as a Taphian chieftain named Mentes, she visits Telemachus to urge him to search for news of his father. He offers her hospitality; they observe the suitors dining rowdily while the bard Phemius performs a narrative poem for them. Penelope objects to Phemius' theme, the "Return from Troy," because it reminds her of her missing husband, but Telemachus rebuts her objections.

Author : Maureen Alden
Publisher : OUP Oxford
Page : 401 pages
File Size : 39,81 MB
Release : 2001-03-08
Category : Literary Criticism
ISBN : 0191590037

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Students reading the Iliad for the first time are often bewildered by the sheer volume of information on apparently unrelated subjects contained in it. The central narrative seems to unfold very slowly, and to be complicated by long speeches containing stories which might be interesting in themselves, but which seem to have no relevance to anything else. In this book Dr Alden offers advice on how to read the Iliad through the relationship of major paradigms to the events of the main narrative. The first section offers the first full-length study in English of the paradigmatic functions of secondary narratives and minor-key episodes in the Iliad. None of these are irrelevant or merely ornamental: rather each is carefully selected and altered if necessary, to reflect on significant episodes of the main narrative and act as guides to its interpretation. The second section offers a general reading of the Iliad arising out of Phoenix's advice to Achilles in Book 9. The allegory of the Prayers illustrates the dire consequences of rejecting prayers, and the paradigm of Meleager presents us with an instance of an angry hero to whom prayers and entreaties are addressed, whilst the primary narrative confines this motif of prayers and entreaties in ascending scale of affection to Achilles and Hector and contrasts their responses. Both heroes suffer terribly for their rejection of entreaties.

Author : Homer
Publisher : Good Press
Page : 187 pages
File Size : 33,27 MB
Release : 2023-08-12
Category : Literary Criticism
ISBN :

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In 'Stories from the Odyssey,' H.L. Havell offers a meticulously curated anthology that brings to life the rich tapestry of Homer's epic in a manner that is both accessible and engaging. This collection showcases a range of literary styles, from the grandeur of ancient heroism to the intimate moments of personal dilemma, capturing the essence of the Odyssey's sprawling adventure. Through Havell's lens, the diversity and significance of Homer's work are illuminated, allowing standout pieces to shine while maintaining a cohesive narrative thread that honors the source material. The anthology benefits immensely from Havell's own scholarly background and his profound understanding of Homeric literature. By drawing upon the epics age-old themessuch as the quest for home, the nature of heroism, and the complexity of human emotionsHavell bridges historical and cultural divides, offering readers a timeless exploration of the human condition. This collection stands at the confluence of various literary and cultural movements, showcasing the enduring relevance of ancient Greek literature in the modern world. 'Recommended for both aficionados of classical literature and newcomers alike, 'Stories from the Odyssey' provides a unique opportunity to immerse oneself in the myriad perspectives, themes, and literary styles of one of history's greatest epic tales. Havells collection is not just an academic exercise; it is an invitation to explore the depths of human experience through the lens of ancient myth. This anthology promises to enrich the reader's understanding, offering an unparalleled journey through the enchanting world of the Odyssey and its myriad interpretations across time and culture.

Author : Rosemary Sutcliff
Publisher : Laurel Leaf
Page : 162 pages
File Size : 40,82 MB
Release : 2005-12-13
Category : Young Adult Fiction
ISBN : 0553494821

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For Greek myth fans, those who can’t get enough of the D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths, and readers who have aged out of Rick Riordan, this classroom staple and mythology classic is perfect for learning about the ancient myths! King Odysseus and the Greeks have triumphed over the Trojans. At long last, they are able to set sail for home and the loving family Odysseus left behind. But for the heroic king, the return voyage holds hazards far greater than any he faced during the war. Forced by treacherous winds into unknown seas, Odysseus and his crew must face deadly perils: the flesh-eating Cyclops, Circe and her deadly enchantments, and the soul-chilling Land of the Dead and more. Rosemary Sutcliff’s reimagining of the classic epic The Odysseus is woven through with a spectacular cast of men, magicians, and monsters. Odysseus’ harrowing journey home to his family and kingdom tests the limits of his strength, and the power of his will. Homer's epic poem, The Odyssey, is one of the greatest adventure stories of all time and Rosemary Sutcliff stays true to the classic tale and characters in this authentic retelling rich with drama, magic, and heroism. Don’t miss Black Ships Before Troy, the companion to The Wanderings of Odysseus, and follow Odysseus and his crew as they fight in the epic battle against the Trojans.

Author : Carol Dougherty
Publisher : Oxford University Press
Page : 208 pages
File Size : 43,11 MB
Release : 2019-06-20
Category : Literary Criticism
ISBN : 0192543644

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Travel and Home in Homer's Odyssey and Contemporary Literature brings Homer's Odyssey together with contemporary literary texts ranging from Rebecca West's The Return of the Soldier to Marilynne Robinson's Housekeeping and Cormac McCarthy's The Road to produce new readings that reframe, reorient, and ultimately revise aspects of Homer's iconic story of travel and home. While some novels share with the Odyssey a celebration of the creative process of improvisation to rethink the relationship between home and travel, others draw upon nostalgia - our complicated longing for home - to unsettle the inevitability of return. Rather than offering an explicit retelling of Homer's poem, each of these novels prompts us to revisit the relationship between travel and home that Odysseus and Penelope embody to ask new questions of that well-read text. Does travel reinforce or destabilize our notion of home? Are mobility and domesticity irrevocably gendered, or can we imagine a world in which Penelope travels and Odysseus stays home? Just as Odysseus continually reinvents his own identity with each new encounter, both abroad and at home, so too we, as readers, participate in an improvisatory interpretive experiment of our own. This volume sets out a new model for reading ancient and contemporary texts together - one that challenges the conventional chronological assumptions inherent in many works of classical reception. No longer a stable text to which we as readers return time and again to find it the same, the Odyssey, together with the novels with which it engages, changes and adapts with each new literary encounter.