Book report for the odyssey
Book report for the odysseyThe Odyssey is an epic poem written in a series of 24 books. It is one of two epics written over 2500 years ago by the Western European poet, Homer. This epic joins Odysseus 10 years after the Trojan War. The story follows him as he attempts to return to his home in Ithaca where he reigns as King.
I am wiser after having read this book because this story taught me about some of the social practices of the Greeks. It taught me that men were dominant and women played a submissive role in their society. The themes in the story interest men: war, hunting, and problems of warriors while the things that interest women are left out completely or are dealt with briefly. In the Greek society, women were valued but participated in worldly affairs only with open approval from the men who directed their lives. Penelope, Odysseus' wife, waited 20 years for his return. Her patience and respect for her husband shows marriage fidelity. She is depicted as the perfect wife and mother.
The best aspects of The Odyssey are the exciting adventures Odysseus goes through and the explanations and descriptions of the conditions and scenery. Homer did not explain or describe things as clear as he could have; however, this was a good thing. It served to leave something up to the imagination and creativity of the reader. Odysseus struggles with extremely menacing foe such as a giant cyclops, Polyphemus, who eats Odysseus' men like bite-size candy and a six headed beast, able to devour men whole. Homer allows the imagination of the reader to come up with the details like the color and size of the creatures and what the surroundings look like.
Odysseus was away at Troy for 10 years fighting a long, difficult war. Unfortunately for Odysseus the war was just the beginning of his adventure. His journey home turned out to be filled with mishaps.
First, his ship was separated from the rest of the other ships in a furious storm causing him to wash up in the land of the Lotus eaters (perhaps Libya). Eating the lotus-fruit would make you forget everything except a desire to stay on the island. Some men had to be dragged back to the ship to overcome their desires. Next they went to the island of the Cyclops (huge, one-eyed giants). A cyclops by the name of Polyphemus spotted the sailors, captured them, and kept them in his cave so he could eat them later. Odysseus told the giant his name was "Nobody." Each morning the cyclops let his sheep out to graze, but never did he let a man escape. He ate all those who tried! Eventually, the men who were still alive devised a plan to escape. Odysseus first found a stick big enough to damage the Cyclops' eye and, the minute...
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