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3.71 AVERAGE
3.71 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Reread this for the first time since high school. And wow. This might be one of the worst experiences I’ve ever had reading. I’m stunned by how mind-numbingly boring the Odyssey is. To be clear: I read the Iliad a few years ago and had a transcendent experience reading it. I absolutely adored it. The Odyssey is altogether different. Whereas the Iliad is filled with so many heroic and inspiring moments, and thought provoking, deep questions, the Odyssey is genuinely just the opposite. They basically eat the entire time. Feasting and hosting guests with hospitality. That’s actually what this is about. The iconic adventures we typically think of, with the Cyclops, the Sirens, etc., make up about 4 books out of 24. Everything else is some of the most tedious reading I’ve ever done. I deeply resented and hated most of the characters by the end. Every single motivation they have is about food or bodily comforts. One could almost interpret this entire story as being a cautionary tale about gluttony. I would not have even finished this if it wasn’t Homer (which is an entire field of scholarly study, of which I am now of the opinion that there is no way the same person wrote the Iliad and the Odyssey), and for the fact that I do want to read the Aeneid after this.
I now have the hot-take opinion that the Odyssey deserves to be forgotten.
I now have the hot-take opinion that the Odyssey deserves to be forgotten.
adventurous
informative
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Xeina - I would argue this is the main theme of The Odyssey with how much importance is emphasized on hospitality by the Gods, our main characters, and even the antagonists. I would argue most of my annotations were about xenia/xenos in the Odyssey. I really didn't expect this going into the story, but once you understand that xenia is a complex concept to the Greeks, you'll understand that the entire story resolves around it.
Unreliable Narrator - Listen. I really hope if you take anything away from the Odyssey, it's that “hero” does not equal “virtue.” The Greek translation of “hero” is literally closer to “warrior.” People can argue if Odyssey is a good man or not- I'm just gonna say he's an interesting narrator to follow. And that he's definitely a colonizer. Next.
Deceit - Take a shot everytime Homer and Wilson describe Odyssey as “cunning.” Ody lies, tricks, schemes, ect. It's no shocker that Athena shares this quality with him. I will say I found great joy in Penelope outwitting Odyssey with her own test in the end- she matches his freak…
Family/Home & Loyalty -
Penelope is such an interesting character with how much her story parallels Helen of Sparta. Although the Odyssey does provide enough context for the reader to understand how these two women resemble each other, I do want to read Wilson's translation of the Illiad in the future for a more in-depth analysis.
Telemachus is a wet tissue for most of this story, but wow does he try. It's interesting to see how much pressure he has as a “boy,” and what it took for him to “become a man” since his journey is the exact opposite of Odysseus’s journey.
Overall, I really like how Homer questions what exactly is a home and the relationships of family.
Gods/Mortals & Fate - Gods also ties in with xenia, but I wanted to focus more on the aspect that multiple characters knew that Odyssey's fate was to become cursed with eternal wandering?? Odyssey himself knew it would take him 20 years to comeback home before he left for troy!!! I was absolutely shocked. The concept of what is in people's fate and what isn't is such an interesting topic and I'm somewhat disappointed it's not fleshed out as much as other topics in the Odyssey… maybe because fate is just a given?
I could talk about the themes of gender, class, and power but then I would never get this review posted so I will continue rambling in my journal! Overall, I really enjoyed Wilson's translation of The Odyssey!!! I read a different translation years ago and this translation is not only more comprehensive, but has a certain rhythm that makes it feel like how Homer intended the story to be told.
Unreliable Narrator - Listen. I really hope if you take anything away from the Odyssey, it's that “hero” does not equal “virtue.” The Greek translation of “hero” is literally closer to “warrior.” People can argue if Odyssey is a good man or not- I'm just gonna say he's an interesting narrator to follow. And that he's definitely a colonizer. Next.
Deceit - Take a shot everytime Homer and Wilson describe Odyssey as “cunning.” Ody lies, tricks, schemes, ect. It's no shocker that Athena shares this quality with him. I will say I found great joy in Penelope outwitting Odyssey with her own test in the end- she matches his freak…
Family/Home & Loyalty -
Penelope is such an interesting character with how much her story parallels Helen of Sparta. Although the Odyssey does provide enough context for the reader to understand how these two women resemble each other, I do want to read Wilson's translation of the Illiad in the future for a more in-depth analysis.
Telemachus is a wet tissue for most of this story, but wow does he try. It's interesting to see how much pressure he has as a “boy,” and what it took for him to “become a man” since his journey is the exact opposite of Odysseus’s journey.
Overall, I really like how Homer questions what exactly is a home and the relationships of family.
Gods/Mortals & Fate - Gods also ties in with xenia, but I wanted to focus more on the aspect that multiple characters knew that Odyssey's fate was to become cursed with eternal wandering?? Odyssey himself knew it would take him 20 years to comeback home before he left for troy!!! I was absolutely shocked. The concept of what is in people's fate and what isn't is such an interesting topic and I'm somewhat disappointed it's not fleshed out as much as other topics in the Odyssey… maybe because fate is just a given?
I could talk about the themes of gender, class, and power but then I would never get this review posted so I will continue rambling in my journal! Overall, I really enjoyed Wilson's translation of The Odyssey!!! I read a different translation years ago and this translation is not only more comprehensive, but has a certain rhythm that makes it feel like how Homer intended the story to be told.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Infidelity, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
adventurous
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
If you read only one book in your whole life this should be the one.
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
This is the best translation of this book into English. It has not been publicized well like some of the inferior older translations. It is also the most underrated. It has not been on the radar of professors across the country, but should be the choice of all, and probably will be once they start reading it and it gains more attention.
The chief quality which distinguishes it from other translations is the preservation of the original meter (albeit adapted for accent rather than quantity). Thus it conveys the musicality of the original quite well.
Another good aspect is the use throughout of solid, conservative language that does not jar, but is free of both archaisms and colloquialisms. The names are generally in a more correct Greek spelling (to the joy of professors everywhere), with Ks (instead of Cs) and diaereses to help with pronunciation.
Rodney Merrill understands epic poetry as well as poetic language. It is clear that he has a firm grasp on the big picture and full ability in finessing every word and phrase for the right nuance, without unfairly promoting any certain school of interpretation.
The chief quality which distinguishes it from other translations is the preservation of the original meter (albeit adapted for accent rather than quantity). Thus it conveys the musicality of the original quite well.
Another good aspect is the use throughout of solid, conservative language that does not jar, but is free of both archaisms and colloquialisms. The names are generally in a more correct Greek spelling (to the joy of professors everywhere), with Ks (instead of Cs) and diaereses to help with pronunciation.
Rodney Merrill understands epic poetry as well as poetic language. It is clear that he has a firm grasp on the big picture and full ability in finessing every word and phrase for the right nuance, without unfairly promoting any certain school of interpretation.
