I saw Casablanca for the first time yesterday. It is, suffice to say, one of the best movies I have ever seen.
Monday, December 29, 2008
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Comparison of the Homeric Epics
On my Classical Literature final last Tuesday, there was an essay question asking which of Homer's epics, the Iliad or the Odyssey, I preferred. This question has come up again several times in conversations with various people. But how can such a question be answered? The epics are equally famous, equally great and have each made an impact upon society. Each one is interesting and inspirational in its own way. To prefer one over the other should therefore require a more careful analysis of the story itself, and not merely a personal opinion.
The question of the preferred poem becomes more difficult when the genres of the poem are taken into account. The Iliad is a war story, and a tragedy: Achilles' tragic flaw is his bitter anger, which causes the deaths of many of his men, including his best friend. Achilles avenges Patroklos, but his actions have caused him to fall into a state of mourning, and he awaits his foretold death. The Odyssey, is a plot-oriented, adventurous story of Odysseus' journey and return home. It has a complete story with an ending favorable to the protagonist, with Odysseus' return and the restoration of his defiled household. One reader may prefer one or the other based on the structure of the plot, but since the plots are of different genres, they cannot be the sole cause of one's opinion concerning the superority of either epic.
Perhaps it is better to analyze which of the epics utilizes its given structure in a better way. A good story, indeed, needs a strong, gripping plot. The Iliad may be a tragedy, but much of the action has little to do with the story's conclusion, instead being detailed descriptions of every battle. While these battle scenes may be exciting to the reader, they are not plot driven, and do not add to the tension of the story. The Odyssey has a more prevalent plot throughout the story, with each event adding to the tension. Each time a servant recognizes Odysseus, it adds to the reader's interest in the story as the hero prepares for the inevitable battle. The battle at the end is the climax of the plot, not merely another bloodbath, as it is the awaited scene that has been foreshadowed throughout the previous chapters. The detail in Odysseus' battle against the suitors is not simply to add to the excitement, but to tell the reader how the story ends.
The ending of the story and the author's use of foreshadowing is another factor that differentiates the epics. In the Iliad, it is declared halfway into the story that Patroklos will be slain by Hektor and avenged by Achilles. This blatant foreshadowing gives away the plot twists before they happen. In the Odyssey, the prophecies point to Odysseus' battle with the suitors, but the plot does not rely on these prophecies: it develops independent of them, with Odysseus suffering many trials while disguised as a beggar, and choosing to whom he ought to reveal his identity. The reader of the Odyssey knows of the inevitable battle, but the outcome is not openly revealed, allowing tension to rise up to the climax.
The Odyssey can thus be declared the better story. Although it has perhaps less action than the Iliad, it has a well-constructed plot, with every element leading to a climax. The Iliad explains what events will happen and then allows them to happen, but the Odyssey is more vague about these things, focusing instead on how Odysseus cleverly makes his return. I therefore prefer the Odyssey for its being a more complete, plot-driven story.
The question of the preferred poem becomes more difficult when the genres of the poem are taken into account. The Iliad is a war story, and a tragedy: Achilles' tragic flaw is his bitter anger, which causes the deaths of many of his men, including his best friend. Achilles avenges Patroklos, but his actions have caused him to fall into a state of mourning, and he awaits his foretold death. The Odyssey, is a plot-oriented, adventurous story of Odysseus' journey and return home. It has a complete story with an ending favorable to the protagonist, with Odysseus' return and the restoration of his defiled household. One reader may prefer one or the other based on the structure of the plot, but since the plots are of different genres, they cannot be the sole cause of one's opinion concerning the superority of either epic.
Perhaps it is better to analyze which of the epics utilizes its given structure in a better way. A good story, indeed, needs a strong, gripping plot. The Iliad may be a tragedy, but much of the action has little to do with the story's conclusion, instead being detailed descriptions of every battle. While these battle scenes may be exciting to the reader, they are not plot driven, and do not add to the tension of the story. The Odyssey has a more prevalent plot throughout the story, with each event adding to the tension. Each time a servant recognizes Odysseus, it adds to the reader's interest in the story as the hero prepares for the inevitable battle. The battle at the end is the climax of the plot, not merely another bloodbath, as it is the awaited scene that has been foreshadowed throughout the previous chapters. The detail in Odysseus' battle against the suitors is not simply to add to the excitement, but to tell the reader how the story ends.
The ending of the story and the author's use of foreshadowing is another factor that differentiates the epics. In the Iliad, it is declared halfway into the story that Patroklos will be slain by Hektor and avenged by Achilles. This blatant foreshadowing gives away the plot twists before they happen. In the Odyssey, the prophecies point to Odysseus' battle with the suitors, but the plot does not rely on these prophecies: it develops independent of them, with Odysseus suffering many trials while disguised as a beggar, and choosing to whom he ought to reveal his identity. The reader of the Odyssey knows of the inevitable battle, but the outcome is not openly revealed, allowing tension to rise up to the climax.
The Odyssey can thus be declared the better story. Although it has perhaps less action than the Iliad, it has a well-constructed plot, with every element leading to a climax. The Iliad explains what events will happen and then allows them to happen, but the Odyssey is more vague about these things, focusing instead on how Odysseus cleverly makes his return. I therefore prefer the Odyssey for its being a more complete, plot-driven story.
Welcome to this Blog
I have, at last, started the blog that I have been planning to write. I have decided to create this blog to post thoughts and ideas for discussion. Obviously, being young and foolish, some of my ideas may be inaccurate or incorrect, so feel free to correct me where I am wrong.
If you are posting comments, please do not post any offensive material, or flame anyone. Thank you.
If you are posting comments, please do not post any offensive material, or flame anyone. Thank you.
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