Recently, we completed Homer's, The Odyssey, in English class. Although, I cannot say I am not completely distraught that our time with The Odyssey has ended, I do feel somewhat disappointed. At the beginning of the Odyssey, I wasn't completely excited that we were reading it (all I saw was 400+ pages of reading). But as the story progressed, I did begin to enjoy reading it. I mean, as much as I dread reading (now), I wouldn't mind picking up the book and casually reading it. Instilled in the Odyssey is a lot of controversial themes i.e love, relationships, revenge vs. justice, and divine intervention. These are typically ideas I wouldn't normally think about, nor would any other teenage. As I read the book, I realized how modern society still struggles to answer the same questions of those of ancient days. It is vital to study our past in order to continue to move into the future. Then, maybe we could come up with some of the answers that they didn't come up with. Not only, do I feel as if I can hold an intelligent conversation and make literal references (making me feel smarter), but I also feel as if I realized what was important in life. People have little control on what goes on. Things happen. You can be on top of the world one moment, and one the bottom of it the next. Homer's The Odyssey is something people should read because of the morals it holds. Maybe people can learn something from old Odysseus.
I think the genre itself holds up better for nonscholarly reading then, say, Tradgedies.
ReplyDeleteI know exactly what you mean, the Odyssey really does hold alot of the same themes that alot of us still struggle to deal with in our everyday lives. But I really came to enjoy the book, and to think that its over 3,000 years old, yet still apopular yet influential piece of writing. Really great post, and lots of great thoughts!
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