Homer
When I was in middle school, I had to read “The Odyssey.” I loved to read, but not for school so I read the back cover and took the multiple-choice test. With the major film adaptation coming out this year, I decided to read it and “The Iliad” for real. It is easier to read stuff because you want to!
That said, these were a bit of a chore. I understand the quality of the works considering their age, and the fact that they are so foundational in Western culture. “The Iliad” is a long-winded look at—not a battle—but a quiet moment in the midst of a decades-long war. It starts and ends before the overarching plot is involved. It is a sophisticated analysis of emotion, motivation, and human nature, but it does go on and on.
“The Odyssey” is equally unexpected in its devices. One expects a travelogue but instead gets a longwinded framing device surrounding a briefly summarized adventure.
I’m glad I’ve now read them, but enjoy the literature that has come sense, despite all that is owed to Homer.
That said, these were a bit of a chore. I understand the quality of the works considering their age, and the fact that they are so foundational in Western culture. “The Iliad” is a long-winded look at—not a battle—but a quiet moment in the midst of a decades-long war. It starts and ends before the overarching plot is involved. It is a sophisticated analysis of emotion, motivation, and human nature, but it does go on and on.
“The Odyssey” is equally unexpected in its devices. One expects a travelogue but instead gets a longwinded framing device surrounding a briefly summarized adventure.
I’m glad I’ve now read them, but enjoy the literature that has come sense, despite all that is owed to Homer.
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