Homer's Epic · The Odyssey

Author: Homer (Ancient Greece); Wang Huansheng
Publisher:
Publish Date: 1997-05-01
Features: In the "Epic Series," The Odyssey follows The Iliad and precedes The Telegony, comprising twenty-four volumes with 12,110 lines. Its creation or compilation date is slightly later than that of The Iliad, possibly between 720-670 BCE. According to Aristotle's view, the plot of The Odyssey exhibits a "two-way development" characteristic, but it primarily focuses on the direct depiction of Odysseus's actions and experiences. The content of the entire work can be broadly divided into four parts: (1) Telemachus's travels, (2) Odysseus's return, (3) wandering, and (4) Odysseus on Ithaca. The Odyssey portrays human suffering and reflects the hardships of life. Humans live surrounded by opposites.