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A Companion to Homer's Odyssey
(Click to Enlarge)
James V. Morrison
Book Code: GR1854
ISBN: 0-313-31854-9
ISBN-13: 978-0-313-31854-2
224 pages, figures, maps, photos
Greenwood Press
Publication: 6/30/2003
List Price: $51.95 (UK Sterling Price: £29.95)
Availability: Print on demand
Media Type: Hardcover
Also Available: Ebook
Trim Size: 7 x 10
Subjects: Reviews:
  • Morrison offers a guide to Homer's Odyssey to assist first-time readers--including fairly young ones--and instructors not familiar with the classics....Recommended. Junior high school, high school, and undergraduate college readers and their instructors; general audiences.
    —Choice     December 2003
  • I would be pleased to see any sixth-former looking into this book to kick-start their further reading and increase their knowledge of content, themes and background to The Odyssey... a useful addition to any Classics library in a school.
    —Journal of Classics Teaching     Spring 2005
  • One of the strengths of M.'s text is that he unifies his treatment of undividual books by consistently emphasizing the themes...All in all, M. offers an engaging treatment of Homer's epic that should benefit his target audiences, as it provides insightful analysis while avoiding simple summary.
    —Bryn Mawr Classical Review     December 2003
  • The author's style is enthusiastic and takes a personal tone. The informative text and sidebars provide a wealth of information on literary form, themes, techniques, background, context, linguistic insights, and later influence....accesible and engaging.
    —School Library Journal
Description: Odysseus lost his way, but students shouldn't have to. This delightful companion, written in a lively narrative style and full of fresh insights and interpretations, offers teachers a wealth of ideas for making Homer's timeless epic come alive for students. Introductory chapters provide the historical and mythological background necessary to fully appreciate the events in the Odyssey. A fascinating essay acquaints students with Homeric values and another examines the Odyssey as literature, offering expert discussion of the work's structure and poetic features and situating it in the oral tradition it exemplifies. Maps, charts, tables, and photographs help readers further appreciate the story and its historical context. At the core of this resource are units on each of the 24 books of the Odyssey; each is attractively presented with an illustration, plot synopsis, and discussion of theme and character development. Well-placed sidebars offer supplemental information on various facets of classical antiquity, such as the position of women in Ancient Greece, the role of competitive sports, and interesting etymological aspects of the Greek language. At the back of the book is a listing of main characters, along with a handy pronunciation guide. Additional appendices explore the enduring influence of the Odyssey in literature, the arts, and even popular culture, with a separate section examining Odyssean themes in movies. Useful ideas for activities and classroom projects are offered, as are suggestions for further reading and online research.
Table of Contents:
  • Introduction
  • The Odyssey as Literature
  • Homeric Values
  • Homer and History
  • Homer's Odyssey
  • Appendix 1: Who's Who? Character Index with Pronunciation
  • Appendix 2: Odysseus and the Odyssey After Homer: The European and American Tradition
  • Appendix 3: Activities, Classroom Projects, and More
  • Appendix 4: Further Reading
  • Appendix 5: The Odyssey and Odyssean Themes in the Movies
  • Appendix 6: Homer On-Line
  • Index
LC Card Number: 2002075311
LCC Class: PA4167
Dewey Class: 883
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