Tuesday, July 23, 2013

The Odyssey, by Homer

In the epic poem, The Odyssey, by Homer the story focuses on one main character's long journey back to his home. Odysseus, the man who is known as "formidable for guile in peace and war" is the main character. He goes through many adventures that test his courage, strength, mentality, and cleverness while trying to make his way back home to his wife and son. For example, one day Odysseus and his men land on an island known as Cyclops island. He ventures off into the island, his curiosity getting the best of him, and ends up getting trapped in a cave. Odysseus soon finds out that the cave is not just some ordinary cave, it is the home to the Cyclops Polyphemus. His men then go through brutal treatment and many of them die. After a little while Odysseus ticks Polyphemus by giving him a "gift" of wine which makes the Cyclops drunk. Odysseus then violently stabs Polyphemus's eye with a charred, red hot spike. This giv es him the opportunity to get away along with the remainder his men. There are many more of these action packed adventures just waiting to be read by another eager reader in the epic poem, The Odyssey.

This book was full of many of the famous Greek myths we hear about today. The author Rick Riordan with his Percy Jackson series first got me interested in Greek mythology. The example in the paragraph above was one of the stories he wrote about in one of his books, and since I read the source of the Greek myth of the Cyclops, I am now much more knowledgeable about the story. This book is perfect for all those Greek mythology fanatics and those who are just interested in reading about old legends and tales. I really enjoyed the story of Odysseus. In the past I have heard a lot about Greek Mythology and all these adventures that some person named Odysseus went through. I am really happy that I finally have the knowledge that I was missing back then to know just who Odysseus was and what he did. The only thing I would say I did not like about The Odyssey was that it moved a little slow. Also the fact that some parts were kind of difficult to unde rstand because Homer wrote this epic poem for people of his time and there are references to things modern day people would not understand. Over all the book was a great reading experience for me and most likely will be for many others who read The Odyssey.

Sky, grade 9
Glendale Central Library

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

This book is about how Odysseus went missing after the Trojan War. He goes through many troubles and faces many challenges while trying to get to his home.

I enjoyed reading this book because although it was difficult to understand, it was fun to read. I enjoy reading Roman and Greek myths, and this book made many references to those gods, so it was a good read for me.

Reviewed by Jason P., grade 9
Montrose Library

Teen Speak said...

The Odyssey, written by Homer, is the classic story of Odysseus' journey throughout the world. He encounters some of the most formidable adversaries around the world and navigates treacherous lands. The vastly different regions that he visits on his adventure each house unknown dangers and mysteries. Journey into the perilous world of Odysseus as danger waits around every corner and foes lurk in the shadows.

I thought that this was an absolutely captivating story. There were so many thrilling moments and suspenseful encounters that I was hardly able to stop reading. I particularly liked that the story was very well-written, as it made the entire experience more enjoyable. I think anybody who likes adventure stories would love to read The Odyssey. It made me think about the different places around the world and how interesting it would be to visit them.

Reviewed by Alec S., Grade 10
Glendale Central Library

Teen Speak said...

Homer, one of the most famous Ancient Greek writers, is the author of The Iliad and the Odyssey, two of the most powerful books I got to read. Before the summary, I would like to give a piece of advice- read the Iliad before The Odyssey, as the latter is an effect of the first. The plot is simple- after the legendary Trojan War, the Greek hero Odysseus wants to return to the island of Ithaca (he is the island's ruler). His wife has been waiting for him for many years, still waited for him (but in presence of other men). Odysseus has to go through many obstacles, especially from the gods who supported Troy in the war. I will not go further, as the book is full of suspense, and you should read it by yourself!

To be honest, I liked everything about The Odyssey- the author's tone, the meticulous descriptions of the various settings, the language and the syntax, and obviously, the suspense (one of the most suspenseful books you'll ever read). One would really enjoy the book, if into Ancient History (Greek/Roman) and mythology. Despite that, I think anyone would enjoy one of the oldest historical books on the planet. Happy reading!

Reviewed by Henry G., Grade 11
Pacific Park Library

Teen Speak said...

The Odyssey tells the story of Odysseus, a Greek hero who struggles to get back home to his wife. After being forced to fight in the Battle of Troy, he encounters many obstacles at sea which prevent him to sail back to Greece. Odysseus fights many monsters including Polyphemus, Poseidon's son, and Scylla, a six headed monster. He then gets stuck on Calypso's island, who longs for Odysseus's love.

The Odyssey was quite a long epic poem to read, and it became tedious at times. However, it was an interesting story that I enjoyed. Just to think of the fact that this story was passed down over hundreds, even thousands of years is amazing. This poem would certainly interest anybody trying to learn more about Greek culture. One of my favorite parts of the book is when Odysseus gets home, and fights the suitors that bothered Penelope, and wanted her hand in marriage. It felt like a "happily ever after" fairy tale ending, the story leading up to the union of the two.

Reviewed by Anonymous, Grade 9
Downtown Central Library