Homer: Odyssey VI and VII

by Homer, Janet Watson (Editor)

These two books of the Odyssey provide an ideal introduction to the poem, illustrating Odysseus’ cunning intelligence at its best as he gains acceptance in the court of the Phaeacians, and, above all, the subtly drawn character of Nausicaa. This edition replaces the much used one by G.M. Edwards (1914). It contains text (now unexpurgated) and vocabulary, expanded commentary and new introduction. It is geared very much to the needs of those coming to Homer for the first time with a grasp of the basics of classical Greek, and assumes no previous knowledge of Homeric forms or grammar. An outline of Homeric forms, grammar, and Homeric hexameter is given in the introduction and grammar points are reiterated in the commentary. The introduction also provides an outline of questions surrounding Homer and the composition of the Iliad and Odyssey, together with a discussion of the role of books VI and VII within the epic’s overall structure. This is the ideal book with which to begin and enjoy Homer.

Genres: Poetry, Classics

114 pages, Paperback

First published January 28, 1982

About the author

Homer (Greek: Όμηρος born c. 8th century BC) was a Greek poet who is credited as the author of the Iliad and the Odyssey, two epic poems that are foundational works of ancient Greek literature. Homer is considered one of the most revered and influential authors in history.
Homer's Iliad centers on a quarrel between King Agamemnon and the warrior Achilles during the last year of the Trojan War. The Odyssey chronicles the ten-year journey of Odysseus, king of Ithaca, back to his home after the fall of Troy. The poems are in Homeric Greek, also known as Epic Greek, a literary language which shows a mixture of features of the Ionic and Aeolic dialects from different centuries; the predominant influence is Eastern Ionic. Most researchers believe that the poems were originally transmitted orally. Despite being predominantly known for its tragic and serious themes, the Homeric poems also contain instances of comedy and laughter.
Homer's epic poems shaped aspects of ancient Greek culture and education, fostering ideals of heroism, glory, and honor. To Plato, Homer was simply the one who "has taught Greece" (τὴν Ἑλλάδα πεπαίδευκεν). In Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy, Virgil refers to Homer as "Poet sovereign", king of all poets; in the preface to his translation of the Iliad, Alexander Pope acknowledges that Homer has always been considered the "greatest of poets". From antiquity to the present day, Homeric epics have inspired many famous works of literature, music, art, and film.
The question of by whom, when, where and under what circumstances the Iliad and Odyssey were composed continues to be debated. Scholars remain divided as to whether the two works are the product of a single author. It is thought that the poems were composed at some point around the late eighth or early seventh century BC. Many accounts of Homer's life circulated in classical antiquity; the most widespread account was that he was a blind bard from Ionia, a region of central coastal Anatolia in present-day Turkey. Modern scholars consider these accounts legendary.

French: Homère, Italian: Omero, Portuguese, Spanish: Homero.

Reviews

[Bill Kupersmith · Rating 5 out of 5]

A most helpful edition of books 6 & 7, with vocabulary and grammatical and critical notes. Book 6, with Alcinous' teenage daughter's encounter with Odysseus, is delightful. Nausicaa is brave, level-headed and resourceful, and in a different story she would have found Odysseus a perfect husband, as her father realises. That Homer could create such a lovely and memorable character and then drop her from the epic displays his wondrous efficiency as he gets on with the tale of Odysseus' return. But Nausicaa remains unforgettable.

Shall I return to the Iliad or remain amongst the Phaeacians to read Odysseus' account of his adventures?

[max · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fine school text, highly recommended for students coming to these books of the Odyssey for the first time. It has everything you need, including helpful notes where the syntax gets a little tricky and a complete vocabulary.

See my review of Garvie's Odyssey, Books 6-8 for another volume that is more scholarly and makes a nice companion to this one.

I do wish the font were more appealing. I have a strong preference for the Porson font which is found in such an old chestnut as Benner's Selections from Homer's Iliad, but perhaps this is merely a quibble.