A Companion to Homer's Odyssey

by James V. Morrison

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.

224 pages, Hardcover

First published June 30, 2003

Reviews

[Erik Rostad · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very helpful guide for The Odyssey. I started by reading the book in the Odyssey first and then the information in this companion guide right afterwards but quickly switched to reading the companion guide first and then the corresponding book in The Odyssey. I don't recommend this for a first reading (read The Odyssey first) but since this was a second reading for me, it was helpful to read the companion guide immediately before reading the book.

This guide helped me to pick up and notice the main themes, unique turns of phrase, and ideas I would have completely missed. This is the next best thing to being a part of a reading tutorial going through the book.

[max · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a handy and well written resource for all readers of the Odyssey, especially those who are coming to the text for the first time. In chapter by chapter summaries of each book of the Odyssey, the author provides intelligent and insightful commentary into Homer's art. He focuses on key characters and themes and how Homer develops them as his story unfolds. A knowledgeable and sympathetic reader of Homer, Morrison provides essential literary analysis that is intended to guide readers to a deeper appreciation of Homer's skill as a storyteller. I would especially recommend this book for teachers at the high school level who wish to beef up their knowledge of Homer's techniques and what the Odyssey is all about. Even teachers with a deep familiarity will appreciate Morrison's lucid writing and obvious love of the world's greatest author.

[Iris · Rating 5 out of 5]

For me, not knowing anything about Ancient Greece, Greek literature, or Homerus, this was absolutely essential. It made reading the Odyssey 10 times more fun. I can imagine this being too light-hearted for true experts, but it was perfect for me.

[Joseph · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helpful, really liked his focus on Homer's skillful structuring and thesis centered on the themes of identity, homecoming, and hospitality.

[Marc Bentley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting thoughts on Homer's "Odyssey." A great guide, but quite expensive.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Using this to enrich our reading of the Odyssey---accessible, but not too dumbed-down.

[Angharad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Provides much needed extra context into the Odyssey