“The Odyssey” by Homer

“The Odyssey” by Homer

1.     Paragraph #1 (8 sentences)

Homer’s biography and historical context:

• Born/died
• Biographical background important to understanding the novel (if any)
• Important family, community, national and world events that influenced author and novel
• Other artistic or literary influences
• Critical response and literary standing during lifetime and posthumously 
• Summary (brief): Essential characters; conflicts and complications, major turning points and conclusion.

2.    Paragraph #2 (5 -8 sentences)

FORM, STRUCTURE, and PLOT: How is “ The Odyssey” organized? Length? Chapters? (Only note these things if they are significant in some way. I don’t expect every paper to list the number of pages or chapters.) Discuss techniques such as flashbacks or dream sequences, stream of consciousness, chronological order of events, foreshadowing, parallel events, multiple, complex, or simple plot. How much time is covered? Compare and contrast beginning and ending. 

3.    Paragraph #3 (5-8) sentences

POINT OF VIEW: (Narrative Perspective) Is the novel written from first person (“I”), second person (“you” very rare), or third person (he/she)? Is it a reminiscence or recent perspective written in the present tense or the past tense? In the first person, is he/she the protagonists or an observer? If in third, is he/she omniscient (all knowing), limited omniscient (knowing one character most often) or objective (no subjective commentary by the narrator, but limited omniscient)? Are there any shifts in point of view during the novel? (Shifts might come from the changed view(s) of the narrator or from different narrators). What effect does the author achieve with point of view and what seems to be his/her purpose?

4.    CHARACTER of Odysseus: (5-8 sentences)

General comments: flat/round? Static/dynamic? Believable? How are they revealed? How complex? How many? Protagonist/antagonist? Role of minor characters? Then describe 3-5 central characters: name, age, three descriptive adjectives, appearance, personality, function in novel, significance of name, a key quote that reveals character with an explanation of what the quote reveals. Be careful to not just label the characters with literary terms but look deeply into who the character is and what is the author’s purpose by employing that character in the novel.

5.    SETTING: (5-8) sentences

 Where and when does the novel occur? How is the environment described? Any symbolic meaning in the setting? How does the author use setting? What ATMOSPHERE is created by the setting? How important is setting to the novel?

6.    DICTION: (5-8 sentences)

 Analyze the author’s word choices. First discuss the work in general: is the diction informal, formal, neutral, colloquial? Explain and given an example. Does the author use much imagery? Metaphoric and/or ironic devices? Is the language plain? Flowery? Concise? Strong? Lyrical? Does diction indicate social status, education, region? How much dialogue is used? How different is the dialogue from the narrative voice? How distinct is the dialogue from character to character? Select representative passages featuring different plot segments. (these can be quotes)

7.     SYMBOLISM:(5-8 setences)

 When an image is used to suggest complex or multiple meanings it becomes a symbol. Is the novel highly symbolic? Allegorical? Point out images used as symbols. What function does the symbolism seem to serve? 

8.    TONE: (5-8 sentences)

Author’s attitude toward subject, characters, and reader. Could be playful, serious, angry, ironic, formal, somber, satiric, etc. Generally an author uses a limited variety of tones, often two or three complementary ones. Discuss the book’s tone and observe how the author creates it through plot, diction, syntax, imagery, figurative devices. 

9.    THEME: (5-8 sentences)

The theme refers to the book’s controlling idea or central insight. Identify the book’s central theme. Identify any prominent secondary themes. Express as statements, not as a word or phrase (abstracts). 

10. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE TITLE: (5-8 sentences)

Comment on the book’s title. What message does the author want to convey with the title? Does the meaning of the title change for the reader from pre to post reading?

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