Literature Resources

General

Supplementary reading:

Cliffs Notes (2000) The Odyssey. John Wiley and Sons.

Peter Jones (1991) Homer's 'Odyssey': A Companion to the English Translation of Richmond Lattimore. Bristol: Bristol Classical Press.

2.5 Literary Techniques and Composition

The online translation of Book 9. For other books, follow the 'Previous Book' and 'Next Book' links at the top of the page: http://www.poetryintranslation.com/PITBR/Greek/Odyssey9.htm 

A summary and analysis of the themes and characters of Book 9. For other books, follow the links on the left-hand side: https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/o/the-odyssey/summary-and-analysis/book-9 

A second summary and analysis of the themes and characters of Book 9. For other books, follow the links on the left-hand side: http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/odyssey/section5.rhtml 

A short cartoon summary of the plot of the Odyssey: http://www.open.edu/openlearn/history-the-arts/classical-studies/troy-story-homers-iliad-and-odyssey 

Hip-hop rap and video about the Odyssey: https://www.flocabulary.com/unit/odyssey/ 

Video of the events of the Odyssey set to the music of 'Across the universe' by the Beatles and the film The Odyssey: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdTigtNMmDQ 

Some short video presentations on the composition of the Homeric poems: http://www.classics.ox.ac.uk/homer.html 

A full length discussion of plot, themes and characters: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zkXu6eAYDU 

2.6 Themes

A detailed analysis of the theme of xenia: https://minerva.union.edu/wareht/gkcultur/guide/8/web1.html 

A discussion of some of the key themes, including disguise: http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/odyssey/themes.html   

2.7 The Character of Odysseus

A simple discussion of the character of Odysseus: http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/odyssey/character/odysseus/  

2.8 The Portrayal of Key Characters

A brief summary of all the major characters in the poem. For a more detailed analysis, follow the links on the left of the webpage: https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/o/the-odyssey/character-list 

A simple discussion of the character of Telemachus. For other characters, follow the links on the left of the webpage: http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/odyssey/character/telemachus/