how has the odyssey influenced modern literature

It was Herodotus, a man who lived in the 5th-century BC, who first started researching and collecting historical archives to compile them into a narrative. Attributed to the singular ancient Greek poet Homer, the Iliad and the Odyssey are considered to be, not only, the most important works of ancient Greek literature but the oldest extant works of Western literature. Several authors who have employed this technique in their hugely successful books include, J.R.R Tolkien, J.K. Rowling, and Rick Riordan. “Many kids of today are finding entry to classical myths via the books of Rick Riordan. In philosophy, the works of Plato, Aristotle and Socrates have influenced the establishment of modern ethics and Hippocrates wrote medical essays that are still read in medical schools. The Odyssey contains both of these elements and is a clear staple of the fantasy genre, making it a must-read for students to enhance their sense of creativity and imagination. Both works proved extremely profitable for Pope and would, in their own right, became extraordinarily influential works of literature. ... Over the years, gothic literature has been a significant source of inspiration for blockbuster movies and books, and it continues to be appropriated by popular culture in new ways. In modern times, the initial Greek 2 Euro coin featured the myth of Zeus and Europa, and sought to connect the new Europe through Western history to the ancient culture of Greece. Although few contemporary authors attempt to compose epics, the influence of the genre and of The Odyssey is He sprinkled traces of ancient Greek, Roman, Egyptian, Babylonian, and northern European history and mythology throughout his stories.”, “The Shamanic Odyssey: Homer, Tolkien, and the Visionary Experience, “Because (The Lord of the Rings) is mythic, its immense popularity can be read as a sign that it gives its readers access to something that contemporary culture usually represses.”, “it is characteristic of the genre to encode more adult themes.”, “can offer a transition from the novel to the genres of myth and legend; it can provide the implied reader reassuring completion beyond closure, (and) it can calm fears that a particular and possible bad outcome won’t come to pass down the road.”, “The magic of Harry Potter: symbols and heroes of fantasy,”, “Many kids of today are finding entry to classical myths via the books of Rick Riordan. Although The Odyssey does not have a formal epilogue, Homer implies towards the end of the book that Odysseus’ journeys do not end following his return home, but that he will embark on another expedition to settle the score with Poseidon during his golden years. The Odyssey, one of the greatest stories of myth, is full of themes, lessons, and history that are remixed and used in modern tales of fantasy fiction. The Epic Influence of Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey. Younger students are more inclined to read the series because the author has found a way to take these stories and make them more appealing to an audience of children and young adults. The war stirred the imagination of ancient Greeks more than any other event in their history and was celebrated in the Iliad and the Odyssey of Homer. The original story dates back to approximately the 8th century BC and is considered to be one of the oldest works of Western literature. A discussion of Homer’s epic poems would not be complete without mentioning Joseph Campbell’s magnum opus: The Hero With A Thousand Faces. https://earlybirdbooks.com/8-novels-inspired-by-the-odyssey This classic survives because the entire tale of Odysseus’ adventure is symbolic of our human lives and experiences—it is life mythologized. They’re fun, light entertainment that have some clever updates of classical mythology. Author: Percy Jackson. Originally published in 1954, The Lord of the Rings is one of the most popular fantasy fiction novels of all time. Published in Venice in 1524, the third Aldine edition of The Odyssey is one of the most coveted and exceptionally rare examples of Homer’s landmark work, with only two having appeared at auction in the last 80 years. When Odysseus returns to Ithaca disguised as a beggar, his nurse helps him bathe and recognizes the scar he has on his thigh from his childhood hunting trip with his grandfather. ... How 2001: A Space Odyssey Has Influenced Pop Culture. The origins of lyric poetry can be originated to Ancient Greece, being heavily insightful in the modern understanding to the beliefs and customs of the early Greeks. She wants him to start hunting for his missing father, Odysseus. The Aeneid by Virgil has been a political, historical and literary influence to modern day literature. Even J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter novels feature an abundance of Latin names and Roman mythological references, including the werewolf Remus Lupin, whose alias is Romulus, Fawkes the phoenix and the names Minerva, Luna and Bellatrix. Consisting of 24 rhapsodies as in the original Odyssey, the work was published 14 years later in 1938 after Kazantzakis had drafted several versions. For ten long years the Greeks and Trojans have fought on the plains of Troy, and now Odysseus, the King of Ithaca, and the other victorious Greeks are ready to sail home. The Odyssey is not only a great romantic, adventure epic, but it's terribly realistic in its depiction of human nature and a brilliantly crafted narrative. It has come to be seen as the archetypal modern … Four of the Greek gods and goddesses who play a role in Odysseus’ journey also play a role in the main character, Percy Jackson’s adventures. There are several links to The Odyssey present in Harry Potter relating to character comparisons, concepts, and even the style of the end of the books. The epic poems were likely composed near the end of the 8th century B.C.E. The works’ central theme proved to be the importance of struggle for its own sake, as opposed to reaching a final goal; Kazantzakis considered The Odyssey: A Modern Sequel his most important work. It was acclaimed by Samuel Johnson as “a performance which no age or nation could hope to equal.” Encouraged by the success of the Iliad, Pope published a translation of the Odyssey in 1726 with the help of William Broome and Elijah Fenton. The epilogue in fantasy fiction “can offer a transition from the novel to the genres of myth and legend; it can provide the implied reader reassuring completion beyond closure, (and) it can calm fears that a particular and possible bad outcome won’t come to pass down the road.” This convention gives answers, but also provokes a young reader’s imagination. These Greek gods, goddesses, and creatures of mythology are directly referenced in the Percy Jackson books which gives readers an idea of how they are really depicted in history. The Odyssey is one of two great works by the author, Homer, which details the story of Odysseus, a young Greek hero who describes an array of challenges and tests he faced during his journey home after the fall of Troy. Perhaps the most influential works in the literary canon, the Iliad and the Odyssey were translated as early as 1488 and continue to influence the narrative style of contemporary literature. Some influences that the Odyssey and the Iliad have on this book series are the golden fleece, which is in a re-telling of the Odyssey, and the Sea of Monsters. The series does a good job of exposing children to ancient Greek mythology while making it understandable and exciting, but as students enter into higher levels of education they should know the original tales, no matter how violent or vulgar, so that they can have a better understanding of the history that goes into these fictional books. It is difficult for the modern reader to comprehend that these adventures were meant to amaze, especially when such words as … Greek myths influenced poets such as Dante and Petrarch in Italy and Geoffrey Chaucer in England and, later, the English Elizabethans and John Milton. It is so unique in this way that many fantasy fiction writers in the past centuries have replicated its use of history and mythological themes in their novels. Old and New … Many characters in the books have identified him by his iconic scar, and this idea is not as original as you may think. Rare third Aldine edition of Homer’s The Odyssey; published in Venice in 1524. This classic text should be a mandatory reading for students of various grade levels so they can develop a better understanding of where the topics they are reading about come from. If you have an idea for a contribution to this list, please discuss it in the comments. Campbell’s work in comparative mythology, specifically the concept of the monomyth, or journey of the archetypal hero can be applied as a common template to a range of mythological narratives. The Iliad, set in the midst of the ten-year Trojan War, focuses on the quarrel between King Agamemnon and the warrior Achilles. Athena, Zeus, Poseidon, and Hermes are all present throughout the series and assist Percy in his tasks and missions. Thesis: The Odyssey has had a perennial influence on art and literature in Western culture because it captures the multifariousness of human existence. First edition of Kazantzakis’ masterpiece: Odyssey: A Modern Sequel. He then arrives back in Ithaca, disguised as a beggar, and proceeds to kill every last suitor who is trying to win his wife’s hand, with his arrows. Homer’s Odyssey sets the standard for an epic as it is defined: A lengthy poem of enormous scope describing the wondrous adventures of its hero (Odysseus) and composed in an elevated style of language (think of the term “Homeric simile”). NOTE: This list is NOT dispositive, nor is it definitive or some sort of "ranking." The Odyssey should be a required read for students of all grade levels in order for children to gain understanding of the themes and concepts we see in literature today.

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