The OdysseyMost translations of The Odyssey are in the kind of standard verse form believed typical of high-serious composition in the ancient world. Yet some scholars believe the epic was originally composed in a less formal, phrase-by-phrase prosody. Charles Stein employs the latter approach in this dramatic, and in some ways truer, version. Famous episodes such as the sirens, Scylla and Charybdis, and the Cyclops, are rendered with previously unseen energy and empathy. The poem’s second half—where Odysseus, returned home to take revenge on his wife’s suitors—has extraordinarily subtle, “novelistic” features that are made more transparent in this version. There is also a special feel for the archaic dimensions of Homer—the world of gods and their complex relations to Fate and Being that other translators tend to deemphasize in order to make the poem feel “modern.” Most versions exclude or minimize the magical aspects of the poem, but Stein gives these elements full play, so that the spirit of a universe predating the classical era shines through. This vibrant version of The Odyssey shows readers not only what the Greeks thought about their gods but the gods themselves. Summaries preceding each chapter and a list of recommended websites help expand the experience. |
Contents
BOOK IV | 71 |
BOOK VI | 135 |
BOOK VII | 153 |
BOOK VIII | 171 |
BOOK IX | 199 |
BOOK X | 225 |
BOOK XI | 249 |
BOOK XII | 277 |
BOOK XVI | 371 |
BOOK XVII | 395 |
BOOK XVIII | 425 |
BOOK XIX | 449 |
Book XX | 479 |
BOOK XXI | 499 |
BOOK XXII | 521 |
BOOK XXIII | 547 |
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Common terms and phrases
Achaians addressed Alkinoös answered Antinoös appeared arrived Athena beautiful breast bring bronze brought called carry chamber comes commanded companions daughter Dawn dear death devices divine Odysseus drink earth Eumaios evil eyes fate father feast fire followed friends gave gifts give goddess gods guest-stranger halls hands head heard heart hold honor horses husband island Ithaka keep king Laertês land live Lord matters Menelaos mighty mind mortals mother native Nestor never night once palace Penelope person Phaiêkians Poseidon reached remain responded sail seat sent ship sitting sleep soon sorrow speak spirit spoke stood story stranger suffered swift ship swineherd tears Telemachos tell things took Troy turn vagabond wandering wife wind wine wise wish woman women wooers young Zeus