What Is The Importance Of Storytelling In The Odyssey

Jane Horovitz Jennie Woodard Honors 111 9/25/17 Storytelling in the Odyssey The Odyssey is a story made up of stories. Because there is very little action that happens in the present, the presence of storytelling within the Odyssey is something that characterizes it and makes it unique. The spreading of stories serve to form legends and myths that can have the effect of shaping a culture. In addition, since stories were such an important aspect of entertainment in Greek culture, stories also shape the audience, either by entertaining them or creating feelings of sympathy in them. The function of storytelling in the Odyssey, is to evoke emotions and leave powerful, lasting impressions on the audience. However, the stories that are told†¦show more content†¦Therefore, this passage of time could already have led to the possibility that the story Odysseus tells is not exactly the same as what truly happened, even if that modifying of the story was unintentional. Even if Odysseus intended on trying to precisely encapsulate his adventures into a story, the story told could never completely be consistent with the events. Somewhere along the line manipulations happens to a story and that’s why they play such an important role in the Odyssey. Manipulation of the stories in the Odyssey allow myths and legends to form about characters or events. Whether Odysseus is exaggerating a certain scene or characteristic of himself as to come off more strong and hero-like, or Odysseus is leaving out information that adds to the understanding of the story, the story that is told and how it is perceived by the audience depends on and is directly correlated to the situation Odysseus or another character is currently in, who his audience is, and what is it that he wants from the audience. For instance, when telling his story to the Phaecians, Craig Russell claims that â€Å"Odysseus’s concern would have been not what â€Å"really happened† in the past, but rather what is most beneficial in his present †. Odysseus was focusing on evoking certain emotions and impactful pathos upon his audience in this situation, so that the Phaecian’s might have sympathy for him, feel in awe of him and trust him. Therefore, Odysseus uses storytelling based on the situationShow MoreRelatedThe Act of Storytelling in The Odyssey Essay examples1469 Words   |  6 PagesThe Act of Storytelling in The Odyssey In The Odyssey, the act of storytelling plays a significant role in revealing the story of Odysseus. Each storyteller reveals a part of the past of Odysseus and his heroic deeds. Each of their stories gives insight into what a hero should be, according to the standards of the Greek society, and they each reflect a different aspect of a hero. When pieced together, each story becomes part of a whole, however, each has a different function within the epicRead MoreThe Impacts Of The Odyssey In Homers The Odyssey1166 Words   |  5 PagesHomer’s epic poem The Odyssey follows Odysseus on his long journey home. The Epic also includes the stories of Odysseus’ family left behind: the travels of his son, Telemachus, and how plenty, of what we would now call â€Å"home wreckers†, suitors pressured his wife, Penelope, into marrying one of them. The characters are beautifully crafted and the story is truly epic. All the elements presented can bring in any reader from any ce ntury, the Cyclops, the Gods, the trickery of Penelope, and the disguisesRead MoreBig Fish, By Tim Burton Essay1750 Words   |  7 PagesWhat would this world be without myths? A myth is a story, that explains why things happen, a basis for morality, and teaches people the way to live. The Odyssey is a famous Greek myth with great mythological significance and is one of the best epic poems, not only in Greek but in the world of literature. The Odyssey’s story, as well as its significant values and morals presented, has inspired many others to create different versions of the epic. The one version that seems to be a great modern interpretationRead MoreSimilarities Between Achilles And Odysseus1110 Words   |  5 PagesHeroics (A Comparison of Heroic Traits Displayed by Achilles and Odysseus in Homer’s, Iliad and Odyssey) Humanity has always strived for greatness, and is destined to continue this attempt till the world stops spinning. Through the art of storytelling, and literature, we have weaved images of what the ideal human should be. Countless works of literature depict such humans as â€Å"heroes†, due to the inspiration they stir within our imperfect souls. Truly epic heroes shape future stories, and remainRead MoreDifferences Between Cuneiform And Cuneiform1229 Words   |  5 PagesEgyptians carved on temple walls and public monuments in the form of pictures, symbols, or signs (2016). Runes, an alphabet with 24-33 letters carved on stones, as stated by Encyclopaedia Britannica article Runic Alphabet (2016). 2. What is The Book of the Dead? What journey does the soul make? How are its deeds weighed? As the Wikipedia article The Book of the Dead mentions, The Book of the Dead consists of a loose collection of funerary text from Ancient Egypt containing magic spells supposedRead MoreTechnological Advancements And Its Impact On The Modern World1092 Words   |  5 Pagesgay Justin Simien. Using their own identities and take on the world, these filmmakers are helping to create a new meaning for both what a black film consistence of, and what it means to be a black filmmaker today. It is important to take a comprehensive dive into these talented filmmaker’s filmography, for while their list is still relatively small, they show just what the future of hollywood may look like. Before diving into the techniques these creatives use it is necessary to first breakdownRead MoreThe Ancient Greek Of Greek Civilization968 Words   |  4 Pagesacknowledges that the Myceneans conquered the Minoans. (Mark) The Myceneans prospered as well and were greatly influenced by the Minoan civilization, especially establishing the same religious rites and what would later be known as the pantheon of Ancient Greece. Although archeological evidence isn’t clear as to what wiped out and destroyed the Mycenean civilization, some claim the Doric Greeks invaded and conquered them. (Mark) This would in turn lead into the Dark Ages. The Dark Ages of Ancient Greek isRead MoreGoing Look At The Stars1846 Words   |  8 Pagesin what we call Greece, establishing the Mycenaean civilization, which thrived, becoming rich with powerful cities that were military strongholds and international trade centers (Murnaghan l). Through their trade with nearby islands, they adopted a â€Å"syllabary† system of writing from the Minoans, who flourished on the island Crete (Murnaghan l). However, the next evidence of Greek writing is not seen until the Phoenician alphabet is introduced in eighth century B.C.E. (Murnaghan lii). So what happenedRead MoreChristopher Nol An Auteur And Postmodern Filmmaker2218 Words   |  9 Pagesof all time. Many say â€Å"what he’s trying to be is some kind of modern Kubrick. I think he’d be better off being a modern Hitchcock † I believe he is a mix of the two, both pleasing the general audience and those that are there for intellectual stimulation. After Doodlebug gain ed him critical attention he then moved on to a bigger project, Following. The films I will analyse are The Prestige and Interstellar, which are films filled with his trademark of non-linear storytelling, grand-camera angles andRead MoreThe Sopranos1696 Words   |  7 Pagesthe show and how they re-watched the entire series again after reading it. Those final few minutes of the final episode is truly the greatest scene in the history of the medium; a scene constructed as a culmination of 8 years and 86 hours of epic storytelling. Chase created the scene for the fans who were willing to dig beneath the surface and see exactly how much thought and creativity went into every tiny detail of this show. The final scene has solidified the show as the greatest in television history