The Odyssey: The Curious Case of Odysseus

The gods and fate continue to control mankind, but The Odyssey will now add a third element: human folly. Together, we’ll answer the following questions:

1. Why would Odysseus have chosen to go home instead of possibly becoming immortal?
2. What role does Telemachus, Odysseus’ son, play in bringing Odysseus home?
3. How does Odysseus model a different version of Greek heroism than Achilles and Hector?

Recommended Reading: Homer. The Odyssey. Trans. Robert Fagles. New York: Penguin, 1996.