Why Teach Homer’s The Odyssey?
The Odyssey is one of the foundational pieces of Western literature, and introduces well-developed characters, an edge of your seat plot, and enough romance and adventure for even modern readers! Not only is it enjoyable on its own, it is frequently referenced throughout Western culture. Your student will know what a “siren song” came from, for example, after reading it, and know why a long journey with many obstacles is called an “odyssey.” Literary techniques introduced by Homer are now used all the time in great literature. Give your student those cultural touchstones.
Siren
possibly commissioned by the Colonna family, Rome
Date: ca. 1571–90
Medium: Bronze
Accession Number: 2000.69
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 534
A Teacher’s Guide to Homer’s The Odyssey
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