Homer’s choice in narratorhelps in revealing the purpose of The Odyssey, to describe the Greekculture - Homer changes narrators at the beginning of books 5, 6, and 7 - He does this to show the different sides of the “story” and po

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Amanda Rosen

December 15, 2002

English 3

Homer’s choice in narrator helps in revealing the purpose of The Odyssey, to describe the Greek culture.  Homer changes narrators at the beginning of books 5, 6, and 7.  He does this to show the different sides of the “story” and point of views in The Odyssey.

Book 5 begins with Athena as the narrator.  She is advocating for Odysseus’ case one more time to her father, Zeus.  Although she herself is a god, she is asking permission to help Odysseus from her father before she actually goes and helps him.

Father Zeus - you other happy gods who never die - never let any sceptered king be kind and gentle now, not with all his heart, or set his mind on justice - no, let him be cruel and always practice outrage.  Think: not one of the people whom he ruled remembers Odysseus now, that godlike man, and kindly as a father to his children. he’s left to pine on an island, racked with grief in the nymph Calypso’s house - he hold him there by force.  He has no way to voyage home to his own native land, no trim ships in reach, no crew to ply the oars and send him scudding over the sea’s broad back.  And now his dear son… they plot to kill the boy on his way back home.  Yes, he has sailed off for news of his father, to holy Pylos first, then out to the sunny hills of Lacedaemon.  (V, 8-23)

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She retold of what Odysseus has gone though being away from his family and his kingdom.  Athena speaks of Odysseus’ family and people not remembering who he was because he has been unable to return home.  This is because Calypso has held Odysseus by force on her island.  

        Book 6 narrators are Athena and Nausicaa.  Athena needs to come up with a plan to have Nausicaa find Odysseus who is sleeping by the stream.  Athena disguised herself into Nausicaa dream and tells her that she should clean her clothing down by the stream.  There she may find the person ...

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