Significance in Storytelling in the Odyssey Essay

Essay One, The Odyssey Steven Botello ENGL 2315: Great Works of Literature I September 16, 2012 Imagine a life without television, no internet, no cell phones, no radio, no movies, and no video games. This was the life during the Odyssey. The storytelling in the Odyssey gave Greek society a way of entertainment. Men, woman, and children would listen to these stories with attentiveness and would then share them throughout their lives. These stories were told in many ways such as in poems, songs, and tales. If not for storytelling in the Odyssey, the story of Odysseus would be a lot shorter, as well as insignificant to Greek society. The storytelling in the Odyssey knitted the life of Odysseus together, and gave many moral lessons and†¦show more content†¦Even today people tell their life’s struggles and past to therapists, psychologist, and even family and friends to help with grief and sorrow. To me, this is what Odysseus is doing in books 9-12. He was letting out all his feelings by telling his tale of his voyage back home. Yes, it was a ther apy session in which Odysseus told his legendary stories. Nonetheless, through his story telling â€Å"All [was] made good, [his] heart’s desire† (13.45). Odysseus felt relieved of his mournful feelings after telling his stories and was eager to get home once and for all. Through Odysseus’ stories he would engage the listeners by implying that they were there with him, talking to them and involving them as if they were there. Odysseus was the â€Å"great teller of tales†, the man of great wisdom. Alcinous urged Odysseus to keep telling his â€Å"countless exploits† in book 11, and so Odysseus kept on. Alcinous and his men would â€Å"hold out till dawn’s first light if only you could bear, here in our halls to tell the tale of all the pains you suffered.† (11.425-28). This is how great of entertainment the storytelling of Odysseus was. His skillful techniques with words grasped the attention and hearts of his listeners. Storytelling h as been used to teach moral lessons to adults and even young children and the storytelling done by Odysseus is no different. In Odysseus’ first obstacle, versus the Cyclops, Odysseus showsShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of The Odyssey 1011 Words   |  5 PagesName Tutor Course Date Close Reading Essay In Book X of the Odyssey, Odysseus gives a tale of his adventure in Circe’s Island. He also tells of his encounter with Circe, (X. 380 - 419). Circe’s equivocation, â€Å"Why, Odysseus, dost thou sit thus like one that is dumb, eating thy heart, and dost not touch food or drink? / Dost thou haply forbode some other guile?† (X. 380 - 381), portrays Odysseus sadness and worry for his men. Earlier in this book, he had narrated of how Circe had put a portion inRead MoreBig Fish, By Tim Burton Essay1750 Words   |  7 Pages a basis for morality, and teaches people the way to live. 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