What should I read before the Iliad and Odyssey?
Juan Francisco Although they’re not exactly sequential, I’d recommend you to read The Iliad first, then The Odyssey. The Iliad provides you huge context, involving the Trojan War, plenty of characters (including Odysseus), and the cosmovision of Ancient Greece.
How do I start reading the Iliad?
Try reading the summary of “The Iliad” to have an overview of the plot and then go on reading individual chapters. There are some Greek mythology references made in the book which are not properly described in details, but our instructor provided the background for that.
What was the purpose of Homer’s poems the Iliad and the Odyssey?
The Odyssey tells the story of Odysseus as he travels home from the war. The two epics provided the basis of Greek education and culture in the Classical age, and they have remained among the most significant poems of the European tradition. The method of their composition has been long debated.
What do I need to know before reading the Iliad?
Anything you need to know plot-wise you can get from reading a brief summary of the Trojan War. And since the Iliad isn’t the story if the Trojan War, you’d probably need to read a brief summary of the Trojan War for that, too. The more important question is which you’re going to find more interesting.
Should I read the introduction to the Iliad?
If you use this handbook while you read the Iliad, I recommend that you read the introduction to the list and look through it before you start reading, and then use it afterward if you get confused about who is who. If you are content with a quick overview of the book, you probably don’t need it.
Why you should read the Iliad?
The Iliad is the archetypal war story, and at the same time it is an anti-war story. It shows us the heroism and also the tragedy and senselessness of war. It is the prototype of all wars and all war stories. It puts human faces to the struggle and the suffering.
What should I know before reading Iliad?
Do you need to read the introduction to the Iliad?
What life lessons can we learn from the Iliad and Odyssey?
Lesson Summary The Iliad, the story of the Trojan War, offers several moral lessons to its readers, including the importance of leaders treating their soldiers with respect, the importance of accepting apologies, and the need for respecting family bonds.
Is Homer’s Iliad hard to read?
For the first-time reader, probably the hardest thing about Homer’s Iliad is its language. And once you get past the weird cultural details (reading the introduction to your edition will help), the poem is extremely accessible. The characters are vivid, and every reader will find someone to identify with.