The Odyssey

            "THE ODYSSEY" AS A HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL REPRESENTATION OF .
             RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THE PEOPLE AND THE GODS AND GODDESSES OF MT. .
             OLYMPUS .
             The overall objective of this research paper is to identify and discuss "The .
             Odyssey," by Homer during his journey of Odysseus following the Fall of Troy. It was .
             during this sojourn that Odysseus encounters various characters, and gods as previously .
             indicated, which represent the essential source for this study including the primary source. .
             It is true that the story is set within the context of the Trojan War, but it has been argued .
             by scholars for a long time as to the factuality's of the events in this story. Overall, it is a .
             tale of adventure and homecoming after a long absence. It has even been debated whether .
             or not the story took place during Greek times or pre-Greek times. Nevertheless, the story .
             is alive with characters and adventures. I believe that more than anything, Homer's "The .
             Odyssey" is an exercise in the meaning of story telling through song and other aspects in .
             "The Odyssey," including lying and the lore, as I shall explain. Homer's "The Odyssey," is .
             basically the story of the wanderings of Odysseus, but it is not in the form of a continuous .
             narrative that this story is told. Clearly, "The Odyssey" incorporates materials that are .
             older than the poem itself, and foremost among them in all likelihood was the tale of .
             Odysseus" wanderings immediately falling the Fall of Troy which is narrated by Odysseus .
             at the banquet given in his honor by the Phaeaceans. This narration may well have .
             constituted a separate poem or lie which was worked into a longer narrative by a later .
             poet whom we know as Homer and his primary concern was not with the adventures of .
             Odysseus but with his relationship with his wife and son. This later poet undoubtedly had .
             to deal with the character of Odysseus as it was then current in folk lore - - that of a .
             shrewd and unscrupulous man who lives by his wits.