http://www.umwcpr.org/homer/2006/11/26/the-end-of-the-odyssey/ Just another WordPress weblog Fri, 30 Jul 2010 07:10:33 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.4 http://www.umwcpr.org/homer/2006/11/26/the-end-of-the-odyssey/#comment-37 Tue, 05 Dec 2006 03:29:59 +0000 http://www.umwcpr.org/homer/2006/11/26/the-end-of-the-odyssey/#comment-37 I had learned the story of The Odyssey in middle school, and I remembered the part about all the suitors dying and Penelope's final test for Odysseus, and in my mind that was how the epic should end. So I was a little taken aback by the additional action afterwards. I guess it makes sense, but I am not a fan of the deus ex machina. It always feels to me like the author is copping out, trying to get out of a new issue that he or she has introduced, and with very little detail or explanation about the event. Then again, I don't know if Homer's audience could have handled additional books. Regardless of my opinions, it's a convenient device for him to use to bring the epic to a conclusion of sorts. I had learned the story of The Odyssey in middle school, and I remembered the part about all the suitors dying and Penelope’s final test for Odysseus, and in my mind that was how the epic should end. So I was a little taken aback by the additional action afterwards. I guess it makes sense, but I am not a fan of the deus ex machina. It always feels to me like the author is copping out, trying to get out of a new issue that he or she has introduced, and with very little detail or explanation about the event. Then again, I don’t know if Homer’s audience could have handled additional books. Regardless of my opinions, it’s a convenient device for him to use to bring the epic to a conclusion of sorts.

]]>