Ulysses and the Sirens by John William Waterhouse

In this episode, we contemplate the beauty of the first twelve lines, or the Proem, of the Odyssey by Homer. Mandi reads from the introduction to Emily Wilson’s translation so that you get an idea of the movement of this epic while also becoming familiar with its three main characters: Odysseus, Penelope, and Telemachus. It is hard to overstate the importance of reading both the Homeric epics if you teach in a classical school or if you have begun to homeschool your children classically. These two poems—the Iliad and the Odyssey—find their way into every corner of a classical curriculum because they are so central to the Western tradition. Enjoy!

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Cultural Artifacts and Homer

00:52 The Significance of the Odyssey

06:29 Character Analysis: Odysseus, Penelope, and Telemachus

11:32 Themes and Teaching Strategies in the Odyssey

Resources Mentioned:

Purchase Fagles’ Translation of the Odyssey.

Listen to Claire Danes read The Odyssey on Audible

Subscribe to Mrs. Gerth Teaches.

Learn more about Thoroughness & Charm.

Attend Repairing the Ruins. June 25-27, Atlanta, GA

Thanks for reading Mrs. Gerth Teaches! This post is public so feel free to share it.

Get full access to Mrs. Gerth Teaches at mrsgerthteaches.substack.com/subscribe