The Influence of The Odyssey and Why It Should Be Required Reading
Many of the most popular and beloved fantasy fiction series of today have been influenced by concepts and characters that date back to hundreds or thousands of years ago. One of the oldest and most well-known works of ancient Greek literature, The Odyssey by Homer, contains themes that are replicated in many books that are read by the youth of today. This classic novel has influenced some of our favorite modern series such as The Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, and Percy Jackson and the Olympians. This concept of “remix,” or combining textual elements from many sources to create something new, is present in any current story of magic out there. The Odyssey should be a required read for students of all grade levels in order for children to gain understanding of the themes and concepts we see in literature today.
The Odyssey is one of two great works by the author, Homer, which details the story of Odysseus, a young Greek hero who describes an array of challenges and tests he faced during his journey home after the fall of Troy. The original story dates back to approximately the 8th century BC and is considered to be one of the oldest works of Western literature. Some of the themes present in the work include the power of desire and the will to overcome extreme adversity, strong mortal leadership shown by a main character, and masking real world ideas with storytelling strategy and fiction.
The heroic tale begins with Odysseus being trapped on the Nymph Calypso’s island, where he is forbidden to return home to his wife Penelope, and his kingdom of Ithaca. Zeus sends Hermes to convince Calypso to allow Odysseus to set sail for home. On his journey home, Poseidon sends waves of wrath his way, which land the young hero at Scheria, where he is welcomed in by the Phoenician royal family. He tells the tales of his travels, recalling his journey to the land of the lotus eaters, how he blinded the Cyclops Polyphemus, his experiences with the witch Circe, how he was tempted by the dangerous sirens, his journey to Hades to meet with a prophet, and his battles with a sea monster. He then arrives back in Ithaca, disguised as a beggar, and proceeds to kill every last suitor who is trying to win his wife’s hand, with his arrows. He then reveals himself, reunites with family, and his trials come to an end.
The Odyssey is an exciting tale of fiction that incorporates much of Greek mythology into a story that is entertaining to read. It is so unique in this way that many fantasy fiction writers in the past centuries have replicated its use of history and mythological themes in their novels. Many series use different intertextual elements from different sources of myth and mix them with original ideas to create groundbreaking characters and plots. Several authors who have employed this technique in their hugely successful books include, J.R.R Tolkien, J.K. Rowling, and Rick Riordan.
Originally published in 1954, The Lord of the Rings is one of the most popular fantasy fiction novels of all time. The now-series chronicles the stories of main character, hobbit Frodo Baggins, when he discovers the One Ring, an all-powerful, magic ring that can control many others of its kind. Frodo makes it his mission to travel across Middle Earth in hopes of destroying the dangerous One Ring, created by the Dark Lord Sauron himself. The author of the books, J.R.R Tolkien has “studied and is said to have mastered many languages including Greek, Latin, Gothic, Old English, Old Norse, and Icelandic, as well as “smatterings” of many other languages. (He) was a devoted student of history and classical literature and mythology. He sprinkled traces of ancient Greek, Roman, Egyptian, Babylonian, and northern European history and mythology throughout his stories.” It is clear that Tolkien was extremely familiar with mythology such as The Odyssey, due to his scholastic background and interest in the topic.
One major similarity that The Odyssey and The Lord of the Rings share, is the theme of a protagonist undergoing a strenuous journey to accomplish a goal. While Odysseus fights to return home to his kingdom and his family, Frodo is motivated by his duty to reach Mount Doom in order to destroy the One Ring. As well as a similar basic story line, the protagonists in both books develop over the course of their travels and become stronger characters because of the tests they are faced with. In the article, “The Shamanic Odyssey: Homer, Tolkien, and the Visionary Experience,” the writer defines Homer not only as a person but as “the oral tradition that flowed as the fine blaze of song from the one possessed by the persona of the legendary singer called Homer,” and The Odyssey as the “evolution of centuries, perhaps millennia, of oral telling.” This shows the importance that historical text has even in today’s society and shows that if these myths can stay intact throughout years of traditional storytelling, then we can most definitely find their influence in works of modern times. “Because (The Lord of the Rings) is mythic, its immense popularity can be read as a sign that it gives its readers access to something that contemporary culture usually represses.” In fantasy, “it is characteristic of the genre to encode more adult themes.” It is important for students to familiarize themselves with classical texts and those that are influenced by them so they can start to gain understanding of more mature topics that are being presented in a way that appeals to the imagination.
Perhaps the most famous modern fantasy fiction series has been read by hundreds of millions of people around the world, turned into wildly popular movies, and even has its own theme park land where you can find the Hogwarts castle. Although the Harry Potter series is beloved for its creativity and magical stories and characters, it has actually been influenced by the stories of the past. There are several links to The Odyssey present in Harry Potter relating to character comparisons, concepts, and even the style of the end of the books. Harry is well known in the wizarding world before he is even aware he is a wizard himself, due to the large lightning shaped scar on his forehead. Many characters in the books have identified him by his iconic scar, and this idea is not as original as you may think. When Odysseus returns to Ithaca disguised as a beggar, his nurse helps him bathe and recognizes the scar he has on his thigh from his childhood hunting trip with his grandfather. Although she is able to identify the beggar as Odysseus, she remains quiet. The concept of the scar in these novels is almost identical which shows how even ideas that may seem unique to the series can be a form of remix.
Another interesting feature of the Harry Potter series is J.K. Rowling’s use of the epilogue. Although The Odyssey does not have a formal epilogue, Homer implies towards the end of the book that Odysseus’ journeys do not end following his return home, but that he will embark on another expedition to settle the score with Poseidon during his golden years. The epilogue in fantasy fiction “can offer a transition from the novel to the genres of myth and legend; it can provide the implied reader reassuring completion beyond closure, (and) it can calm fears that a particular and possible bad outcome won’t come to pass down the road.” This convention gives answers, but also provokes a young reader’s imagination. The article “The magic of Harry Potter: symbols and heroes of fantasy,” exemplifies the ways that stories with magical heroes and mystical beats promote the use of imagination in the daily life of children. The Odyssey contains both of these elements and is a clear staple of the fantasy genre, making it a must-read for students to enhance their sense of creativity and imagination.
A newer but still well-known adventure series, Percy Jackson and the Olympians, has perhaps the most direct link to the characters, creatures, and mythology of The Odyssey. Four of the Greek gods and goddesses who play a role in Odysseus’ journey also play a role in the main character, Percy Jackson’s adventures. Athena, Zeus, Poseidon, and Hermes are all present throughout the series and assist Percy in his tasks and missions. These gods and goddesses play a huge role in making the magic happen and sparking the imagination in both The odyssey and Percy Jackson. Polyphemus, the cyclops that Odysseus blinds during his adventures at sea, is also present in the Percy Jackson novels. In Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters, Charybdis, a giant sea monster, appears and Percy and his companions engage in a fight to escape his wrath. This scenario also occurs in The Odyssey, during Odysseus’ journey. These Greek gods, goddesses, and creatures of mythology are directly referenced in the Percy Jackson books which gives readers an idea of how they are really depicted in history.
“Many kids of today are finding entry to classical myths via the books of Rick Riordan. They’re fun, light entertainment that have some clever updates of classical mythology. My personal favorite is the Lotus casino in The Lightning Thief, a modern-day spin on the episode from Homer’s Odyssey in which the hero gets caught in the land of the Lotus eaters.” Many other scenarios that Percy and his friends find themselves in throughout the series are remixed versions of the same experiences that Odysseus had in The Odyssey. Younger students are more inclined to read the series because the author has found a way to take these stories and make them more appealing to an audience of children and young adults. The series does a good job of exposing children to ancient Greek mythology while making it understandable and exciting, but as students enter into higher levels of education they should know the original tales, no matter how violent or vulgar, so that they can have a better understanding of the history that goes into these fictional books. Because so many works of literature, including Percy Jackson, reference The Odyssey, it is necessary to have an understanding of the key concepts and themes present throughout the novel.
Whether it be directly or indirectly, Greek mythology is still referenced in the literature of today. The Odyssey, one of the greatest stories of myth, is full of themes, lessons, and history that are remixed and used in modern tales of fantasy fiction. This classic text should be a mandatory reading for students of various grade levels so they can develop a better understanding of where the topics they are reading about come from.
