The Odyssey, Book 11

Across the water to follow Circe's directive.  Past the Kimmerian people who live in shadow and fog, to the entrance of Hades.  Sacrifices to summon the dead, looking for Teiresias for instructions.  But first, Odysseus is visited by the soul of Elpenor, who tells of his death one Book ago.  "When you return to the island of Aiaia (because you will), give me a proper burial."

Next Teiresias.  "You're fighting off Poseidon.  You must withstand desire [the Sirens?], then leave Helios's cattle alone.  If not, you'll all be destroyed.  If so, only you, Odysseus, will return home.  Once home, slaughter the suitors, sacrifice to Poseidon, and long after that you will die at sea."

Odysseus's mother, Antikleia.  Odysseus: "How did you die?  How are my father, son, and wife?"  Antikleia: "Telemachus is fine and tending to your estate.  Your father is alive, though in grief.  I died from my longing for you."

Next, a parade of women through history, sent by Persephone.  Notables: Tyro, mother of Pelias and Neleus by Poseidon, founders of Pylos; Antiope, mother of Amphion and Zethos, founders of Thebes; Alkmene, mother of Herakles; Epikaste, mother of Oedipus; Chloris, mother of Nestor; Ariadne, daughter of Minos and damsel of Theseus;

Break.

Arete, hearing this story of Odysseus's, honors him and insists on gifts greater than before.  Alkinoos asks him to stay another night, and asks if he saw any of his companions from the war while in Hades.  Back to the story

Odysseus approached by Agamemnon, and asks how he perished.  Agamemnon: "I died at the hands of Aigisthos and my sluttish wife Klytaimestra.  Kassandra also killed at her hand.  Beware your wife upon your return.  But Penelope is fairer than Klytaimestra, who never let me see my own son.  How is Orestes?"  Odysseus: "I haven't been back yet."

Next approached by Achilleus, Patroklos, Antilochos, and Aias.  Achilleus says the humblest alive is better than the king over the dead.  And how is his son, Neoptolemos?  Odysseus: "He was a great fighter at Troy, always leading the charge.  He was the most eager for the fight while we were in the horse.  Never injured in battle."

Odysseus tries to apologize to Aias over their quarrel over Achilleus's armor.  Aias turns away in silence.

Now a parade of the giants of the past.  Notables: King Minos, Orion, Tityos (vultures eating his liver), Tantalos (chained and unable to drink), Sisyphos (pushing stone up the hill).  Finally Herakles makes an appearance, though he lives among the gods, who tells Odysseus of his own visit to Hades during his life.

Finally, in fear of the hordes of souls closing in, Odysseus turns and leaves.  The ship sets sail to return to Aiaia.

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I read this in full at least four times-- in part because of the break-- but mostly because it seems hugely important.  Here Odysseus is acknowledging his place in the long history of Greek heroes, and also elevating his own adventures into that arena-- he acknowledges that his travails are making him the next great Greek hero.  At the same time, it seems Homer is elevating his own story and explicitly declaring it as the proper continuation of the Greek myths-- and so as the next contribution to the greatness of Greek civilization.

It seems hugely important that Homer would be so aware that his project is but an addition to the tradition of literature he has inherited.  It is also impressive that Homer recognizes that tradition as indicative of a great civilization, and aims to add to the greatness.  Ultimately, I think this is where the singular greatness of Homer stems from.  And from a literary standpoint, having the story's internal narrator speak the writer's intentions and change the audience's perspective like that seems like an enormous innovation that has obviously been imitated ever since.

Also interesting in this book is the whiplash that occurs when Homer returns to Odysseus's audience in Alkinoos.  We the reader (or listener) have been drawn into Homer's story completely just as those listeners must have been drawn into Odysseus's.  The reminder is quite striking.  Another serious innovation.

I don't think I saw anything like these innovations in The Iliad.  Homer is being far more clever and playful than before.