Monday, May 2, 2011
In Media Res: Narrative vs. Chronological Order
In class we observed the narrative order of the Odyssey, the order the event are retold in the epic, are different from the chronological order, the order the events occur in time. The epic begins in media res, literally in the middle of things. What is ONE reason that the story begins in this way? Why doesn't the story begin with Odysseus leaving Troy?
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The narrative order of The Odyssey starts out with Odysseus’s son, Telemachus, discovering that his father might still be alive and returning home. If The Odyssey was told in the chronological order, it would start with Odysseus and his nine ships of men leaving Troy.
ReplyDeleteIt is told in the narrative order because we must find out of Odysseus’s reputation as a leader and great man before we can hope for his journey home. It gives the reader a prospective of Odysseus. In order to find out his secrets, we must travel forward in time to find out how other’s think of him. This shows that Telemachus is a major role in this epic, as he becomes of man by learning from his father’s journeys. The Odyssey is not just about Odysseus and his journey home to Ithaca, but also about how his son, whom he left when he was a baby, transforms from a boy to man without the help from his own father. It is how he carries on his father’s legacy. By now, Telemachus finds out his father’s secrets and reasons of journeying to Troy. We find out Odysseus’s reputation who is pitied by Athena and the gods wish for his return from exile. “Odysseus journeys home-the exile must return!” (1.3)
Then if you travel back from when he leaves Troy, we have a sense of what to expect. There is some suspense, with most people wanting to pity Odysseus, wanting to be on his side. If is did start with him leaving Troy, we would have no background information on Odysseus and have no sense of whether to question his ability as a leader.
im reading this 5 years later and it really helps
DeleteThe way this story is told is very interesting. I really like it. At the beginning of the book they really start at the middle of the story. This makes for some really interesting twists and turns throughout the story. It also gives a very nice element of foreshadowing. This way you know what’s happening, but then again you don’t. I really like this aspect of the story line.
ReplyDeleteI believe that the story is told this way to show a different side of Odysseus before he is formally introduced as a character. Considering that Odysseus is the one telling the story, automatically you would believe he would make him self look the best he possibly can. BUT, because there is background coming form the people around him this cannot happen. When Odysseus is first introduced you aren’t automatically cheering for him to get home safe. Everyone has this little thought in their mind like “he’s a jerk!” This has completely to do with the way the story being told in media res style.
Another reason not to start the book with Odysseus leaving Troy is that would leave far less suspense. In the case of this suspense you have a lot more anticipation to read and you are hanging on by every word to find out if he will ever get back home to the family of his that’s been waiting so long. Overall, I really like this style of writing and it completely add an entire new and interesting layer to this book.
The Odyssey is told in a special way called in media res, meaning beginning in the middle. The book starts with the journey of Telemachus which if the book followed chronological order would be in the middle.
ReplyDeleteI believe the other of The Odyssey wrote the book not in chronological order to make the book suspenseful. The book starts with Telemachus searching for clues about the whereabouts of his father. Because the book is not written chronologically the reader does not know what has happened to Telemachus’s Father. Also, knowing about the suitors at Odysseus’s home gives suspense to what will happen when/if Odysseus gets home. If the author wrote it chronologically the reader would be very confused to who all the men are at his house trying to kill him and his son. This is why it was a good idea for the author to write the narrative not chronologically.
The reason the story does not start with Odysseus leaving Troy is because it would give the reader too many questions. If the reader had not already read The Illiad then they would have no idea who Odysseus was, and why he was at Troy in the first place. Starting in the middle gives us background information on who Odysseus is and why he’s at Troy. The author was smart about where he started the story. I believe when the author was writing this story they were thinking about what a reader would think while they are reading it.
The reason the epic is told in media res it helps to anticipate Odyssues coming into the story, so that when the reader meets Odysseus in book 5 we have an idea who Odysseus is, and his background story. This way if the book would have started in chronological order and the epic starts out with Odysseus returning home, then tell the middle, which is the Telemachiad, the reader would have no idea of where, what type of journey, or who Odysseus really is until later in the epic. Also the epic is started from the beginning because it gives different perspectives from the different characters in the epic such as Telemachus, Zeus, and Athena. If the epic had started from the perspective of Odysseus, then when Telemachus's perspective entered the epic, then it would seem random because in the beginning of the epic the reader would not know who Telemachus, and what his mission is before the reader would get insight into the perspective of Telemachus. The point of perspective before reason would also be applicable to Zeus. The reason being because if the middle of the epic started before the beginning then the reader would have read of Zeus punishing Odysseus without the insight, or perspective of Zeus, which is told in the Telemachiad. Also if the story was told in the epic of The Odyssey is because it will thus prove that Odysseus is the teller of tales because he has so many tales to tell. I believe also that when the author created th pic, he decided to not tell the epic in chronological order so that the reader could be able to see actions in the epic before the cause was told. An example would be in the beginning of the epic when the author tells of who Telemachus is and that he is taking the place of his father in the kingdom before the author actually told why Telemachus had to take the place of Odysseus.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Clare, Ian, and Ali(?). I agree that the reason the book starts off with the Telemachiad is that it adds both suspense and makes the return more dramatic for the reader. Yes, it may add suspense, but I just believe it is setting up more drama for the reader when Odysseus returns home. The Telemachiad introduces the reader to Penelope, Odysseus’ wife, and Telemachus, Odysseus’ son. Penelope is introduced as a woman who has suitors trying to claim her as a wife, but is still waiting for Odysseus’ return. Penelope is also spinning and then unspinning a web to trick the suitors, to buy Odysseus more time. The reader is also introduced to Telemachus, who is trying to grow up and become like his father in the world. However, since Odysseus is not home to help him grow up, Telemachus must make his own decisions and grow up without guidance from his father.
ReplyDeleteDue to the fact that these characters are introduced even before Odysseus is formally introduced, the reader becomes familiar with them so the return home feels more dramatic to the reader. If, however, Telemachus was not introduced until Odysseus arrives at home, the reader would have no idea who Telemachus was and what he was like. The problem of him not having a father to grow up would not be present, which alone would make the situation much less dramatic. Furthermore, the reader would not know about the suitors trying to marry Penelope who still loves Odysseus very much. Learning about the suitors early adds a layer of suspense to the story which could not have been achieved if not introduced in the begginning. If the suitors were to be introduced after the return, the reader would not really understand their importance, as one would think they have only recently been trying to marry Penelope, or they were not really any trouble to the family. Lastly, Penelope would not be well-known to the reader as well. This would result in the reader not knowing anything about her and her only love, Odysseus, even after 20 years.
Having the epic start in media res is truly complicated but also necessary for a complete and dramatic arrival of Odysseus. Without this format, the reader would not know about how Odysseus’ family has struggled, which would degrade the return home by making it seem much less dramatic and suspenseful.
I find the telling of the epic very interesting, as well. Although, the storytelling approach media res may seem like it would make the plot more difficult to understand, it really proved itself suitable for the story. It began as Odysseus’ son, Telemachus seeking out his M.I.A father, and then after four books of Telemachus’ journey began Odysseus’ decent from Troy. I agree with “omnomnom”? with the statement that this method was used to form an essence of foreshadowing. I also believe that caused a hint of anticipation and also provided background information.
ReplyDeleteHaving Odysseus’s journey begin right in Troy would cause several substantial setbacks. The story beginning with Odysseus on Calypso’s island would appear to have no relevance because no characters have been introduced properly and there would be no significant plot from thereafter. We would just recognize the minor plots, such as Odysseus moving through his obstacles, instead of ultimately looking to the bigger picture which is Odysseus’ overall journey back to Ithaca as well as his family. The Telemachiad provided details of how Odysseus’ family is faced with struggles due to his absence, including the suitors trying Penelope and Telemachus who is left alone to learn the lessons of manhood and future kingship. This truly does add suspense for the reader because without this information, we would have no reason to anticipate and be hopeful for Odysseus’ return and causes the reader to continue reading. All of this is thoroughly explained all without Odysseus ever being formally introduced so when we did reach the part when Odysseus is presented, we understood the gist of what was occurring.
I also believe this effect in the book of putting the events that happen in the middle happen first in this book. I like many other people on this blog believe that there is a very good use of foreshadowing used in this book. I believe that making the Telemachiad first in the book really helps by allowing the reader to see a different view point then you will read throughout the rest of the book. Throughout the book Odysseus is telling most of the sotry and with this view point the reader learns that Odysseus is the greatest person ever but because we can read the Telemachiad at the begining we can learn what others think of Odysseus and how he has not come home.
ReplyDeleteThere are many reasons why Homer used In Media Res while writing the Odyssey. In the beginning of the book we learn of Telemachus, Odyssey’s son who is being manipulated by suitors. We learn about his brave father and how he has yet to come home after his heroic actions in the Battle of Troy. Because we learn about Telemachus first we can learn about Odysseus first through his son’s eyes and learn about what the world thinks of him. We learn about his reputation and how the stories of his heroics have spread throughout the Greek world. Because we learn about Telemachus first we learn Odysseus through someone different than himself. His perspective allows us to learn Odysseus better, his ways and his intentions. This allows us to judge Odysseus accordingly when he tells his story of his journey as a barb. Also it can emphasize the importance of Telemachus. Knowing how important it is for Odysseus to get home. Because of Telemachus, Homer is able to tell the us about the suitors a key fact about the story, and a reason to root for Odysseus.
ReplyDeleteI agree with everyone above, but I do not think those are the main reasons. Starting in the middle does add drama and suspense, but by starting in the middle gives the reader a different perspective of Odysseus’s actions than the reader would have read if the story was told in chronological order. By telling the story starting in the middle, one can see the effects and consequence of Odysseus’s actions caused even if they seemed harmless or great when he first did them. This gives the reader more information to judge Odysseus with.
ReplyDeleteBy starting with telling how Penelope is plagued with suitors and they are destroying Odysseus’s wealth , the reader learns that even though Odysseus does great deeds and has heroic adventures returning home, because it took so long to get home he cause a lot of strife for his family. It shows the bad side of all his adventures. If the Odyssy started with the journey home from Troy, the reader would learn all about how heroic Odysseus was, giving the reader a good opinion of Odysseus, and then learn how all his adventure affected his family. In that way the reader would still have a pretty good opnion of Odysseus. But by first telling the reader about how Odysseus’s family is being plauged and then hears about Odysseus’s travels, the reader has in the forefront of his/her mind that while of odysseus slowly makes his way home, his family is in trouble.
The epic, The Odyssey is told in ‘in media res’. ‘In media res’ this means in the middle of things. This theory of writing the epic is very interesting because the main character isn’t introduced into the book right away. Telemachus, Odysseus’ son, is the first big character to be introduced as ideas and questions are raised about Telemachus like is he ready to be as king, or is he grown up yet, how did he grow up without his father? Questions are also raised about Odysseus like will he ever return home to Ithaca, will he cheat on his wife, will he return home old or young if he does return, what is taking so long on his return back home? With these questions in play there are also problems at home. The suitors are a big problem at home as they are trying to marry Odysseus’ wife and they are eating all of his food and just causing a bunch or ruckus. And eventually Telemachus reaches a point where he ‘grows up’ and tells the suitors to leave and he looks for his father but obviously doesn’t find him. Odysseus isn’t mentioned until book 5 (chapter five) where he is coming back from the victory of Troy and he has many obstacles to go through to get home. Starting the epic in the middle I believe was a genius idea because it opens the reader to many questions right off the start as Odysseus is barely mentioned and a lot of action has started already and it just makes the reader want to read more on to see what happens next. It just makes the whole epic fit together because if it started in the beginning with Odysseus and out of nowhere Telemachus came in then it would have been confusing and hard to follow.
ReplyDeleteHomer conforms to most other epic poems by using a literary technique called In Media Res, which means to start an epic in the middle of the story. Homer used this technique to teach the reader about Odysseus’ reputation and to five Odysseus the chance to narrate.
ReplyDeleteBy Homer describing Odysseus’ reputation early in the story, the reader is able to better understand Odysseus as a character. We enter the story with Telemachus in Ithaca, talking to the goddess Athena. Athena was sent down to tell Telemachus to become a man and take back his palace from the suitors and search for his father Odysseus. This gives us an understanding of Odysseus’ fame and reputation because the gods, specifically Zeus, know who Odysseys is and are desperate for him to come home. They become so desperate that they send down Hermes to the Island of Calypso, the nymph with long braids, to order Calypso to release Odysseus. In the first four books of the Odyssey, also known as the Telémachia, Telemachus travels to King Nestor who had once fought with Odysseus in the battle of Troy. King Nestor says, “and only after we slaved did Zeus award us victory. And no one there could hope to rival Odysseus, not for sheer cunning—” (3.133-135). This quote by gives a perfect example of the Odyssey telling the reader about Odysseus’ reputation.
Giving Odysseus a chance to narrate a portion of the Odyssey lets the reader make an emotional bond with Odysseus. Because the Odyssey starts in the middle of the story, a flashback is needed to give the narrative of the beginning. In the Odyssey, Odysseus tells his story to the kingdom of Alcinous. The story is roughly four books, seventy-six pages, giving sufficient time for the reader to get to know Odysseus. If the story had started in the beginning, Odysseus journey would have been full of dialogue and the thoughts of others, but because the words came solely from Odysseus, the reader is able to connect with him, on an emotional level that would not have been attained otherwise.
By starting the Odyssey in the middle, Homer gave the reader a better connection with Odysseus then we would not have attained otherwise. Homer describes Odysseys’ outstanding reputation even before he introduced him. By using the technique of in Media Res, Homer allows Odysseus to narrate a portion of the story, giving the reader a connection with him and his thoughts, leading to a better reading experience.