What to know about The Odyssey if you dont remember the plot from high school English class
Pop quiz!“The Odyssey” hits theaters on July 17, and director Christopher Nolan is bringing the 3,000-year-old Greek epic to the big screen in a project that cost over $250 million to make — marking the first feature film shot entirely on IMAX cameras.With a star-studded cast, award-winning director and an already striking 96% on Rotten Tomatoes, “The Odyssey” is set to be one of the most anticipated films of this year.But if you never read the classic tale in school or simply need a refresher, you’ll want to brush up on your history before heading to the theater, so come prepared with more than just snacks and a Diet Coke.The Odyssey is a 24-book epic poem by ancient Greek poet Homer that follows Odysseus, the king of Ithaca, on a ten-year journey home from the Trojan War.Over the ten years, he runs into different mythical creatures and gods who are continuous obstacles on his journey home.
Poseidon, god of the sea, sends storms and shipwrecks on the path home to get revenge on Odysseus for blinding his son, the Cyclops Polyphemus.Back at home, Odysseus’ loyal wife, Penelope and their son, Telemachus, are waiting for Odysseus’ return.In the meantime, Penelope is besieged by 108 suitors trying to take the throne, specifically Antinous, who plots to kill Telemachus.
Odysseus continues to go through turmoils, but the goddess Athena helps him return home to Telemachus, his son, whom he has never met.Together, the father-son duo devises a plan to murder all of Penelope’s suitors to regain control of Ithaca, and the epic ending unfolds.Homer is said to have written both the Iliad and the Odyssey, but these stories are some of the oldest works of literature (8th century BC) that scholars believe started as oral tradition and were passed down generationally.
The written work may have been written by multiple people over time, but is overall attributed to Homer.The story itself, which spans both The Iliad and The Odyssey, is considered myth, since the ...