The Odyssey

The Odyssey

Introduction

The first word of the Odyssey is andra: man. Its precursor, the Iliad, had sounded a different theme in its first word: menis rage. The word menis is typically reserved for divine rage; it is not an emotion that merely smolders, but manifests with violent consequence in the world of action. It is also an emotion that alienates the demigod hero Achilles from everything human. The Iliad sings the birth and resolution of Achilles' superhuman rage.

Discussion

The Odyssey, however, will sing of andra—man. The word is unyoked, at first, to any sort of limiting article or demonstrative, so it is ...