Tuesday, April 24, 2012
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 epic begins in media res for several reasons, one being to give people, such as Odysseus a reputation. In the first four books, before we actually met Odysseus, he is given a reputation. He is known for being a strong, brilliant, brave king and warrior. That way, when we first meet him, we sort of know him already and what to expect from him. For example, in book 4 Helen says this about him: “Surely I can’t describe or even list them all, the exploits crowding fearless Odysseus’ record, but what a feat that hero dared and carried off in the land of Troy where you Achaeans suffered! Scarring his own body with mortifying strokes, throwing filthy rags on his back like any slave, he slipped into the enemy’s city…” (4.270-276) this quote gives us a feeling of what Odysseus is all about. What I mean by that is, after just reading this single quote, we know Odysseus is willing to do whatever it takes to win the war. He is being very brave and clever when sneaking into the enemy’s city. Beginning the epic in media res really sets up the rest of the story and the characters, like Odysseus.
ReplyDeleteThe reason the epic doesn’t start from when Odysseus won the Trojan War is because of the dullness that would probably cause. If the epic was told from beginning to end, in chronological order it would drag on for a very long time, and most likely lose readers interest. The way it is told, you have to pay close attention and keep focused because the story is not in chronological order so you have to sort of piece together the pieces of the puzzle. This keeps the epic interesting.
At the beginning of the Odyssey we are introduced to Telemachus, son of famed king of Ithaca, Odysseus. Telemachus is in a problematic situation due to his father’s absence. Telemachus is overwhelmed with suitors who wish to court his mother, and by doing so, take the crown. This situation sets the stage for the rest of the Odyssey to unfold. So why does the Odyssey begin in media res? There is not one firm answer to this question but rather several. For one, this situation creates drama at the very beginning of the epic and gives the reader the urge to continue reading. Many questions are presented at the start of the epic such as, where is Odysseus? What is Telemachus going to do about the overbearing suitors? If Odysseus is such a great war hero, why has he taken so long to return to Ithaca? These questions engage the readers straight away, making them want more. Another reason the Odyssey may begin like this is to establish a famous reputation for Odysseus. The beginning of an epic sets an unmistakable analysis that Odysseus is a god-like king whose power is seemingly limitless. This reputation, again, engages the reader to want to know more about Odysseus by reading the rest of the epic. Lastly, the Odyssey may begin in media res to illustrate the importance of Odysseus’s legacy. When Telemachus, Odysseus’s son, begins the epic as the central character, the reader learns of the importance of Odysseus’s legacy. The epic is called the Odyssey because it chronicles the adventure of Odysseus and those related to his adventures. Telemachus would not come into the story until much later into Odysseus’s journey, so if Homer wished for his legacy to be established, he would have had to have done so in media res. Finally the question still remains as to why Homer began this epic in media res, rather than from Odysseus leaving Troy. Had the epic began with Odysseus leaving Troy, the reader would have a vague picture of what was going on. Without the establishment of his reputation and legacy, the reader would not understand why Odysseus was in Troy or the significance of his presence there. Without this foreknowledge, the reader may not stay interested very long. These may be the thoughts behind beginning the epic in media res.
ReplyDeleteOne interesting feature of the story of the Odyssey is that the epic starts in the middle of the plot, otherwise known as in media res. For example, the first event of the narrative order in the book is when Telemachus meets Athena in Book One. However, the first event of the chronological order is Odysseus in the Trojan Horse.
ReplyDeleteIn the Odyssey, the first four books are all about Telemachus, the son of Odysseus. One of the reasons the Odyssey is in this format is to show the legacy of Odysseus through his son. It is important to carry on a legacy in this epic poem because the great things that the fathers have done need to be remembered and passed on through future generations, such as Odysseus and Telemachus. The spirit of Odysseus in his son is exemplified when Athena is speaking to Telemachus before he leaves to search for his father, “’Telemachus, you’ll lack neither courage nor sense from this day on, not if your father’s spirit courses through your veins-now there was a man, I’d say, in words and action both!’” (2. 302-305). Athena is telling Telemachus that if Odysseus’s spirit is within Telemachus, then he will have the strength to make it through his journey. This shows how it is important to follow in your father’s legacy. Even though the main character of the first Four Books is Telemachus, the story is, in a way, about Odysseus because Telemachus is Odysseus’s legacy.
The story begins in what appears to be the middle of things to introduce you to Odysseus’s son Telemachus, as a young man, whom is left alone at home with only his mother as an example for him. He does not have a father at home to be a role model, to exemplify good characteristics of a growing man. This shines a light on how Telemachus will handle the situation at hand, with his father on a journey, but he does not know where he is in the land. This story reflects on Telemachus’ actions of being able to learn to relate to a catastrophe and enabling you as a reader to identify with other significant characters in the epic, who have a common bond with Odysseus. These characters such as: Penelope, Odysseus’s wife, the suitors, Athena, and Telemachus, give the story more flavor. Each character portrays his or her own identity to this hardship at home, adding more adversity to the story, drawing the reader’s attention. This gives the reader the ability to hypothesize what will happen next in the epic. Not only are Odysseus’ journey’s important but how his son and wife back at home, without him, are surviving living with all of the suitors infesting their living quarters. You, as a reader were able to see Telemachus grow as a person and the other characters strengths and weaknesses in the absence of Odysseus.
ReplyDeleteI think that Homer starts The Odyssey "in media res" to give meaning to Odysseus' journey home. A reader becomes attached to characters such as Telemachus and Penelope, fighting off the suitors, and they soon learn that, should Odysseus make it home, he will be able to solve their problems. Telemachus describes it in chapter one; "-if only he might drop from the clouds and drive these suitors all in a rout throughout the halls and regain his pride of place and rule his own domains!" (1.135-137). This shows Telemachus' belief that his father, should he return, will drive all the suitors out of the palace and take back over it.
ReplyDeleteStarting the story "in media res" also gives Homer the chance to introduce some of the Gods and display their personalities. He starts the book with a conversation between the Gods about the return of Odysseus. This is perhaps to acknowledge the Gods' power over human beings, or in other words to show respect for the Gods. It could also just be that Homer wishes to show another perspective on the matter, so he chooses to add the divine one.
Another reason to start the story "in media res" is to introduce common themes such as hospitality. Telemachus welcomes Athena, a complete stranger, into his home in chapter one. Then, in chapters three and four, he is welcomed into the homes of both Nestor and Menelaus.
Finally, through Homer's description of Telemachus' visits to some of the other Trojan war heroes, the reader is able to hear some of their stories as well. The reader is able to hear how the Gods punished Ajax, how Menelaus is trapped because he has not sacrificed to the Gods, how Nestor makes a quick and easy journey home because he does sacrifice to the Gods, and, most importantly, how Agamemnon is killed by Aegisthus, his own family plotting against him while he is away. All of these are fates which Odysseus could potentially meet on his journey home and it sets the reader up to wonder what Odysseus' story truly is as well as how things will pan out upon his arrival.
One reason the book would be written this way instead of starting with Odysseus leaving Troy would be to give his journey a purpose. Had the reading started with Odysseus leaving Troy, the readers would never have gotten to know who he was. Starting in the media res also allows the reader to get to know some characters earlier then they otherwise would have. An example of this is Telemachus. Telemachus is introduced in the beginning this way. This helps the reader realize that Odysseus has a family back home and they are struggling as well. As opposed to telling it from beginning to the end when you wouldn't even know Odysseus had a family till much later in the epic. Also, in telling the story the way it was written we get a sense of who Odysseus is early on. We read about events that make him seem strong and honorable. The way this story was written really helps us understand what Odysseus's life was like, and how his family dealt with their father/ husband being gone.
ReplyDeleteIn The Odyssey, the epic begins in media res, or basically in the middle of things. The first four books are about Telemachus as a helpless young man, who is left alone to deal with the destructive suitors and his grieving mother. I believe that The Odyssey is formatted this way, to portray how Telemachus has to continue the legacy of his father, Odysseus. In these books while Telemachus is the main character, he has to live on in Odysseus’s image and solve all problems. In the first few books while Telemachus is trying to continue with father’s great legacy, he faces many obstacles over the course of the years. As a reader who does not really enjoy The Odyssey, I believe how the story is told in this way gives it flavor, and makes you want to continue on and read to see what happens next. However I believe that if The Odyssey began with Odysseus leaving troy, the story line would be bland and not interesting enough to continue reading about it. Since The Odyssey began in media res, it made the story line more interesting by showing how Telemachus had to live in his father’s image and how he had to struggle and connive to finally reach his goal. I believe by starting the story in media res, it engaged me as a reader, and made me want to know more about the Odyssey.
ReplyDeleteOne reason why the Odyssey is written in media res, or in the middle, is because it builds suspense and captures the attention of the reader. The epic begins years after the Trojan War in the setting of Odysseus’s home where Odysseus has been missing for a long time and his family is longing for his return. The focus is immediately placed on Telemachus, Odysseus’s son, and Penelope, Odysseus’s aching wife. While the story is still a tale about Odysseus, readers hear it from the views of Odysseus’s loved ones before they hear it from Odysseus himself later on in the epic. By taking the focus off of Odysseus and putting it on his family, it builds Odysseus’s character before readers actually meet him. This method builds suspense and mystery because the reader can only judge the character on other’s thoughts and opinions. There is always a little mystery to the truth about the character. If the story were to start with Odysseus beginning his journey home from Troy, readers would have nothing to guess about and it would be a much less engaging read. Similarly, Homer’s choice to put the events of the epic out of chronological order captures the attention of the reader and keeps them involved. In a typical chronological tale, the reader starts from the beginning and finishes at the end. However, when the story starts in the middle but at the beginning of the book, the reader is always involved in trying to piece the puzzle together. As the story carries on, more and more details emerge and the reader may be able to fit more of the pieces together. This epic is constantly engaging the reader and building suspense, and in media res is what makes the Odyssey so attention-grabbing.
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