Question Home

Position:Home>Books & Authors> Are the gods just convenient in epics?


Question: Are the gods just convenient in epics!?
If you've ever read an epic and tried to analyze it, this may have come to mind!. I'm reading The Odyssey, and don't get me wrong, it's brilliantly original (maybe only because it was done first, but nonetheless original)!.
The gods and goddesses in epics often just show up when convenient-- today's writers would be criticized for that!. Oh, Odysseus needs to know how to try Circe!? Athena will tell him!. We need a conflict!? Just let Polyphemus get mad and sick his dad on Odysseus!. Story solved!.
also, today's writers have to work endlessly to develop their characters and to reveal them to the reader through their words and actions!. In epics, the gods do that too!. Each god that shows up in a story represents a characteristic of the hero-- how easy for the writer! Just select the god that fits your character and instantly everyone will understand your character perfectly!.
Plus, back then nothing had been done before!. Every story was new, original, a hit!. Writers today have to beat their heads over the keyboard to scrap together some pieces of something somewhat original-- and still most don't succeed!. Though, this is improved through good writing!. But still!
I think this is kind of unfair to the writers who weren't here first (first come, first serve)!. What do you think!?
(I'm adding a literature discussion to the Book section and avoiding my homework-- reading The Odyssey-- simultaneously!. I'm a genius!)
also, if you've read The Odyssey, what do you think Hermes represents in Odysseus!? I was wondering this on Friday!. Athena, his wit!. Poseidon, his impulsiveness!. But what of Hermes, who appears frequently!? Is Hermes just another convenience!?Www@QuestionHome@Com


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
Kelsey, quite frankly I sorta see where you're coming from on this one!. (I despise analyzing the epics, I'd rather just enjoy them, but alas, the confounded college board seems to make me search for something beyond entertainment in them every other semester!.)

Obviously, as the previous poster pointed out (unnecessarily condescendingly) the gods served an important role in the understanding of the world back then, and are the first example of clear cut archetypes and literary devices the western world has!. (Not too different in the Eastern World really!.)

But in terms of using these gods as cheats for the early authors, I readily admit that modern authors use the very same tactic but they pull their cheats from other literature!. My favorite example ever: If I wanted to write a story in which a character had a questionable relationship with a child I would very likely name him "Joe S!. Humbert!." Now, that reference probably wouldn't be as readily understood by the entire culture as the gods were for the Greeks, but most avid readers would instantly conjure up images of H!.H!. from Lolita!. It happens constantly!. The famed Bateman brothers from Ellis's novels are named after (rumored) a very famous aristocratic family in Europe that, in combination with building one of the most famous domestic Gardens in the world, had questionable hobbies and relationships!. Not many people got it, and not many people believe it, however it does add to the theme those two characters represent in his work!.

Today's authors can get away with it, it's just much more subtle and a lot less nationalistic I think!. Nationalism is another important aspect to consider in the role of the Greek Gods in the Epics!. The Greeks knew of other culture's religions, so what Homer has essentially done by writing down his epics is cement the fact that his Gods were the ones controlling things!. So Greeks weren't only the most noble civilization, their Gods were the only ones with any actual power! "Suck on that, Persia!" (The line I imagine Homer shouting after penning the all powerful scales of Zeus!.!.!. if he spoke in a modern english dialect, of course!.)

They are convenient for the writer, though!. That's a fact, however - they are very convenient for the reader too!. I just now tried to imagine if we would understand the works as well if the Gods weren't involved, and I think they would be much more abstract for modern readers!.

The Gods be praised, as it were, for they may be the reason that Homer's works are still among the most alluded to works ever written!

Unfortunately, for your last question, I'm no good with Ulysses (by Homer or Joyce for that matter) so I can't be of much help there!. But if you ever wonder about Achilles shoot me an email!. I've written my fair share of mind numbing expositions on The Iliad!.

Great question, may the God's bring in some more thoughtful answers!Www@QuestionHome@Com

First, you need to get over the whole "every story was new" idea!. Writing was pretty new, but stories had been around for millenia!. Most of the wisdom passed down generation to generation was in the form of stories, or myths!. The notion of gods as literary conveniences was a further couple of thousand years down the line!. To the Greeks, the gods were the main characters, and people their pawns!. In the "prequel" Iliad, there wasn't any thought about it!. The gods spoke, men did!.
Further, the lives of gods were how people understood reality!. Hermes is around a lot because he moves information around!. He is message!. In the same way, Athena is wit, Poseidon, impulsiveness!. The gods don't represent a characteristic of the hero!. The hero only exists through the animation from the gods!. The concept of metaphor was just being born!. In fact, the notion of consciousness was just being born!.Www@QuestionHome@Com