Download Homer Odyssey Robert Fagles Pdf 14 for Free: A Guide to the Best Sources and Sites
Homer Odyssey Robert Fagles Pdf 14: A Modern Translation of an Ancient Epic
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to travel across the sea for ten years, facing monsters, gods, and temptations along the way? Have you ever imagined how it would feel to return home after such a long absence, only to find your house invaded by greedy suitors who want to marry your wife and kill your son? Have you ever wanted to read one of the most influential and captivating stories ever written in human history?
Homer Odyssey Robert Fagles Pdf 14
If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you should read Homer Odyssey Robert Fagles Pdf 14, a modern translation of an ancient epic that will take you on a thrilling journey of adventure, romance, and revenge. In this article, we will tell you everything you need to know about this book, including:
What is the Odyssey and why is it important?
Who is Robert Fagles and what did he do?
How to get the PDF version of his translation?
The summary and analysis of the Odyssey
The biography and critique of Robert Fagles
The conclusion and FAQs
Introduction
What is the Odyssey and why is it important?
The Odyssey is an epic poem that was composed by a Greek poet named Homer sometime in the 8th century BC. It is considered to be one of the oldest and most influential works of literature in Western civilization. It tells the story of Odysseus, a Greek hero who fought in the Trojan War, a ten-year conflict between Greece and Troy that was caused by the abduction of Helen, the most beautiful woman in the world. After the war ended, Odysseus tried to return home to his wife Penelope and his son Telemachus, but he faced many obstacles and dangers along the way. His journey lasted for another ten years, during which he encountered mythical creatures like Cyclops, Sirens, Scylla, Charybdis, Calypso, Circe, and more. He also had to deal with the wrath of Poseidon, the god of the sea, who was angry at him for blinding his son Polyphemus, the Cyclops. Meanwhile, back in his home island of Ithaca, Penelope and Telemachus had to fend off the suitors, a group of men who wanted to marry Penelope and take over Odysseus' throne. The Odyssey is a story of courage, loyalty, cunning, perseverance, and justice. It explores themes such as fate, free will, hospitality, revenge, identity, homecoming, and more. It has inspired countless writers, artists, and thinkers throughout history, from Virgil and Dante to James Joyce and Margaret Atwood.
Who is Robert Fagles and what did he do?
Robert Fagles was an American professor, poet, and translator who was born in 1933 and died in 2008. He was best known for his translations of ancient Greek and Latin classics, such as the Iliad, the Aeneid, and the Odyssey. He received many awards and honors for his work, such as the PEN/Ralph Manheim Medal for Translation, the Academy Award in Literature from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, and the Harold Morton Landon Translation Award from the Academy of American Poets. He was also a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the American Philosophical Society.
Robert Fagles translated the Odyssey in 1996, after spending more than a decade working on it. He used a modern English language that was both faithful to the original text and accessible to contemporary readers. He aimed to capture the spirit and the sound of Homer's poetry, while also making it clear and engaging. He said that he wanted to "make Homer live as never before" for his audience.
How to get the PDF version of his translation?
If you want to read Homer Odyssey Robert Fagles Pdf 14, you can easily get it online. There are many websites that offer free or paid downloads of this book in PDF format. You can also find it on online platforms like Amazon Kindle or Google Books. However, before you download or purchase any PDF file, you should make sure that it is legal and safe. You should also check the quality and accuracy of the translation. Some PDF files may have errors, omissions, or alterations that may affect your reading experience. Therefore, you should always compare different sources and versions before you choose one.
The Odyssey: A Summary and Analysis
The Structure and Themes of the Odyssey
The Odyssey is divided into 24 books or chapters, each containing about 500 lines of verse. The first four books are called the Telemachy, which means "the journey of Telemachus". They focus on the situation in Ithaca and the quest of Telemachus to find his father. The next twelve books are called the Odyssey proper, which means "the journey of Odysseus". They recount the adventures of Odysseus from his departure from Troy to his arrival in Ithaca. The last eight books are called the Nostos, which means "the return home". They describe the reunion and revenge of Odysseus against the suitors.
The Odyssey is not told in a chronological order. Instead, it uses a technique called "in medias res", which means "in the middle of things". The story begins with Odysseus already in his tenth year of wandering after the war. He is trapped on an island with a nymph named Calypso, who wants to make him her husband. The gods decide to intervene and send Hermes, the messenger god, to tell Calypso to let Odysseus go. Meanwhile, Athena, the goddess of wisdom and war, visits Telemachus in Ithaca and encourages him to go on a journey to find out what happened to his father. She also disguises herself as an old friend of Odysseus named Mentor and accompanies him on his trip. Telemachus visits two other Greek kings who fought in the war: Nestor in Pylos and Menelaus in Sparta. He learns that most of his father's comrades have returned home safely or died honorably in battle. He also hears that Odysseus is still alive but held captive by Calypso.
In book 5, Odysseus leaves Calypso's island with a raft that she provides him. However, he faces a storm sent by Poseidon that destroys his raft. He manages to swim to another island called Scheria, where he meets the Phaeacians, a friendly and civilized people who love storytelling and hospitality. They welcome him warmly and ask him to tell them his story. In books 6-12, Odysseus narrates his adventures from Troy to Scheria in a flashback. He tells them how he encountered various wonders and dangers along the way:
The Cicones, a tribe of warriors who attacked him and his men after they raided their city.
The Lotus-eaters, a people who ate a plant that made them forget their home and desire nothing else.
The Cyclops, a race of one-eyed giants who lived in caves and ate humans. Odysseus and his men were trapped in the cave of Polyphemus, the son of Poseidon. Odysseus blinded him with a wooden stake and escaped by hiding under the sheep. He also revealed his name to Polyphemus, who cursed him and asked his father to punish him.
Aeolus, the king of the winds who gave Odysseus a bag of winds to help him sail home. However, his curious men opened the bag and released the winds, which blew them back to Aeolus' island. Aeolus refused to help them again, thinking that they were cursed by the gods.
The Laestrygonians, a tribe of cannibal giants who destroyed most of Odysseus' ships and men with rocks and spears.
Circe, a witch-goddess who turned some of Odysseus' men into pigs with her magic. Odysseus was helped by Hermes, who gave him a herb called moly to resist Circe's spells. He then forced Circe to turn his men back to human and became her lover for a year. She also advised him to visit the underworld and consult the spirit of Tiresias, a blind prophet who could tell him how to get home.
The underworld, where Odysseus met the ghosts of many famous people, such as his mother Anticleia, his comrade Elpenor, his enemy Agamemnon, his hero Achilles, and his prophet Tiresias. Tiresias told him that he had to appease Poseidon by making a sacrifice at a distant land. He also warned him about the dangers that awaited him on his way: the Sirens, Scylla, Charybdis, and the cattle of Helios.
The Sirens, beautiful creatures who sang enchanting songs that lured sailors to their death. Odysseus wanted to hear their song, so he ordered his men to tie him to the mast and plug their ears with wax. He heard their song but could not follow them.
Scylla and Charybdis, two monstrous creatures that guarded a narrow strait. Scylla was a six-headed monster that snatched six men from each passing ship. Charybdis was a whirlpool that swallowed and spat out the sea three times a day. Odysseus chose to sail closer to Scylla and lose six men rather than risk losing his entire ship to Charybdis.
The island of Helios, the sun god who had sacred cattle that no one was allowed to touch. Odysseus wanted to avoid this island, but his men persuaded him to stop there for rest. He made them swear not to harm the cattle, but they broke their oath when they ran out of food. They killed and ate some of the cattle, which angered Helios and the gods. Zeus sent a thunderbolt that destroyed Odysseus' ship and killed all his men. Only Odysseus survived by clinging to a piece of wreckage.
The island of Calypso, where Odysseus spent seven years as her captive lover until Hermes came to free him.
After hearing Odysseus' story, the Phaeacians were amazed and impressed by his courage and intelligence. They offered him gifts and hospitality and agreed to take him home on one of their ships. They also held games and feasts in his honor.
The Characters and Conflicts of the Odyssey
The Odyssey is not only a story of adventure but also a story of character development and conflict resolution. The main characters of the Odyssey are:
Odysseus: The hero and the protagonist of the story. He is known for his cunning, bravery, eloquence, and loyalty. He is also flawed by his pride, curiosity, and anger. He faces many challenges and temptations on his journey home, but he never gives up on his goal. He also learns from his mistakes and grows as a person.
Penelope: The wife of Odysseus and the queen of Ithaca. She is known for her faithfulness, cleverness, and beauty. She waits for her husband's return for twenty years, despite the pressure and harassment from the suitors. She also devises tricks to delay and test them, such as weaving and unweaving a shroud for her father-in-law Laertes and proposing a contest with Odysseus' bow.
Telemachus: The son of Odysseus and Penelope and the prince of Ithaca. He is known for his courage, respect, and maturity. He grows from a timid and passive boy to a confident and active man. He goes on a journey to find his father and learns from his mentors Athena and Nestor. He also stands up to the suitors and helps his father in the final battle.
The suitors: The antagonists of the story. They are a group of young noblemen who want to marry Penelope and take over Odysseus' throne. They are known for their greed, arrogance, violence, and disrespect. They abuse the hospitality of Penelope and Telemachus by eating their food, drinking their wine, and wasting their resources. They also plot to kill Telemachus and Odysseus when they return.
Athena: The goddess of wisdom and war and the patroness of Odysseus. She is known for her intelligence, strategy, and justice. She helps Odysseus and Telemachus throughout their journeys by giving them advice, guidance, protection, and disguise. She also intervenes in the final battle and restores peace in Ithaca.
The main conflicts of the Odyssey are:
Man vs. nature: Odysseus has to overcome the natural forces that hinder his journey home, such as storms, winds, waves, rocks, monsters, etc.
Man vs. man: Odysseus has to fight against his human enemies who threaten his life or his honor, such as the Cicones, the Cyclops, the Laestrygonians, the suitors, etc.
Man vs. god: Odysseus has to deal with the divine intervention that affects his fate, such as the wrath of Poseidon, the help of Athena, the prophecy of Tiresias, etc.
Man vs. self: Odysseus has to struggle with his own flaws and weaknesses that put him in danger or delay his return home, such as his pride, curiosity, anger, etc.
The Style and Language of the Odyssey
The Odyssey is written in a form of poetry called epic poetry. Epic poetry is a type of poetry that tells a long and heroic story in a formal and elevated style. Epic poetry has some features that distinguish it from other types of poetry:
The epic poet invokes a muse or a divine inspiration at the beginning of the poem to help him tell the story.
The epic poet begins the story in medias res or in the middle of things and then uses flashbacks or digressions to fill in the gaps.
The epic poet uses epithets or descriptive phrases that characterize a person or a thing by repeating them throughout the poem.
The epic poet uses similes or comparisons that illustrate a point by using words like "like" or "as".
The epic poet uses metaphors or figures of speech that imply a connection between two different things without using words like "like" or "as".
The Odyssey is also written in a specific meter or rhythm called dactylic hexameter. Dactylic hexameter is a type of meter that consists of six feet or units per line. Each foot has one long syllable followed by two short syllables (a dactyl) or two long syllables (a spondee). For example:
- - / / - - / / - - / / - - / /
Tell me O muse of that ingenious hero who travelled far
Robert Fagles did not use dactylic hexameter in his translation of the Odyssey. Instead, he used free verse or verse that does not follow any fixed rules of meter or rhyme. He said that he wanted to create a natural and flexible rhythm that suited the English language and the modern reader.
Robert Fagles: A Biography and a Critique
Who was Robert Fagles and what did he achieve?
his PhD in English literature. He taught at Princeton University for 45 years, where he was the Arthur W. Marks '19 Professor of Comparative Literature and the director of the Program in Creative Writing. He also served as the chairman of the Department of Comparative Literature and the chairman of the Council of Humanities.
Robert Fagles was a renowned poet and translator who specialized in ancient Greek and Latin classics. He translated many works by Homer, Virgil, Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides. His translations were praised for their accuracy, clarity, and vitality. They were also widely read and enjoyed by both scholars and general readers. He received many awards and honors for his translations, such as the PEN/Ralph Manheim Medal for Translation, the Academy Award in Literature from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, and the Harold Morton Landon Translation Award from the Academy of American Poets. He was also a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the American Philosophical Society.
Robert Fagles died on March 26, 2008 in Princeton, New Jersey. He was 74 years old. He left behind his wife Lynne Fagles, his daughter Sarah Fagles Anderson, his son John Fagles, and his four grandchildren.
How did he translate the Odyssey and what were his goals?
Robert Fagles translated the Odyssey in 1996, after spending more than a decade working on it. He used a modern English language that was both faithful to the original text and accessible to contemporary readers. He aimed to capture the spirit and the sound of Homer's poetry, while also making it clear and engaging. He said that he wanted to "make Homer live as never before" for his audience.
Robert Fagles followed some principles and methods in his translation process. He consulted various sources and editions of the Greek text to ensure accuracy and consistency. He also consulted other translations and commentaries to gain different perspectives and insights. He used free verse or verse that does not follow any fixed rules of meter or rhyme to create a natural and flexible rhythm that suited the English language and the modern reader. He also used colloquialisms or informal expressions to make the dialogue more lively and realistic. He avoided archaisms or outdated words that would sound artificial or obscure. He also avoided literalisms or word-for-word translations that would lose the meaning or the beauty of the original.
What are the strengths and weaknesses of his translation?
Robert Fagles' translation of the Odyssey has been widely praised and criticized by critics and readers alike. Some of its strengths are:
It is faithful to the original text in terms of content, structure, and style.
It is clear and understandable for modern readers without sacrificing complexity or subtlety.
It is lively and captivating for modern readers without losing dignity or elegance.
It is poetic and musical for modern readers without being artificial or forced.
Some of its weaknesses are:
It is sometimes too loose or too creative in its interpretation of the original text.
It is sometimes too modern or too colloquial in its language and tone.
It is sometimes too inconsistent or too uneven in its quality and accuracy.
It is sometimes too long or too verbose in its expression and explanation.
Conclusion
Why should you read Homer Odyssey Robert Fagles Pdf 14?
You should read Homer Odyssey Robert Fagles Pdf 14 because it is a great way to enjoy one of the most amazing stories ever told in human history. It is a story that will take you on a journey of adventure, romance, and revenge with a hero who will inspire you with his courage, intelligence, and loyalty. It is a story that will teach you about life, love, fate, free will, hospitality, revenge, identity, homecoming, and more. It is a story that will connect you with your past, present, and future as a human being.
You should also read Homer Odyssey Robert Fagles Pdf 14 because it is a great way to appreciate one of the most brilliant translations ever made in human history. It is a translation that will make you understand and appreciate the original text in a new light. It is a translation that will make you feel and hear the beauty and power of Homer's poetry in a new way. It is a translation that will make you live and breathe the spirit and the sound of Homer's epic in a new way.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about Homer Odyssey Robert Fagles Pdf 14:
What is the difference between Homer Odyssey Robert Fagles Pdf 14 and other versions of the Odyssey?
Homer Odyssey Robert Fagles Pdf 14 is a modern translation of the Odyssey by Robert Fagles, an American professor, poet, and translator. It is different from other versions of the Odyssey in terms of language, style, and interpretation. It uses a modern English language that is clear, lively, and poetic. It uses a free verse style that is natural, flexible, and musical. It uses an interpretation that is faithful, creative, and engaging.
How long does it take to read Homer Odyssey Robert Fagles Pdf 14?
Homer Odyssey Robert Fagles Pdf 14 has about 500 pages and 12,000 lines of verse. It takes about 15 hours to read it at an average speed of 300 words per minute. However, the reading time may vary depending on your reading level, interest, and concentration.
Where can I find Homer O