The Odyssey - books

If somebody who has read the Odyssey could help me out over here, that would be great, as I think I'm going mad.

Recently, I read the Odyssey - all 24 books. I read it as a novel, in my own time, last month because my teacher lent it to me. However, I am now at sixth form studying Classical Civilizations, and I have recently been given a copy of the book (Penguin Classics, ISBN 9780140449112) and I am pretty sure the book order is different.

Now, please tell me if I am just misremembering it, as this is how it was in my head:

•

The Cyclops is book 9 in the edition I currently have. I am sure, that previously, it was book 6. The rest of the internet tells me no, but I am sure that it was.

•

The Palace of Alcinous is book 7 and the Phaecian games is book 8 (in this edition) - before the Cyclops. Now, I am sure this is wrong! Because I thought that Alcinous was the one that gave Odysseus refuge in his palace, and lavished him with gold before returning him back to Ithaca? I am sure this is right because I remember him putting the gold they gave him into the cave. So surely this should prelude 'Odysseus lands in Ithaca', book 13?

Yeah, I'm just rereading a few pages and have discovered that it's because Odysseus is recounting his tales to Alcinous that it's in a funny order. Feel a bit silly now. However, does anybody have an edition in which the events are in chronological order, or am I just barmy?

Sorry for wasting everyone's time if it turns out I'm just a loon and everything's in the order it should be.

Hi there,

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Reply 2

Arkasia

19

From rereading my version of The Odyssey, I am pretty sure that Polyphemus is in Book 9.

Reply 3

happysmile

18

Original post by katinthehat

If somebody who has read the Odyssey could help me out over here, that would be great, as I think I'm going mad.

Recently, I read the Odyssey - all 24 books. I read it as a novel, in my own time, last month because my teacher lent it to me. However, I am now at sixth form studying Classical Civilizations, and I have recently been given a copy of the book (Penguin Classics, ISBN 9780140449112) and I am pretty sure the book order is different.

Now, please tell me if I am just misremembering it, as this is how it was in my head:

•

The Cyclops is book 9 in the edition I currently have. I am sure, that previously, it was book 6. The rest of the internet tells me no, but I am sure that it was.

•

The Palace of Alcinous is book 7 and the Phaecian games is book 8 (in this edition) - before the Cyclops. Now, I am sure this is wrong! Because I thought that Alcinous was the one that gave Odysseus refuge in his palace, and lavished him with gold before returning him back to Ithaca? I am sure this is right because I remember him putting the gold they gave him into the cave. So surely this should prelude 'Odysseus lands in Ithaca', book 13?

Yeah, I'm just rereading a few pages and have discovered that it's because Odysseus is recounting his tales to Alcinous that it's in a funny order. Feel a bit silly now. However, does anybody have an edition in which the events are in chronological order, or am I just barmy?

Sorry for wasting everyone's time if it turns out I'm just a loon and everything's in the order it should be.

Hi there, you posted this three weeks ago, do you still need help? Quote me in this thread if you do; I don't want to waste time replying if you've already understood it - how are you finding Classical Civilisation A-level so far? :smile:

The Odyssey - books

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