Is the Odyssey and the Aeneid Boring, worth remembering?

Answer 1

I think the Odyssey is a great read, but you have to take it on its own terms. This story predates written literature in Greece, so its style is geared towards recitation. Also, these old Greeks were a very different culture.

The story cuts back and forth between Odysseus's wife and son, who haven't seen him in twenty years, and Odysseus himself, who has had a daunting series of adventures on his way home from the Trojan war, told mostly in flashback by Odysseus himself. He finally makes it home, but has to fight his way back into his own house. A hundred men are camped there, hoping to usurp him by marrying his wife. The last third of the book tells how he and his son plot their revenge on these suitors and how he is reunited with his wife.

The story is well put together, and moves right along. I've read several translations and prefer the Robert Fagles one.

The Aeneid is a more self-consciously literary and historical work, and as such seems a bit stuffier to me. Nevertheless, there's a lot of action in it, including the Trojan Horse and the fall of Troy.

Answer 2

Their not boring once you get over the old language, the stories are very good. They both have action, love, and adventure. And most everyone knows about the people in the Odyssey and Aeneid (and it helps to show off how smart you are).

Answer 3

Never read Aeneid. But I didn't love Odyssey nor Iliad. Not really my style plus the difference in language to English now was a HUGE issue for me. I hated having to "translate."

Answer 4

I had a terrible time getting through the Odyssey. So, I got it unabridged as an audio book. I loved it. It's much nicer listened to then read.

Sorry, I don't know anything about Aeneid, but I am definitely going to change that!

Answer 5

Depends on whether or not you find them to be boring and/or not worth remembering. Frankly, I think that I found them to be boring when I was forced to read them, but I really don't remember them enough.