Critical Analysis Paper:
Texts: The Essential Odyssey by S. Lombardo and selected passages from Classics of Western Thought: The Ancient World ed. by D. Gochberg
Length: 5-7 pages The tale of Odysseus’s travels and travails has become one of the enduring classics of the Western
tradition as well as an endearing symbol of the achievements of the ancient Greeks. Using at least
two different primary source selections from ancient Greece in the Classics of Western Thought
book, i.e. found in Chapters 1-13, please discuss how the themes and events of The Odyssey reflect
and highlight the spirit of ancient Greek society as well as relate to experiences and themes of our
modern world. Your discussion should reference some relevant aspects of Greek customary beliefs,
social forms, and or material traits as developed in class and in the readings. For example, if you
decide to include in your essay the theme of justice, you need to demonstrate and explain how this
theme is addressed in The Odyssey and compare it to how other ancient Greek writers dealt with
this theme of justice in two other readings from ancient Greece in the CWT book, again found in
Chapters 1-13. Be sure to identify and discuss specific examples from the source material to
support your analysis. Please note that, while you are required to make use of two other readings
from the CWT book, the heart of your essay should provide a clear indication about what can be
learned about ancient Greek society and about our own world from reading The Essential Odyssey. Two stories to think about are the storys of joob and edipis. The Paper will be typed and double-spaced. Font size must be the standard Times New Roman 12.