Which homer to read first

In greek schools , Odyssey is the first epic to be teached as it's "fairytale" style makes it less complex and more entertaining. The Iliad is a war epic full of passion and violence as Homer was still young by the time he composed it.

If you want to have a chronological flow in your reading , Iliad is the way to go. Enea Qevani Since Odisea sums the aftermath of the war and the personal story of the hero you have to read it second. If not you will have questions later. Same for Eneida. Michael Carradice The Illiad. Then, when you read the Odyssey, many characters there will be old friends. As many older, minor conflicts were mentioned in the Illiad, in the Odyssey the shadow of Troy frames the figure of Odysseus and his old comrades, all veterans from a long protracted war who wished to come back home, only that home did not exist anymore as it was, bereft of the love of the wife or the laughter of the son or the peace of one's own hall.

Repeat this process for each chapter in the Iliad. Read the poem aloud whenever possible. Since the Iliad was written in verse and was likely read aloud to entertain people, this is the ideal way to read the entire story.

However, when possible, read the Iliad out loud. Pay attention to the way that the words sound, such as the rhythm, rhyme, and alliteration. Tip : Listening to an audiobook is another great way to enjoy the way the poem sounds.

Break your reading sessions up to improve your comprehension. The Iliad is a long text—24 chapters over pages—so reading it within the space of a few days is not realistic. Plan to break your reading into several sessions over a period of weeks or months. If you want to read more than one chapter in a single session, try reading for minutes at a time, and then take a minute break to get up walk around, stretch, or get a snack. Write notes in the margins of your book to stay engaged.

Underline interesting or important passages, comment on their significance, or ask questions about them. Always keep a pen or pencil in your hand while you read and think of reading the text as having a conversation with the author.

Method 3. Identify heroic qualities and look for them as you read. The Iliad tells the story of more than one hero, so taking time to think about what qualities you find heroic and looking for them as you read may help you to retain more information about the characters. Both characters value their loved ones, but they put the greater good ahead of their personal desires.

However, Hector is more accepting of his fate, while Achilles actively seeks revenge for the wrongs done to him. Create a running list of characters and their associations. Because there are so many characters in the Iliad , it can be hard to remember all of them and which side they are on. Try dividing a page in your notebook into 2 sections—Trojans and Greeks—and listing the characters you encounter on the camp they are associated with.

Add details about their relationships as you continue with the text. Ask questions as you read to enhance your comprehension. Questioning the text and looking for answers can help to keep you engaged and increase your comprehension. You can also find questions to guide your reading online, such as: [11] X Research source Why are the Trojans and Greeks at war?

What are Agamemnon and Achilles angry at one another? What request does Achilles make of his mother, Thetis? Why does Hector visit his home during the first battle?

Discuss or write a brief summary of each chapter. Immediately after you finish a chapter, review what happened to solidify the information in your mind. Try telling a friend, family member, or classmate about the events of the chapter and its key characters. What reading level is the Odyssey? What is Lexile range? What Lexile level is 9th grade? What is a first grade Lexile level?

How can I improve my Lexile level? What is a good Lexile score for an 11th grader? How do you get your Lexile up in Achieve ? What is Level B in reading?