Celebration of Scholars
#11: Intellectual Foundations Scholarship: The Odyssey
Name:
Payton Lange
Major: Allied Health Science
Hometown: Pleasant Prairie, WI
Faculty Sponsor: David Gartner
Other Sponsors:
Type of research: Course project
Abstract
In our Intellectual Foundations course, we had the opportunity to pick topics regarding Homer’s The Odyssey. My paper was specifically an argument on Odysseus’ motivation regarding a vain search for glory and whether or not his pursuits and priorities changed as the story progressed. I desired to write about this topic because of how the deceptive, intricate character Odysseus' motives changed throughout the Greek legend. The change in growth was significant. At first, the heroine’s journeys were for himself: to announce and boast his prominent name. However, after a quick stop in the Underworld, Odysseus became severely humbled, comprehended his selfish ways, and progressively realized that he strongly desired to return to Penelope.My professor’s innovative, engaging discussions impelled me to look deeper into the epic tale and truly appreciate how essential character development is to even the oldest of legendary stories. During high school, I thoroughly enjoyed interpreting literature texts, novels, and poems. However, attempting to obtain sufficient interpretation and understanding of The Odyssey was a definitive struggle, as I received an unusually low score on my first draft of the paper. I eventually came to realize that I wasn’t appreciating or interpreting the story due to my arrogance when it comes to “old language.” Despite outdated wording, it is essential to efficiently comprehend any type of literature.
Submit date: March 20, 2024, 3:29 p.m.