Abstract

This piece was written during our reading of Homer’s The Odyssey. I was inspired to write about this particular topic due to a discussion that we had in class regarding who the true protagonist was in the epic. This greatly challenged my thinking and provided me with a different perspective, viewing the poem from an angle in which Athene is the main character. I began to ponder Athene’s role in The Odyssey, resisting the commonly held belief that she is a mentor to Odysseus. While she does have this role, my analysis led me to believe that she plays a larger part and has motives of her own. I explore this further in my essay. In the process of writing this piece, I experienced the value of finding unique perspectives. When one challenges assumptions about a text, there are several avenues for exploration that one can delve into in order to experience changing their perspective and learning something new. I have found this concept to be highly applicable not just in analyzing literature, but in my daily life. Finding new and unique perspectives has improved my reading, interpersonal skills, and my ability to understand others.