I've read this book quite a few times, but I've never really looked at Telemachus' journey in the way that Dr. Struck presents it in lecture 2.3. The idea that Athena is sending him to visit these great heroes so that he can see how they react to his situation and therefore learn to act appropriately himself is brilliant. It really makes me want to reread the first few books this week to see how it changes the way I approach it.

Honestly, I always saw this introduction in two ways. The first was simply a "getting to know you" with Telemachus. Through watching him interact with figures we already know from the Iliad, we get a better sense of who he is and we care more about what happens at home. The second was a way of learning more about what happened post-Iliad.

I still think that both of those were accurate, but I'm really intrigued by the idea of Athena trying to work Telemachus into a "real man" by sending him to learn from heroes.

:) It's the original Hero's Journey, isn't it! I really enjoyed those lectures, I'm looking forward to seeing the ones covering 5-8.

Hero's Journey is very, very simplified ;) but certainly useful for certain purposes.

Maybe "Making of a Hero", then. :) A prequel to great deeds.

Did you know that there are several journeys as depicted by Campbell? Unfortunately, I have yet to read the book...

No, it's been on my list forever as well...maybe we should do a read-along sometime. :)

I'm amusing myself by doing a compare-and-contrast on Telemachus and Marcus Yallow...

Caroline wrote: "No, it's been on my list forever as well...maybe we should do a read-along sometime. :)

I'm amusing myself by doing a compare-and-contrast on Telemachus and Marcus Yallow..."

Believe or not, many writers use it to plot out their stories :)