The Pedagogical Role of Homeric Epics: The Case of the Odyssey

Abstract: The subject of the present study is the pedagogical role of Odyssey through the centuries. The aim of the study is to present the diachronic contribution of Odyssey to the students’ “humanitarian education”, and to the pedagogical perceptions and values. The theoretical framework of the study is the role of Odyssey in students’ education over time. The study material is (a) the relevant literature, and (b) the “evaluation” of the course by 92 students (school years: 2013–2014, and 2020–2021). The methods used are: (a) the “historical research” by studying primary and secondary data sources, and (b) the “ex-post survey”, a method of secondary data analysis. The main conclusion of the study is that the literary and pedagogical value of Odyssey remains unchanged over time. The adventures of Odysseus, the values, the ideals, the standards and the perceptions in the Odyssey affect the students’ psyche, their imagination and their standards. The students have difficulty understanding the literary value of the epic and the narrative techniques, but they enjoy reading Odyssey.

Key words: Odyssey, narrative techniques, pedagogical role, standards, values