The Unknown Odysseus is a study of how Homer creates two versions of his hero, one who is the triumphant protagonist of the revenge plot, and another, more subversive, anonymous figure, whose various personae exemplify an entirely different set of assumptions about the world through which each hero moves and the shape and meaning of human life. Separating the two perspectives allows us to see more clearly how the poem’s dual focus can begin to explain some of the notorious difficulties readers have encountered in thinking about the poem.In
The Unknown Odysseus , Thomas Van Nortwick offers the most complete exploration to date of the implications of Odysseus’ divided nature, showing how it allows Homer to explore the riddles of human identity in a profound way that is not usually recognized by studies focusing on only one
real
hero in the narrative. This new perspective on Homer’s Odyssey enriches the world of the poem in a way that will interest both general readers and classical scholars. This is the most accessible and thorough reading of the dual nature of Odysseus.