Proem, the Odyssey by Homer
From Cultural Artifacts with Mandi Gerth by Helping students love things worthy of their love
April 9, 2026 · 14 min
About this episode
In this episode, Mandi Gerth explores the Proem of the Odyssey by Homer, discussing its significance and main characters.
Ulysses and the Sirens by John William Waterhouse In this episode, we contemplate the beauty of the first twelve lines, or the Proem, of the Odyssey by Homer. Mandi reads from the introduction to Emily Wilson’s translation so that you get an idea of the movement of this epic while also becoming familiar with its three main characters: Odysseus, Penelope, and Telemachus. It is hard to overstate the importance of reading both the Homeric epics if you teach in a classical school or if you have begun to homeschool your children classically. These two poems—the Iliad and the Odyssey—find their way into every corner of a classical curriculum because they are so central to the Western tradition. Enjoy! Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Cultural Artifacts and Homer 00:52 The Significance of the Odyssey 06:29 Character Analysis: Odysseus, Penelope, and Telemachus 11:32 Themes and Teaching Strategies in the Odyssey Resources Mentioned: Purchase Fagles’ Translation of the Odyssey. Listen to Claire Danes read The Odyssey on Audible Subscribe to Mrs. Gerth Teaches . Learn more about Thoroughness & Charm . Attend Repairing the Ruins . June 25-27, Atlanta, GA Thanks for reading Mrs. Gerth…
People in this episode
Host: Mandi Gerth
Topics covered
- Homer
- Odyssey
- classical education
- character analysis
- teaching strategies
- Western tradition
Keywords
- Homer
- Odyssey
- classical education
- Odysseus
- Penelope
- Telemachus
- Emily Wilson
- character analysis
- teaching strategies
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Mrs. Gerth Teaches
Books & works: Odyssey, Iliad
Places: Atlanta, GA
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