Talk:Odyssey/GA1

GA Review

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Reviewer: Whiteguru (talk · contribs) 07:59, 29 September 2020 (UTC)

Starts the Good Article Review. The review will follow the same sections of the article.  

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Lead

1. Is it reasonably well written?
   1. The opening of the Lead is an concise summary of the Odyssey.
   2. The reference to Homeric Greek is appropriate as it was later supplanted by Koine Greek.
   3. The allusion to BBC Culture is significant and could use a link.

 Done BBC Culture linked. It also appears, referenced, under Cultural influence. Best Wishes, Imaginestigers (talk) 20:05, 5 October 2020 (UTC)

This is a part review of the article Odyssey, no further edits to the page will be admitted. The next section of the review will be Synopsis. -- Whiteguru (talk) 10:07, 4 October 2020 (UTC)

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The GA review is on hold until an answer is forthcoming here.

It does not make sense to proceed with reviewing an article while (another editor) is editing the article willy-nilly.   -- Whiteguru (talk) 10:29, 4 October 2020 (UTC)

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Synopsis

1. Is it reasonably well written?
   1. The exposition is terse and concise.
   2. The attached image is neat, appropriate.
   3. Escape to the Phaeacians details several important junctions in the narrative.
   4. Links are given in this section (10 of) which reference significant characters, etc.
   5. Odysseus' account of his adventures touches a lot of bases, and again, links to other characters and locations. There reference to Tiresias and the rite Nekuia are appropriate. All this is encapsulated in a story-within-story to the Phaeacians.
   6. Return to Ithaca sets up the connundrum of secrecy, the return of Telemachus and lays the ground for the slaying of the suitors.
   7. Slaying of the Suitors gives a very terse acccount of the archery, the slaying and the loss of the maids. The Olive Bed is the key.
   8. Each section of the synopsis has a small image, appropriate to each section. Neat.

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Structure

1. Is it reasonably well written?
   1. Tells of the didactic meter of the narrative and its composition and setting of characters with flashbacks.
   2. The books are cited, along with their foci. Short and crisp.

Odysseus

1. Is it reasonably well written?
   1. Intelligence and the battle of the wits between male and female are discoursed.
   2. The paragraph, Towards the end of the poem is somewhat repetitive of the matters covered earlier in this article.

 Done... I think. See version history here. A little unclear on what specifically you mean, so I've moved some things around to better flow, and condensed it where possible.

Geography of the Odyssey

1. Is it reasonably well written?
   1. Raises reasonable textual criticism. Fails to attend to the fact that Odyssey in fee simple is mythological in nature. Should some consideration be given to this?

 Done Best wishes, Imaginestigers (talk) 20:25, 5 October 2020 (UTC).

Influences on the Odyssey

1. Is it reasonably well written?
   1. I suspect there needs to be a bit more discussion about influences on the Odyssey, as untersee journey, the nature of the aphophatic experience (to the ends of the world, into the void to reach the feminine), like this. Consider.

Themes and patterns

1. 1. Homecoming picks up on important parallels and thematics.
   2. Wandering makes the distinctions between narrators, being concealed and returning home. Exgesis of Calypso's name is telling.
   3. The reference to beings who are close to the gods is good, given the amount of interference the gods put into this narrative. Reference to the other characters in this paragraph seems superfluous.
   4. Guest-friendship is a good section; hospitality to the stranger is a universal value, so this section and its critical examination serves good purpose.
   5. The inclusion of Hainsworth's exegesis is good.

Testing

1. 1. Gives clarification about the purpose of testing and the advance of the narrative within context of homecoming;
   2. The type scene gives clarity to the testing process for each type of character

Omens

1. 1. Good clarity on the types of Omens, particularly those of Odysseus and the association with Zeus.
   2. Recognition and interpretation of omens is a common type scene in myth and ancient narratives.

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• This takes the review up to section Textual History; this is a review in progress, not complete. -- Whiteguru (talk) 10:15, 5 October 2020 (UTC)

Textual History

1. Is it reasonably well written?
   1. The reference to Nestor's Cup is appropriate as the first piece of evidence after the Greek 'Dark Ages'
   2. The reference to Pisistratus and the Panathenaia is important as it specifies the beginnings of the complete performances of the Odyssey and Iliad.
   3. Still, dating is a complicated issue; should some reference be given to tracing an oral narrative? It is a question.
   4. Use of Homeric poems as school texts and commentaries confirm research and importance of these texts; Eustathios of Thessalonike is known for his commentaries.
   5. Inclusion of the work of Emily Wilson is significant, for this this kind of textual criticism and analysis is going to be a form of standard inclusion - and criticism - for those studying and analysing Homeric texts (and history) in future. Question, is feminist critique and analysis included in the further reading?

Cultural Influences

1. Is it reasonably well written?
   1. The reference to BBC Culture is apt, as it strongly illustrates both the perennial interest in Homeric poetry and its foundation for many a modern day narrative. A good inclusion.
   2. What is the relevance of Sunpadh?

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• This takes the review up to section Cultural Influence; this is a review in progress, not complete. End Matter is the next step in review. -- Whiteguru (talk) 00:21, 10 October 2020 (UTC)

End Matter

1. It is Broad in its coverage?
   1. It is challenging to write of the Odyssey and keep the influence of the Iliad out of the article.
   2. The principal elements of the narrative are covered: Homecoming, Wandering, Guest-Friendship, Testing, Omens.
   3. The Textual History is terse by need and terse due extensive archeologicial activity over two centuries.
   4. Nonetheless, the textual tradition covers extensive use of this tale in education over many centuries, in addition to brief references to commentaries.
   5. The listing of English translations is telling when explored, given the different approaches to textual criticism, translation and form criticism. Moreover, feminist critique has been included, and there is a sense that much of historical exegesis of narrative poetry and early writings will be subject to more and more of feminist critique, perhaps bringing a balance to reading and comprehension.
   6. Commencing with BBC Culture, the Cultural influences - across media and the arts - illustrates the profound influence this narrative has had on modern literature and the arts. So we get Literature (good coverage, can't go further into journals, etc.) Film and Television , Opera and Music; it is broad in its coverage of cultural influence. Leopold Bloom is forever celebrated on "Bloomsday".
   7. Works Cited: all examined.
2. It follows the neutral point of view policy:
   1. Yes, neutral in coverage. No particular slew to any interpretation noted.
3. Is it stable?
   1. 215383 page views in the last 60 days For a page that was created on November 11, 2001, it has experienced 7519 edits over the years. There are 615 page watchers. 3756 editors have contributed to this page.
   2. Top editors are Imaginestigers, then Katolophyromai, Crm8z8. The page may need to go to full protection if edit wars break out given the intense amount of page views this page is experiencing.
4. It is illustrated by images : yes, plenty of images, all appropriate and well placed.

Closing

1. Well written?: Pass
2. Factually accurate?: Pass
3. Broad in coverage?: Pass
4. Neutral point of view?: Pass
5. Article stability?: Pass
6. Images?: Pass