the Odyssey

Hey all, which book or event of the Odyssey would be best to expand into an essay topic?  Most obviously, there would be the most outside information about the pantheon of gods, but everyone is probably writing about that.  Any specific event that's easily grounded in other Greek myths or other text that would be fun to research and write about?

You should pick something that has worked its way into a popular saying, then use that saying constantly as if you are unaware that it came from the very story you are writing about.

If you want something that's grounded in other Greek myths then you could always write about Odysseus's pre-Odyssey career as an Achaean general in the Iliad. Or you could look at Roman writers and their (unflattering) presentation of Odysseus, and what it says about the difference between the cultures.

 Or if your marker is the kind who loves it when people drag sociological faggotry into unrelated topics, you could write about Penelope's trials while Odysseus is away and what that says about Greek ideals of femininity and gender relations.

that would be fun to research and write about
Nothing on the topic would be fun to research or write about. End of thread.