Should High school Juniors study the Odyssey and Iliad?
I read both the Odyssey and the Iliad as a freshman in high school, yes it is very difficult to understand, however the earlier it is taught the better, so much of literature is based on these two works, they are both among my favorite works I have read in High School, and as a senior I have read many. Besides would we say Shakespeare is also not simple enough for a Junior, Shakespearean literature is in many ways I believe even more challenging than the Odyssey, yet many schools begin teaching Romeo and Juleit to freshman. Thus are we to say that because a work is challenging it should be held off? I believe that there is a serious flaw in your thinking, both of thses works are commonly alluded to in almost any literature written after these works, which is pretty much everything. The Odyssey is the quitessential story to illustrate the hero, and his journey, without knowing the Odyssey as early as possible students can lose many opportunities to gain so much more understanding. Havin