[Digital publication] ‘A coup de theatre in the Odyssey’ (original) (raw)

A coup de théâtre in the Odyssey examines the dramatic elements present in Homer's epic, particularly through the character of Odysseus during key events leading up to the slaughter of the suitors in Book 22. The analysis focuses on the thematic significance of entrances and exits within the narrative, highlighting how they contribute to the buildup of tension and expectation, and how they ultimately serve as transformational moments akin to the Aristotelian concepts of peripeteia and anagnorisis. By employing a 'dramatistic' reading, the author illuminates the intersection of textual storytelling and performance, revealing the layered theatricality in the dynamics at play within the courtly environment of the Odyssey.