Look at Storytelling in the Odyssey
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The importance of storytelling in the ancient Greek culture is undeniable as its impact amongst all audiences usually proved to be significantly poignant. Storytelling became the primary source of entertainment and discussion amongst the Greeks, but more notably, it also became a crucial tool for teaching fundamental and relevant lessons to the listener. Nestor of Homer's The Odyssey provides us with the most appropriate example of this as he takes Telemachos through the story of Agamemnon, warning and teaching him so that Ithaka and his family will hopefully be spared of the same tragedy. The story was told shortly after Telemachos and his men arrived at Pylos and found Nestor. Nestor is telling the story of Agamemnon to Telemachos with the purpose of informing him more so than to just entertain him. The point at which Nestor informs Telemachos of the tragedy of Agamemnon is right at the beginning of Telemachos' mission to find his father and resist the suitors. Telemachos realizes the value of this story beforehand, as he prompts the story with his numerous questions. "How did Atreus' son, widely ruling Agamemnon, die? And where was Menelaos? What scheme of death did treacherous Aigisthos have, to kill one far better than he was?..