Odysseus’ Scar
[ . . . ] The oft-repeated reproach that Homer is a liar takes nothing from his effectiveness, he does not need to base his story on historical reality, his reality is powerful enough in itself; it ensnares us, weaving its web around us, and that suffices him. And this “real” world into which we are lured, exists for itself, contains nothing but…
Erich Auerbach’s “Odysseus’ Scar” serves as the opening chapter of his 1946 master work, Mimesis: The Representation of Reality in Western Literature. Writing while he was in exile from Germany in Istanbul during World War II, Auerbach had limited access to secondary sources. “Odysseus’ Scar” contrasts the patterns and protagonists of Homer’s Odyssey with human figures found in the Hebrew Bible; the latter, Auerbach claims, offer models for the psychological exploration of personal and familial dilemmas.
Related Guide
Destruction, Rebirth, and Cultural Thought
The years between 1939 and 1973 witnessed unprecedented tragedy and transformation for the Jewish people.
You may also like
First Proclamation: 26 May 1941
This proclamation by the Chabad-Lubavitch leader urges American Jews to return to religious observance during the Holocaust.
The Last Stage of Deportation Is Death
Damaged but recovered from the Ringelblum Archive, this report uses official Judenrat data to document the reality of mass murder.
The National Being and the Jewish Community
Published as a pamphlet, this reprinted essay explores Jewish national identity and its role within the pluralistic American landscape.
A Diary of the Nazi Ghetto in Vilna
These recovered notebooks document the daily struggle and intellectual life within the Vilna ghetto.
Call to Arms
This document helped shift the mindset of ghetto residents from passive victims to active revolters against total annihilation.
Answer to the Oyneg Shabes Questionnaire
In this response to a secret archive questionnaire, a physician explores the breakdown of medical infrastructure and community ethics.