Levitt and Dubner, the authors of the influential book "Freakonomics," argue that students have always felt compelled to cheat to achieve better grades, which in turn can lead to improved social status. Additionally, teachers started to engage in cheating as they, too, faced pressures related to their students' performance, with their employment sometimes hinging on student success. For instance, in Chicago, a school was nearing closure due to poor grades, prompting teachers to resort to dishonest practices to retain their jobs. While this behavior did arise from incentives, Levitt and Dubner's findings suggest that only around 5% of teachers engage in cheating, with honesty prevailing among the majority. A similar trend is observed with sumo wrestlers, who often cheat in response to dissatisfaction with their low incomes.
Some elements of epic poetry reflected in the Odyssey include:
- Supernatural aspects, as it delves deeply into themes of gods and the afterlife
- A challenging journey filled with trials, such as when the characters are caught in a violent storm at sea
- A Hero demonstrating resilience
Explicit descriptions are clearly defined. When an author articulates someone's appearance or traits explicitly, it means they provide exact details about how they look or who they are, indicating that the description is straightforward. It is not implied because the writer states it outright. It doesn’t imply that it’s fictional, which would be an absurd assumption. It doesn't even involve any deduction since the author is clearly detailing everything.
What I understand is that repetition is a common technique employed by the author in the Epic of Gilgamesh, as is the theme of duality. By using repetition, the author emphasizes significant themes within the narrative or characteristics of a character. Occasionally, it also serves to contrast different events or characters. Furthermore, this technique not only reinforces narrative elements but also suggests a strong oral tradition since these stories were likely passed down verbally before being inscribed on tablets.
