What are the connections to the odyssey in the movie big fish?

Answer 1

I don't remember the character's names in The Odyssey, but the hero, George Clooney was Odysseus, the one who traveled far away for many years. His wife, Penelope (who had suitors for her hand in marriage) waited for him to come home. The blind old black man was the blind prophet (Oracle) who told Odysseus what would happen during his travels. John Goodman's character was the Cyclops, the one eyed monster who tried to kill Odysseus and his two followers (the ones who escaped from prison with him in the movie) and keep them from finding the (non-existent) treasure. The two men who went along with Odysseus were seduced by the singing women (representing Circe), and were thought to have been turned into frogs, whereas in the Odyssey, I believe they were turned into pigs. I'm afraid I don't remember the correlation between the young Black man who sold his soul to the devil and the characters of the Odyssey, but the Cyclops tried to kill him as well as Odysseus and his two followers.

To be honest, what I've written is confusing, now that I look at it.

You can read about Odysseus and the Odyssey on the Wikipedia website:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odysseus

Answer 2

-Edward Bloom is a big fish in a small pond; Larger than life Odysseus is an epiphet for Odysseus

- After Edward meets Sandra, he is drafted into the Korean War and must go to extreme lengths to return to her; Odysseus is reluctant to go to the Trojan War and goes through great difficulties to get back to his wife/kingdom

- Both motivated by family, particularly their wives

- Both have loyal wives while they are away

- Jenny captivates Edward as a love interest, but Edward’s love for his family prevents him from committing to her; Circe falls in love with a married man and finds ways to keep him around; Edward + Odysseus both care for Jenny + Circe, respectively, but their love for their wives/family outweighs this affection

-Edward gets foretold his future by a one eyed witch who can see the future and tells him his prophecy; Odysseus is sent to talk to the Blind Prophet Tiresias who also predicts Odysseus's future