The document compares the use of prolepsis as a narrative technique in Homer's Odyssey and the movie The Time Traveler's Wife. Prolepsis involves flashing forward in the storytelling. Both works use prolepsis through prophecies about events that will later unfold. This creates tension and anticipation for the audience as they wait to see how the foretold events progress. The purpose and result of prolepsis in both works is the same - to build anticipation and interest in how the story will progress towards the fated endings.

1. Prolepsis
Comparing narratology in Homer’s Odyssey, and The Time Traveler’s
Wife.

2. The time traveler’s
wife
2009
The movie follows a man with a
genetic condition that forces him to
travel through time
The narration of the movie uses
prolepsis- a flash forward in
storytelling that takes the narration
forward

3. The odyssey
Archaic period
Epic poem follows a man plagued by
the gods who force him through
many difficulties
The narration of the poem uses
prolepsis- a flash forward in
storytelling that takes the narration
forward

4. Examples of prolepsis
Prophecy in The Prophecy in the
Time Traveler’s Wife Odyssey
• 1.15.10-1.15.28 Henry • Book 1: Athena
travels to future in present prophesizes Odysseus’s
timeline and meets future
Alba who tells him he dies return and revenge on the
when she’s 5 suitors
• 1.21.38-1.21.55 present • Book 2: Halitherses
Alba tells Claire that future prophesizes all is working
Alba told her Henry dies out for Odysseus and that
he will return home to his
• 1.26.26-1.26.40 present
Henry sees future Henry die loved ones unrecognized
and take revenge on the
• 1.32.49-1.34.28 Henry dies suitors
in the present timeline and
we finally see how • Book 21 & 22: we see how
the prophecies finally
unfold

5. Purpose and result of
prolepsis in time
traveler’s wife
Creates tension in audience waiting
for the foretold events to unfold
Builds anticipation
Creates interest in how events will
progress from present to the end
Creates idea of fate

6. Purpose and result of
prolepsis in the
odyssey
Creates tension in audience waiting
for the foretold events to unfold
Builds anticipation
Creates interest in how events will
progress from present to the end

7. Τέλος
Lee and Sarah