On First Looking Into Chapman's Homer

(3) Base Camp

Sure, we've got some specific references that have to be looked up: Chapman's Homer, Apollo, Cortez, Darien. But once you've done a little recon, the poem is pretty straightforward. It's got a simple metaphor—that books are like undiscovered lands—and even though it rewards a careful reader with some complex interpretations about the poet's role, there isn't much here that makes your head spin.