The Odyssey is a variation of the protagonist’s name, Odysseus, meaning “the story of Odysseus,” similar to the Iliad, which means “the story of Ilium”. Homer, the believed author of both epics, made the titles reveal that the tales would be about the heroes. Since the epic poem became so famous, “Odyssey” now refers to a long and rigorous journey.
The Odyssey is an epic poem that is a compilation of ancient Greek rhapsodies believed to be first written down by Homer, but the stories themselves were already told orally. Scholars debate as to whether Homer was an actual person or if they were a group of men who created these stories, since very little is known about the suspected author. It is believed that he lived anywhere between the 8th
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Odysseus is the protagonist and both a dynamic and flat character. He learns to control his arrogance, however keeps many of his selfish behavior. Telemachus is a dynamic character who represents the change in coming of age and maturity. He starts off as an insecure character but transforms into a man with strong character, well deserving of his title of Odysseus’s son. Penelope is a flat character, being the wife of Odysseus she is courted by many suitors yet still stays fiercely loyal to her husband. She displays the value ancient Greeks placed in the loyalty of women.
The sea is a huge symbol that stands for life’s difficulties through all its joys and heartbreaks. Argus, Odysseus’ dog, is a symbol of loyalty since he is the first to recognize the hero, even in his disguise and is so happy that it finally dies in peace. Hospitality was possibly the single most important motif in the Odyssey because it reflected Xenia, the most important concept to
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Possibly the most memorable quote is when Odysseus reveals his name to Polyphemus after having stabbed the cyclops in its eye. This shows Odysseus’s arrogance, and sets up the whole story for the rest of his conflicts. “When they had made fast the running gear all along the black ship, then they set up the mixing bowls, filling them brimful with wine, and poured to the gods immortal and everlasting but beyond all other gods they poured to Zeus’ gray-eyed daughter” (Book 2, 430-433). This was when Telemachus was leaving Ithaca to go to Pylos and see Nestor. They made an offering to Athena, ironically while she was in the ship disguised as Mentor. This also shows that Telemachus still respects the Gods even though he believes they are against him. “Surely we two have eaten much hospitality from other men before we came back here. May Zeus only make an end of such misery hereafter. Unharness the strangers ' horses then, and bring the men here to be feasted” (Book 4, 33-36). This shows the importance Greeks put on hospitality, showing that even kings enjoyed the xenia of others.
Criticism occured about The Odyssey in regards to how women were portrayed throughout the epic as seductresses and insignificant characters, and the double standards regarding adultery. There is still no common ground
Whether if it is through Athena’s words of wisdom that lead him to the correct direction, or in this particular scene, Hermes’s instructions for overpowering the dreadfully beautiful witch, the gods continue to favor Odysseus and make him an outlier of men, forever exempt from death and failure. He is “Odysseus, great Laertes’s son, known for [his] cunning throughout the world, and [his] fame reaches even to the heavens”(9.21-23) He is a man whose abilities are given by the gods and his life is blessed by Zeus himself. In some essence, Odysseus is sculpted to become the leader he is today, a respected and charismatic hero who is welcomed by his men with tears of joy and cries of relief, even before his birth and the start of the trojan war. Odysseus is predestined to be the hero blessed by the gods.
This evidence from Bowra proves once again that Homer's structure of his works only leads to confusion for the reader. “The events of the Odyssey could have been arranged more simply and chronologically, beginning with the sack of Troy by the ruse of the Trojan horse and ending with the completion of Odysseus' nostos. But Homer chose to abandon his hero for several books in the beginning, to give earlier episodes nested in songs of other bards, and to let Odysseus himself narrate his fabulous adventures” (Bloom). Bloom's evidence provides the thought that Homer is trying to let Odysseus be the narrator and main character, but only ends up creating non chronological events that confuse the reader. Bloom also shows that Homer tries to build more for other stories rather than finishing the story he previously started.
In the epic poem, Odysseus battles many obstacles on his long journey back home to Ithaca, where he must be reunited with his wife and son and confront the disrespectful suitors. Along the way, he and his son, Telemachus, experience support from the goddess Athena in particular, yet Odysseus also endures hostility from the antagonistic Polyphemus and Poseidon. In The Odyssey, Homer depicts the intimate, sometimes complicated relationships as well as the balance of power between mortals and the gods while showing the importance of loyalty and hospitality to ancient Greek life. The first powerful mortal-god
Odyssey, however did not have much of a reason for being written, it was Homer way of storytelling through a poem. Homer travelled and gained the story of Odysseus, and he create the verbal form of the Odyssey through this information (Beye, 1968:158). The Troyon war, and the heroes of it, was the myths(History) which people talked
The Odyssey is an age old classic read around the world. In the Odyssey, Homer tells the story of the wayward Odysseus. The story follows the protagonist as he makes his way back home, dealing with man-eating Cyclopes, a vengeful god, and a possessive nymph. During the story, the reader sees many sides of Odysseus as he dealt with his tribulations, such the cunning and witful side, but also the pompous and indulgent side. To begin with, Odysseus is trapped on an island with the nymph, Calypso.
In the epic story the Odyssey by Homer, Odysseus is returning from the Trojan war, and on his way home he finds many obstacles ahead of him. Odysseus is the ruler of Ithaca and he is trying to return home to his land. Many creatures try and stop him from achieving his goal of returning home, but he and his crew have to push through and get home. Odysseus portrays bravery and courage leading his crew through these tough challenges. Odysseus heroically leads his crew and himself through dangerous obstacles, but also foolishly endangers them during the journey home.
All through The Odyssey, the characters develop in a certain way that interchanges the outcome of the book. Odysseus is able to develop knowledge and wisdom to deal with his men during the battle and the suitors who were frustrating his wife. In addition, he came back home as a hero after the Trojan War. Telemachus developed into a mature man who could deal with any problem in his father’s absence. However, based on the story, it is evident that, Telemachus demonstrates a great change basing upon the times the characters were away from Ithaca.
The odyssey, an epic told by Homer in ancient greece, has many major themes following odysseus’s adventures. While Odysseus is sentenced to never return home after the Trojan War. He is overcoming challenges to return home to his wife penelope and his son Telemachus. Throughout the story major themes of loyalty, hospitality and vengeance are hidden within the plot. The story continues to show his heroic side with three major traits.
The first is the theme of hospitality. Throughout The Odyssey, a common theme of hospitality has been shown. Eumaeus has welcomed the traveler into his home and has given him shelter and food despite the fact that he has little to offer compared to some of the other people that have hosted Odysseus. In this passage Eumaeus tells some of the other swine herders to get the largest hog and cut him up for their guest. This shows hospitality because Eumaeus wants the best for his guest no matter who the person is.
The Odyssey by Homer revolves around the character, Odysseus, and his ten-year struggle to return home after the Trojan War. As the epic’s idol, he displays the combination of a clever, handsome, and courageous man popular among the mortals as well as the gods. Essentially, he embodies the ideals of the ancient Greek culture, being adorned with many favored characteristics of the era. However, an intriguing aspect of Odysseus lies in his personality. As the protagonist, he does not manifest the entirety of a stereotypical hero because Odysseus has a fatal flaw—his arrogance.
Homer delivers very universal themes, such as loyalty is respected, but the epic also provides meaningful themes that are not as recognizable. The Odyssey is very focused on leadership and courage, as it centers on a hero's journey. There are many parts in the epic where Homer explains the actions of an admirable leader. In the Odyssey, Odysseus exemplifies the true meaning of being a leader through courage in the face of danger, which is shown by Circe, the Sirens, and the suitors. One might wonder why it takes Odysseus ten years to return to his homeland after he has achieved victory for Ithaca in the Trojan War.
The Odyssey by Homer is a book that involves the Journey of Odysseus and his men and the Obstacles they come across. The Odyssey portrays many themes including vengeance, hospitality, courage, bravery and more. Odysseus experiences some good and bad during his journey. He comes across people who help him, but also comes across creatures who hold him back. Odysseus is an Epic hero because of his quick thinking skills, bravery, and confidence for himself and his men.
The Odyssey, gods like Athena and Poseidon interfere with humans to satisfy their own desires, showing that they are just as imperfect and flawed as the mortals that they rule over. Athena favors Odysseus since he reminds her of herself. He portrays the same cunning, guile, and intelligence as she does; Athena had confided to him that “two of a kind, we are, contrivers, both,” comparing how similar they are. “Of all men now alive,” she says, “you are the best in plots and story telling.
Odysseus’s Traits Throughout the Odyssey, the main character Odysseus goes on an epic adventure with his focus being to get home to his wife Penelope, and his son Telemachus. He faces many obstacles dealing with characters such as the Cyclopes, Poseidon, Aeolus, Athena, Helios, Calypso, Zeus, Hermes, Scylla, and Circe. Odysseus’s men are some of the most valuable people to him throughout the Odyssey. He always puts himself in front of danger for them to protect them even though they all died from an unexpected turn of events soon before he returns home. When Odysseus comes home he greets his twenty year old son and straightens things out on his homeland, Ithaca.
This character is brought to light using several incidents and events that help to analyze and interpret the ancient Greek world and the values surrounding them. Each episode supports and allows for the development of Odysseus’ character and acknowledges the effects of these features. Through these specific incidents, the reader uncovers the quality of Odysseus and how his characteristics relate to those praised by Greeks and those that were criticized. Persistent components of Odysseus’ character include cleverness and pride, while major themes that are reiterated are Greek ideals and the struggle to reach home. Conclusively, definitive occasions in “The Odyssey” establish and expand upon the character of Odysseus and how it impacts himself and