Option One— The Odyssey :  For the first option, focused solely on Homer’s Odyssey , there are a variety of topics to choose from. Keep in mind that the questions under each topic are intended to stimulate your thinking—you are not required to address each and every one: The Concept of Justice :  In the very first speech in the epic, Zeus claims that “mortals blame the gods. / From us alone, they say, come all their miseries, yes, / but they themselves, with their own reckless ways, / compound their pains beyond their proper share” (I. 37-40). This emphasis on human responsibility recurs throughout the epic, particularly regarding the suitors, yet at other times fate seems fixed. Consider the degree to which humans bring on their own destiny, and the degree to which fate appears to be decreed and unchangeable. In pondering this question, you might consider the function of prophecy, the role of the gods, and the force of human character on the events of the epic. In the world depicted here, how great a scope is allowed for human choice? Closely related to the question of justice is the question of human suffering. To what extent is suffering deserved? The Wanderings of Odysseus :  Choose just one episode, or two that are related, in the wanderings of Odysseus as he relates them to the Phaeacians in Books IX-XII and consider how that episode relates to the epic as a whole. What important themes, motifs, and/or images are featured? How do they resonate with the larger themes of the epic? Testing :  The epic is filled with contests, from tests of physical strength in Scheria and Ithaca to Odysseus’ testing of the members of his household, and their testing of him, to name just the most obvious. Why the emphasis on testing? What is being tested, and why? Women :  Consider the role of women in the epic, whether mortal or divine. For what are they most praised? Most denigrated? You would do well to choose just one woman, or one contrasting pair (Helen and Penelope, for example) as you consider this question. Fathers and Sons :  The epic begins with the story of Agamemnon and Orestes, and ends with the image of Laertes, Odysseus, and Telemachos fighting side by side; in between the epic is filled with fathers and sons. What appears to be valued in the father-son relationship? Odysseus :  Consider the man himself—lying trickster or epic hero? A man of reckless daring or formidable self-restraint? Does he change or is his character consistent (or inconsistent!) throughout? Option Two—Comparative Essay :  This option asks you to compare elements of The Odyssey and Beowulf . Both are classed as epics, with much in common, yet there are key differences. The choices below ask you to choose one specific element of the epic to focus on. The Hero :  What is the most important or most interesting difference between Odysseus and Beowulf in terms of their character—who they are as individuals? The Nature of Their Quests :  Consider the nature of .

1. Option One—
The Odyssey
: For the first option, focused solely on Homer’s
Odyssey
, there are a variety of topics to choose from. Keep in mind that
the questions under each topic are intended to stimulate your
thinking—you are not required to address each and every one:
The Concept of Justice
: In the very first speech in the epic, Zeus claims that “mortals
blame the gods. / From us alone, they say, come all their
miseries, yes, / but they themselves, with their own reckless
ways, / compound their pains beyond their proper share” (I. 37-
40). This emphasis on human responsibility recurs throughout
the epic, particularly regarding the suitors, yet at other times
fate seems fixed. Consider the degree to which humans bring on
their own destiny, and the degree to which fate appears to be
decreed and unchangeable. In pondering this question, you
might consider the function of prophecy, the role of the gods,
and the force of human character on the events of the epic. In
the world depicted here, how great a scope is allowed for human
choice? Closely related to the question of justice is the question
of human suffering. To what extent is suffering deserved?
The Wanderings of Odysseus
: Choose just one episode, or two that are related, in the
wanderings of Odysseus as he relates them to the Phaeacians in
Books IX-XII and consider how that episode relates to the epic
as a whole. What important themes, motifs, and/or images are
featured? How do they resonate with the larger themes of the
epic?
Testing
: The epic is filled with contests, from tests of physical

2. strength in Scheria and Ithaca to Odysseus’ testing of the
members of his household, and their testing of him, to name just
the most obvious. Why the emphasis on testing? What is being
tested, and why?
Women
: Consider the role of women in the epic, whether mortal or
divine. For what are they most praised? Most denigrated? You
would do well to choose just one woman, or one contrasting pair
(Helen and Penelope, for example) as you consider this
question.
Fathers and Sons
: The epic begins with the story of Agamemnon and Orestes,
and ends with the image of Laertes, Odysseus, and Telemachos
fighting side by side; in between the epic is filled with fathers
and sons. What appears to be valued in the father-son
relationship?
Odysseus
: Consider the man himself—lying trickster or epic hero? A
man of reckless daring or formidable self-restraint? Does he
change or is his character consistent (or inconsistent!)
throughout?
Option Two—Comparative Essay
: This option asks you to compare elements of
The Odyssey
and
Beowulf
. Both are classed as epics, with much in common, yet there are
key differences. The choices below ask you to choose one
specific element of the epic to focus on.

3. The Hero
: What is the most important or most interesting difference
between Odysseus and Beowulf in terms of their character—
who they are as individuals?
The Nature of Their Quests
: Consider the nature of their quests. What are their goals?
What do they achieve? What do their differing endings suggest?
Monsters
: How do the monsters the heroes encounter differ? How are
they similar? Which epic’s monsters are more human? Which
are more difficult to defeat? Which monsters are the most
sympathetic? Why?
Women
: Consider the role of women in the two epics, whether mortal
or divine. For what are they most praised? Most denigrated?
Does this differ between the two texts? You would do well to
choose just one woman from each text as you consider this
question.
Fathers and Sons, Kings and Thanes
: Both epics are concerned with intergenerational relationships
between men, whether fathers and sons like Odysseus and
Telemachos or kings and their thanes, like Hrothgar and
Beowulf. What appears to be valued in these relationships? Are
they really analogous?
As you write your essay, keep in mind the importance of a
strong, argumentative thesis. Remember: your thesis must do
more than simply state a fact. It must make an
arguable assertion
about the text. A second key to successfully completing this
assignment is staying grounded in the text—analyze the text

4. closely and let it support your argument. Remember: plot
summary is
NOT
analysis! You may consider your audience (your reader) to
have read Homer’s
Odyssey
and
Beowulf
, so there is no need to recapitulate the plot or circumstances of
the work.
A few further “technical” points to remember as you write your
essay
: Literature lives in the present moment. That means the action
of the poem is conceived of as taking place in a perpetual
present: “After the defeat of Troy, Odysseus begins his journey
home” or “Odysseus tells his audience the story of his
wanderings.” Just because Homer and the
Beowulf
poet wrote in the past does not mean you should write about the
action of the poem as taking place in the past: it lives anew with
every reading.
Regarding the format of quotations
: Quotations of less than four lines are integrated into the text,
and for verse, slashes indicate line breaks: “Only Alcinous’
daughter held fast, for Athena planted / courage within her
heart, dissolved the trembling in her limbs, / and she firmly
stood her ground and faced Odysseus …” (VI. 153-5). Note that
the capitalization scheme is preserved, as is all punctuation, and
the location of the lines of text is specified by designating the
book and line numbers in parentheses. Longer quotations are
indented, giving each line of verse its own line of text, and do
not require quotation marks; the designation of line numbers
follows on the last line. No outside criticism is to be used, so

5. there should be no need to cite any sources beyond the poem
itself.