Odysseus' 20-Year Journey Home in Homer's Epic Poem

The Odyssey
The Odyssey has captured minds for over 2700 years, and the story of Odysseus shows his
determination to fight and conquer obstacles with and without the help of the Gods. The story dates
back before 1000B.c. (The Modern Library, 1950, p.VI) His creative and cunning tactics throughout
the story show his determination to reach his homeland of Ithaca.
After conquering the Trojan War, Odysseus was told by Poseidon "man is nothing without the
gods". Poseidon felt Odysseus was not thankful for Poseidon's help with the battle Trojan War. He
felt Odysseus needed to be taught a lesson to be more thankful to the gods for their help. Odysseus
appeared righteous and gloated that he had conquered Troy on his own. (Hallmark Home
Entertainment, 1997, ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
As the Cyclops threw boulders at the ship, they ended up sailing in the direction they needed toward
Ithaca.
The third conflict was the return of Odysseus to Ithaca. He returned, disguised as a beggar to take
back his throne and get Penelope back. With this example, he again received help from a god, the
goddess Athena (Fagles, 1996, p. 300). After 20 years, Odysseus returned to Ithaca to learn that
suitors had taken over his home in an attempt to steal his throne and gain Penelope's hand.
When Odysseus landed on the sands of Ithaca, Athena told him she had a scheme to help him and
warned him of the trials and suffering that had taken place at his palace (Fagles, 1996, p. 296).
Athena for many years had vanished and he was leary of her words, he told her "you're mocking
me", and he felt that Ithaca was just another kingdom and that was just another test (Fagles, p. 297).
Athena stroked Odysseus with her wand. She shriveled his skin, and covered his body from head to
toe with wrinkled hide of an old man. She gave him a staff, a beggar's sack, torn and tattered and
sent him with Telemachus to regain his thrown. She told him she would be there beside him to
regain his throne (Fagles, 1996, p. 299).
Athena's frequent absence from Odysseus contradicted the quotation "man is nothing without the
gods". Athena complimented Odysseus in a worldly, and self possessed manner. She added she
could not fight her father's brother,
... Get more on HelpWriting.net ...

The Odyssey Essay : The Journey Of The Odyssey
The Odyssey is a a beautiful Epic about a man who has hope through his entire journey.When we
see him on Calypso he has been to sea for a while, while he wants to go home he continues to go to
her bed each night,however regrets it in the morning.One part about this journey that sticks out is
why its taking so long.It wouldn't have taken this long is he didn't poke out Poseidon's son
(Polyphemus) eye,which let to the Polyphemus praying that Odysseus does return home he just
happens to return home alone through treacherous journey.This led to the twenty year journey.
Towards the end of his journey he goes to Circe who tells him of what is to come.Circe tells him of
the underworld how they have someone there that can help him get ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
But on this island some men take the drug that makes them forget home wanting to stay in the land
of the Lotus eaters.After Odysseus grabs them and brings them to the ships they are sailing on.They
land on the cyclops island where Odysseus curse begins.
Once they leave they go to an island with lastrogonians or cannibals.After realizing the
Lastrogoninas eat people Odysseus sails to Circe's island or aeaea,where they get new to go to the
underworld after Odysseus demands she turn the men back to men instead of pigs.He then passes
through the sirens which leads him to Scylla and chanrib . After escaping reaches Helios's island
where he is warned do not eat the cattle,Odysseus warns his men of the danger....they don't listen so
Zeus decides to strike them with lightning except Odysseus who didn't eat the cattle. After this
journey he stays with calypso for several years until he is released and goes to king Alcinous's island
where he retells all of these events.
When he does get home he does not recognize where he is. He goes to the palace and regains trust
of his fellow servants.He sees the suitors who are awaiting Penelope in marriage.Her last challenge
shall be so string a bow and shoot an arrow through twelve axes. Odysseus disguised completes the
task and has one final question from his longed wife. She tells the servants to get the bed, however
Odysseus knows you cant get the need for he has made it irremovable and Penelope

Odyssey Essay : The Odyssey
The Odyssey Essay
The Odyssey overall was a good book. It had a great plot, the story was much in depth, and it had a
very good ending. But, there were 3 parts of The Odyssey that stood out to me the most. I believe
that Odysseus is a good and strong leader because defeated Cyclops, escaping the Sirens, and
defeating Antinous. Whether escaping a giant monster, or escaping a song of death, to defeating his
enemy upon attempting to steal his wife, Odysseus is a good and brave leader throughout the
majority of the book
The first part that stood out was that Odysseus saves his friends in the Cyclops' cave.
He saves his friends from Cyclops' cave by finding a way to escape without killing cyclops. Cyclops
was too abominable to let them go, so they had to find a way to escape.
Cyclops has one eye, so they blinded him by immersing the stake deep into his eye to blind him.
Only five people helped stab cyclops, because the others were appalled to do it. They couldn't kill
Cyclops, because they were in a cave with the entrance sealed off, and Cyclops was the only one
who could move it. Quote: Lines 329–333, Page 692: I drew it from the coals and my four fellows
gave me a hand, lugging it near the Cyclops as more than natural force nerved them; straight
forward they sprinted, lifted it, and rammed it deep in his crater eye. In the quote stated above,
Odysseus is driving the wooden stake into Cyclops' eye. Cyclops at the moment was inept, making
it easier to stab him. The quote proves

Odyssey Essay : The Odyssey
The Odyssey Essay The Odyssey , is the second epic written by Homer. It talks about Odysseus
being ripped away from his homeland, Ithaca, and trying to return back home after the Trojan War.
He is known as a heroic figure, the King of Ithaca and an epic hero. When he was torn away from
Ithaca, he had to leave behind his people including his family to fight in the Trojan War. On his way
home he encountered many obstacles, monsters and other creatures. He finally returns home from
his long journey home 20 years later; to find suitors were trying to take his home and wife. Most
people will say that Penelope had it rough being by herself for 20 years never knowing if Odysseus
would ever return, but Odysseus never knew if he would make it to live through the next day.
Odysseus had suffered more than Penelope when Odysseus was dragged to Troy to fight in the
Trojan war.
When Odysseus left to serve in the Trojan War he missed seeing his only son, Telemachus, grow up.
Telemachus was only an infant when his father, Odysseus, left and sailed to Troy to battle the
Trojans. Odysseus never got to witness him take his first steps, say his first words, heard sheep or
string his first bow. Leaving his wife, Penelope, to take care of Telemachus. It was hard to take care
of him, but she had maids by her side and Odysseus's mother help raise him. Odysseus never saw
Telemachus grow up and become prince Telemachus. When Odysseus returned back to Ithaca, to
duel the suitors "He dropped his

The Odyssey
In Greek Mythology, women were either very fierce or very weak. Women were usually defined by
wits, beauty, or bad deeds. In The Odyssey women were not in the background. On the contrary,
women were powerful. They charmed and controlled men, provided wisdom, and took care of them.
The Odyssey appears to be strongly female based.
Penelope is the wife of Odysseus who is the king of Ithaca. When Odysseus is called off to the
Trojan War Penelope shows great faithfulness and wit. She stays faithful to her husband and waits
for him for twenty years. This shows strong internal will and love for only one man, her husband,
Odysseus. During this time, many different suitors tried to court her and offered marriage proposals.
She shows great wit ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
When Odysseus and his men come to their island Calypso, first, uses her beauty to captivate him
and keep him with her. She wanted him to stay with him and be an immortal husband to her. She
was ordered to release him and she eventually did. However, Circe wanted Odysseus for herself.
She lured Odysseus and his men with her beauty, she then poisoned them and kept Odysseus for
herself. He gave in to the temptation. "So she spoke to them, and the rest gave voice, and called her
and at once she opened the shining doors, and came out, and invited them in, and all in their
innocence entered; only Eurylochos waited outside, for he suspected treachery. She brought them
inside and seated them on chairs and benches, and mixed them a potion, with barley and cheese and
pale honey added to Pramneian wine, but put into the mixture malignant drugs, to make them
forgetful of their own country. When she had given them this and they had drunk it down, next thing
she struck them with her wand and drove them into her pig pens, and they took on the look of pigs,
with the heads and voices and bristles of pigs, but the minds within them stayed as they had been
before." (Homer, 1994–2009)
There are many more women in The Odyssey. They all play a strong roll of strong wit, beauty, or
wrong doings. Some of the women even posses all of these traits. The Odyssey can actually be
looked to be a story based strongly on what the women say or do. They pretty much

The Odyssey : The Historical Importance Of The Odyssey
It is important to keep reading, "The Odyssey." Even though it is 2800, years old, students still need
to learn about it. It is important to continue studying "The Odyssey" because is it a moral story, the
historical significance is important, and it is essential to study other culture's mythology. "The
Odyssey" is read as a moral story. Odysseus learned lessons and faces many obstacles that challenge
his faith and loyalty. He was able to survive because he learned he needed to listen to the Gods and
Goddesses. An example of Odysseus being loyal to his wife and crew was when he heard the Sirens.
In book 12, line 192, it states, "So they spoke, sending forth their beautiful voice, and my heart was
fain to listen, and I bade my comrades loose me, nodding to them with my brows; but they fell to
their oars and rowed on. And presently Perimedes and Eurylochus arose and bound me with yet
more bonds and drew them tighter. But when they had rowed past the Sirens, and we could no more
hear their voice or their song, then straightway my trusty comrades took away the wax with which I
had anointed their ears and loosed me from my bonds." He warned his men, told them to put wax in
their ears, and tied himself to his ship. This shows how he was loyal and faithful for not being
tempted by the Sirens. The historical significance is an amazing example of why you should still
study "The Odyssey." The beginning of the story tells about the Trojan War and why the Trojans and
Greeks were at war. The history of "The Odyssey" gives a glimpse to the readers of the time period
it was written in. An example of giving a glimpse of the time period is in book one, lines 1–27, "Tell
me, O Muse, of the man of many devices, who wandered full many ways after he had sacked the
sacred citadel of Troy. Many were the men whose cities he saw and whose mind he learned, aye,
and many the woes he suffered in his heart upon the sea, seeking to win his own life and the return
of his comrades. Yet even so he saved not his comrades, though he desired it sore, for through their
own blind folly they perished–fools, who devoured the kine of Helios Hyperion; but he took from
them the day of their returning. Of these

The Odyssey : The Role Of Women In The Odyssey
The Odyssey, by Homer, was written with the Greek mindset that women were supposed to be
submissive. If the woman in question was not submissive enough, she was depicted as cruel, selfish,
a monster, or a whore. This is true for both mortal women, such as Penelope, and immortal
goddesses, such as Calypso. Mortal women were expected to be good faithful wives who listened to
everything the head of the household said, while goddesses were expected to follow the gods every
order and were called sexist slurs if they ever got involved with a mortal man.
After Odysseus "dies", Penelope is forced to remarry because women were supposed to be wives
and listen to the head of the household. She takes action to delay her forced remarriage by weaving
a loom, but was caught in the act and did not succeed in canceling the wedding: "They rush the
marriage on, and I spin out my wiles./ [...] So by day I'd weave at my great and growing web–/ by
night, by the light of torches set beside me,/ I would unravel all I'd done. Three whole years/ I
deceived them blind, seduced them with this scheme./ Then, when the wheeling seasons brought the
fourth year on/ and the months waned and the long days came round once more,/ the suitors caught
me in the act and denounced me harshly./ So I finished it off. Against my will. They forced me./ And
now I cannot escape a marriage, nor can I contrive/ a deft way out" (19.152–177). Penelope was
mourning her husband and did not want to be married to anyone but him, and drastically fooled her
suitors for almost four years before the maids relayed that she had been unweaving her loom by
night. Here, Penelope is not given the choice of remarriage, she is forced to remarry because of her
beauty, status, and lack of a man to take care of her, which was normal in these times but is
completely outrageous nowadays. Although Penelope was Telemachus' mother, it made no
difference in how she was treated by him and it was made clear his status of superiority over the
household: "So, mother,/ go back to your quarters. Tend to your own tasks,/ the distaff and the loom,
and keep the women,/ working hard as well. As for giving orders,/ men will see to that, but I most of
all:/ I hold the reins of power in this house"

The Impacts Of The Odyssey In Homer's The Odyssey
Homer's epic poem The Odyssey follows Odysseus on his long journey home. The Epic also
includes the stories of Odysseus' family left behind: the travels of his son, Telemachus, and how
plenty, of what we would now call "home wreckers", suitors pressured his wife, Penelope, into
marrying one of them. The characters are beautifully crafted and the story is truly epic. All the
elements presented can bring in any reader from any century, the Cyclops, the Gods, the trickery of
Penelope, and the disguises of Odysseus, are all legendary literary hooks . There are many things to
learn–about writing, about the world around us, the world ahead of us, and the past behind us–from
The Odyssey. (26) It is undeniably evident that this ancient text has ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
Then Nobody comes along and, as it turns out, Nobody is faster. This example may not be as torn
from the pages of The Odyssey as Percy Jackson but it shows how the smallest details of The
Odyssey can affect anything from a 1973 Spaghetti Western to a modern youth series. The Odyssey
was relevant then and it is relevant now. The Relevance of The Odyssey is evident an interview with
Wole Sawyerr give Lynne Brighouse the inside scoop of what it it's like to be Odysseus as portrayed
a stage adaptation of the Odyssey. Wole Sawyer speaks about how playing Odysseus has opened his
eyes to what he now knows of the severities of our modern world.
"Many ways Homer's portrayal was insightful and way ahead of his time in terms of how he
explores the themes of war and heroism. At the beginning of the play, Odysseus appears to fit the
traditional image of a war hero –– brave and strong. We also see him full of his own importance ––
announcing himself as 'Odysseus, the slayer of cities. But, as the play progresses and he begins his
long journey home, Odysseus is confronted with the lasting impact of the war both on himself and
those at home. There many layers to his character and how the war and the themes of the play affect
him. We gradually see Odysseus become completely broken by his experiences"(Sawyerr).
I couldn't have said it better myself, but I'll try. The Odyssey is more than just an amazing, action
packed poem, it is a lesson in how to

The Odyssey : The Role Of Women In Homer's Odyssey
For the Greeks, the epic of Homer was more than just a poem about gods, monsters, and people, but
it was a story that showed different kinds of human interactions. The Odyssey portrays what is right
or wrong in relationships between god and mortal, father and son, and man and woman. In the epic
poem, the role of women is a vital demonstration of Ancient Greece. The women in the epic are
unique in their personality, motives, and relationships towards men. In Homers, The Odyssey, all
women are different, but all of them help to represent the role of the ideal woman.
Homers epic describes the world of women in Ancient Greece, a time where women were seen as
inferior and fawning towards men; moreover, society was controlled by men and women ... Show
more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Athena is a Goddess that is confident, practical, and smart. She is a master of disguise, which is very
important in Odysseus' world. Athena embodies strength, bravery, and justice. She is a strong leader
and a very clever decision maker. One can assume that she is the major reason that Odysseus was
able to return home safely.
Another character that represents one of the varying roles of women in The Odyssey is Circe in her
role as a seductress. When Odysseus and his men arrive on Circe's island, they are lured in by her
seductively beautiful voice. Homer writes, "So they stood in the gateway of the fair–tressed
goddess, and within they heard Circe singing with sweet voice, as she went to and fro before a great
imperishable web, such as is the handiwork of goddesses, finely–woven and beautiful, and
glorious." (Book 10, Line 220) Odysseus' men respond to this by entering her house; the men's
desire for Circe overpowers them, which allows the goddess to exploit their weaknesses. Although,
Odysseus is very cunning and resourceful, there is more than one occasion in which he finds himself
lost and confused after interacting with a woman.
Odysseus' relationship with his wife Penelope is another clear manifestation of gender roles within
Homer's epic. Penelope is the most important female character in the epic; she is the wife of
Odysseus and the mother of Telemachus. Since Odysseus has not returned from the war and is
presumably dead, many

The Odyssey By Homer 's Odyssey Essay
Believed to be composed in the 8th century, The Odyssey, is Homer 's epic of Odysseus ' 10–year
struggle to return home after the Trojan War. Odysseus defining character traits, such as nobility,
courage, thirst for the glory and the appealing confidence in his authority dominated the storyline
throughout. The many themes of this epic mainly focus around the Greek hero Odysseus however in
my essay I will attempt to analyze hospitality. Hospitality shaped an important part of social
interactions in The Odyssey. Although Greek society emphasizes good hospitality and obeying the
rules, some characters in The Odyssey have no respect for this hospitality and are therefore
classified as uncivilized, which shows that hospitality organizes Greek Society.
In different phases of the poetry, the use of symbolism and dimensions of the Greek society and
class system is apparent. One of such symbols that has been used in the poetry is manifested in the
form of food. Today, good hospitality is being friendly and respectful to a guest. In Ancient Greece,
hospitality was something people took very seriously because they feared the wrath of Zeus. Zeus's
law of hospitality is that any stranger that comes to your home, the host must be willing to feed,
entertain, and maybe offer them a bath and anything else they might need without question until
those things had been given, and also give them a gift. In The Odyssey, most people follow the rules
of hospitality, but there are others who do not.

The Odyssey By Homer 's Odyssey
Many people blame God for their misfortunes. They see him as the reason for all of their problems.
They would have a better life if God would stop getting in their way. This is not a new thought;
however, even the Greeks before Christ felt this way. In Homer's Odyssey, many of the characters
express the troubles that the gods have caused them, and the gods argue the exact opposite. The
gods claim, "Mortals! They are always blaming the gods for their troubles when their own
witlessness causes them more than they were destined for." The Odyssey demonstrates that humans
and not the gods are responsible for their own strife.
Odysseus exemplifies how men cause themselves more trouble. On his travels home, they find an
island inhabited by Cyclops. Odysseus and his sense of adventure determine that they should ask for
a gift from the Cyclops. So, Odysseus sails to a cove near one of the Cyclops' camp and investigates
the camp with twelve of his best men. Eventually, the Cyclops returns, traps, and eats some of
Odysseus's men. In the end, Odysseus and the remnants of his search party managed to blind the
Cyclops and escape. While they are sailing away, Odysseus taunts the Cyclops twice. The first time
the Cyclops throws a rock that pushes the ship to shore, and the second time he prays to Poseidon
and then throws a mountain. Poseidon answers the Cyclops's prayers later by making Odysseus's
trip home as difficult as possible. Odysseus laments to each person that he meets how unfair

My Journey In The Odyssey In The Odyssey
In The Odyssey by Homer, an epic poem from Ancient Greece, parallels can be drawn from
Odysseus's adventure and my life. Odysseus and I have goals that we strive to reach, furthermore,
we will not stop until we accomplish them. On our journeys to reach these goals we have
temptations and obstacles put before us that we must overcome to attain our dreams. Luckily, we
have mentors and help from divine intervention to guide us on the right path to grasp these
ambitions. Odysseus's goal is to 'see my native land again' (Homer 142) and be reunited with his
family. One of my main goals in life is to attend college at Penn State University. Our goals may be
different but one can draw multiple parallels in our journeys. I have abounding obstacles in my way
on the boulevard to my main goal. One of these hindrances is high school. High school is proving to
be the learning ground for life. It is always providing challenges that I must overcome to reach my
ambitions. One current challenge is my senior English class. I have a feeling that it is going to take a
great deal more effort than what I have ever had to put into any academic study. I know that I will
do all that I can to conquer this burden. If I work vigorously while staying focused, I should be able
to surmount the work I have to complete. I will have to use my intelligence and cunningness to pass
this class. High school draws many parallels with Odysseus's adventure due to the fact they both
have a multitude of obstacles

Homer 's Odyssey : The Odyssey
Odysseus is arguably one of the most admirable classical heroes in all world literary masterpieces.
However, although he expresses the commendable traits of manliness, conduct, and intelligence,
there are also numerous faults in this round character– most notable being his excessive pride. Many
of his praiseworthy qualities also prove to work against him at times, and extend his journey in The
Odyssey by several years. Homer constructs Odysseus by attributing both godly and human
characteristics to him, allowing readers to admire him while simultaneously relating to him. The
combination of these revered traits coined Odysseus as being an omnicompetent man, polumetis, in
the eyes of the Mycenaean's and in the eyes of most modern day readers. This shows that the
popularity of Odysseus transcends time; however, modern interpretations of The Odyssey in
cinematic productions portray Odysseus in conflicting perspectives that may not directly correlate to
Homer's intention of the hero. There are numerous instances in The Odyssey in which Odysseus's
heroic nature comes to surface. For instance, in Book 9, Odysseus depicts extreme cunningness
towards Polyphemus when he stabs him in the eye under the alias of "Nobody". Then, when
Polyphemus yelled out for help from his neighbors, no one came to his rescue since he was yelling
"Nobody is killing me." Homeric culture and society praised Odysseus for his tactful manner.
However, some people outside of Odysseus's society have criticized

The Odyssey : The Role Of Women In The Odyssey
Who Run the World? Men. In an epic poem filled with many mythological creatures, supernatural
events, and interference in the lives of mortals by the gods, perhaps the most farfetched idea in the
Odyssey are the strong and independent females presented. These women defied the gender norms
of their time, by being presented and strong and independent spirits who challenge a patriarchal
society. These roles are then divided even further between mortal women and goddesses, who differ
in their influence to the story and their expected behavior. Although, these heroines play a large role
in the story's narrative, the women in the Odyssey are confined to limited plot devices they can play.
These roles are best viewed in the three overarching types of women presented in the poem, women
who are disloyal, those who manipulate men though sexuality, and those who are virtuous and well
respected. The mortal women of the Odyssey, with the exception of Penelope, are often used to
display the easily swayed allegiance of women. This is evident with Helen and Clytemnestra, both
woman who show the value placed on female nobility. Helen's beauty caused the Trojan war,
creating the epic poems of the Iliad and Odyssey. When Telemachus, visits Sparta, he finds her back
at the side of Menelaus, as if nothing had happened. Helen informs Telemachus that she still feels
shameful for going to Troy with Paris, implying that she takes responsibility for her actions, but
Menelaus is quick to forgive

The Odyssey Essay In 'The Odyssey'
The Odyssey Essay Draft Dark and scary Odysseus and his men stuck in the cave fighting to save
their lives by a big and large creature with the name Cyclops. In the epic poem, The Odyssey by
Homer, It all started when Odysseus and his men wanted to take a rest after a long time floating on
the water. Little did they know what they were getting themselves into. The large creature entered
the cave, and man they were definitely in for a heck of a ride. Odysseus is brave and wise. Odysseus
is Brave. For example, Odysseus heated up the stake getting ready to stab the Cyclops in the eye.
"To make a stake with pointed ends, this in the fires heart toughening it." (9. 231–232). This shows
that Odysseus was brave because, he had the braveness and strength to heat up the stake and get
ready to stab the Cyclops in the eye. This also shows that Odysseus is brave because the Cyclops is
a very large and scary creature. Odysseus stayed strong and did what he had to do to get back to his
home, ad return with him and his men safe. Odysseus is nothing comparable in size to the Cyclops.
In addition Odysseus stabbed the Cyclops right in the dead center of his eye. "So with our brand we
bored that great eye, while blood ran out and around the hot bar" (9. 296–297). This shows that
Odysseus was very brave because he stabbed the Cyclops right in the eye and risked his life to save
his men and himself. This also shows that Odysseus was brave because the Cyclops was very close
to grabbing the men

The Odyssey : A Comparison Of The Movie 'The Odyssey'
The Odyssey, the classic epic poem annotated by Homer has been retold for centuries since it was
first written in the 8th century. Each of these retellings differs from the others, they seem to leave
things out or have their own little spin on them, but more or less they run along the same story line.
Homer's epic poem the odyssey tells the story of the famous greek hero Odysseus. Odysseus was
one of the greatest fighters in the trojan war, but unfortunately was challenged with many trials
before returning home to ithaca his family, which consists of his wife penelope, and his son
Telemachus.
On the 18 of May 1997, Andrei Konchalovsky's released a film version of 'The Odyssey', an
american television miniseries starring Armand Assante as a brooding Odysseus. It is called a
miniseries because there are two episodes involved in the film. Andrei Konchalovsky received the
Primetime Emmy award for outstanding directing for a limited series, movie or dramatic special in
1997, the special effects manager Mike Mcgee received the Primetime Emmy award for outstanding
special visual effects in 1997.
Similarities of the poem and film
The movie "The Odyssey" keeps many similar aspects in comparison to the epic poem by Homer
that includes the setting, characters, conflicts, main events, themes, Greek mythological elements
and the focusing on characters and heroism. Firstly, the Odyssey was set in approximately 12th
century B.C.E. The Odyssey begins where the Iliad ends and covers the

The Odyssey : The Power Of Power In The Odyssey
The Odyssey is an Epic about not only Greek gods, Beasts, and the return of the great king
Odysseus, but the love of a family and the power of word of mouth. In lines 324–326 of book one,
one line in particular stands out. As Athena disguises herself as an old man attempting to rouse
Telemachus to search for his father Odysseus, she states, "Someone may tell you something, or you
may catch a rumor straight from Zeus, rumor that carries news to men like nothing else." Despite
Athena directly stating how powerful rumors can be, the full extent of the truth of this statement is
found throughout the text, not just in the form of rumors, but prayers, blessings, and even normal
dialogue. As one reads the Odyssey, it becomes clear that the power of words is a strong one indeed.
The first example of the power of words begins at the very top of the text. The Odyssey begins with
Athena speaking to the great powerful Zeus, her father. As the goddess of wisdom and war, she has
a natural way with words and their power, which is stated to be why she favors the brave and witty
Odysseus, who has been away from home for twenty years. She pleads for her father to do
something about his situation in line 58, "But my heart breaks for Odysseus," All Athena had to do
to spark this journey was use her way with words to gain Zeus' pity. By doing this, it is revealed
why Odysseus was unable to return home, and Zeus is able to convince others to stand alongside
them in order to force Poseidon to

Odyssey
After the ancient Greeks adopted the Phoenician alphabet around 800 BCE, they began to write
down the stories from and about their past, known as their archaiologia (Sayre, 115). For
generations these stories were pasted down by word of mouth, the two most important being the
Iliad and the Odyssey, created by an author history knows as Homer.
Widely considered the first and greatest epic poet by the ancient Greeks, Homer is credited as the
author of the epic poems the Iliad and the Odyssey. He is believed to be a bard, a singer of songs
about the deeds of heroes and the ways of the gods. His stories were part of a long–standing oral
tradition that dated back to the time of the Trojan War, which is believed to have taken place around
1200 BCE (Sayre, 115).
Homer's poems have also been a source of controversy among scholars. Until the discovery of Troy
by archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann, his poems were believed to be fiction. Further evidence was
found in a Mycenaean vase known as the Warrior Vase, which bared ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
Over the course of his journey, Odysseus encounters monsters, giants, a seductive enchantress,
sojourn on a floating island and the underworld. During his twenty year absence from his wife,
Penelope, she was sought after my many suitors, however she remained faithful and gained her own
arête (Sayre, 118–119). This employs loyalty, one of the Odyssey's major themes. Other themes of
the Odyssey include fate and free will, pride, justice and pity. The Iliad and the Odyssey laid out the
individual values and responsibilities that all Greeks believed to be their personal obligations if they
were to ever fully realize their goals (Sayre, 119). While the true nature of these epic poems may
remain in question, there important will forever remain a staple in the ancient Greek time

The Odyssey : The Archetypes Of The Odyssey
Archetypes of the Odyssey Ancient Greece was full of mystery. They told of mystical, almost
supernatural, heroes and monsters. One such story told of a warrior named Odysseus. A king who
ruled over the kingdom of Ithaca, but sadly left for war, leaving his family. Fighting for almost a
decade, Odysseus set off on a long journey towards home. Through thick and thin, and through all
of the bloodshed and fighting, he finally has a happy ending at home. What will he lose as a result?
Odysseus is in the category of a hero, one of the many archetypes modern readers use to identify
main characters and all other concepts in literature. Therefore, all heroes experience the fright and
thrill of adventure in most of their tales.
Homer is the original writer of the Odyssey . The setting for the poem is ancient Greeks, who
believed that the gods had controlled almost everything in the universe. Therefore, they named them
the Olympian gods. Particular gods interact with the mortals in many Greek stories. Odysseus
encounters many gods in his adventure, such as the goddess of wisdom, Athena. Later in this poem,
they recall how Odysseus' wife, Penelope, has to deal with the suitors till Odysseus finally comes
home. Hospitality was everything to the Corinthians, since they believed that the gods went
undercover, and if they were rude to the great gods, grisly deaths and punishments await them in the
future. Therefore, Penelope could not simply kick out the suitors.
Most stories will have

Odyssey In The Odyssey By Homer And Homer's The Odyssey
All odysseys tell the story of a great adventure; in–fact the word odyssey literally defines as a heroic
adventure filled with notable events and hardships. Likewise in the epic poem The Odyssey by
Homer, Odysseus is not permitted to arrive home until he overcomes his biggest challenge, fixing
his prideful attitude. The purpose of the passage found in Book V lines 65–102, is to reinforce
Odysseus' image as an epic hero and his loyalty to his family and homeland, in spite of challenges
that arise that attempt to deter him from returning home. The structure and language utilised by
Homer builds up the meaning of the passage; creating a contrast from the lush and enchanting feel
of the goddess Calypso's estate, to the grief of Odysseus being away from his homeland Ithaca and
his family, including his loyal wife Penelope. Homer inserted an array of symbolic descriptions to
create the warm and luxurious mood of Calypso's abode. At the outset of the passage Homer
describes a "great fire" (65) blazing on the hearth. Fire is applied by many to create a sense of
warmth and comfort, and correspondingly here to depict the welcoming nature of Calypso's place.
Then as Calypso enters the passage, she smoothly glides across the room, her "golden shuttle
weaving" (71) in hand. Homer noted that the shuttle that Calypso was holding was made of gold.
Gold gives the reader a sense of the wealth and luxury of the goddess's home. Again we get to sense
the luxury when we read how the surrounding

Thus far in The Odyssey, Homer has introduced several characters. The Gods discussed what they
should do about Odysseus' struggles as he attempts to get home to his wife and son. Athena then
appears to Telemachus as Mentor, an old friend of Odysseus'. She convinces him that he should set
sail in order to find out if his father is dead or alive and to take back control of his father's kingdom
from his mother, Penelope's, suitors. Antinous, one of her suitors, then tells Telemachus of
Penelope's deception toward them. After hearing this, they exchanged more words, and then he set
sail to find his father. He goes to see King Nester who remembers what it was like during the Trojan
War and tells Telemachus to be strong and brave. The Gods met again and discussed Odysseus'
capture by Calypso. Zeus sent his son Hermes, the messenger of the Gods, to tell Calypso that she
must release Odysseus. Calypso reacts vividly to this, stating that the gods are unfair in their
treatment of gods and goddesses. Calypso then begins to speak to Odysseus. During this
conversation in book 5, Homer reveals to us the importance of a person's wit and the deception of
others in order to help yourself, as well as the importance of one's will power. Calypso begins her
conversation with Odysseus by saying, "Good luck to you, even so. Farewell! / But if you only
knew, down deep, what pains / are fated to fill your cup before you reach that shore, / you'd stay
right here, preside in our house with me /

Odyssey Death and Rebirth in the Odyssey
The Odyssey, by Homer, is a classical piece of Greek literature. Throughout
The Odyssey, the Blind Bard makes use of many literary techniques in order
to lend meaning to the poem beyond its existence as a work of historic fiction
and aid his readers in the comprehension of the tale. One of these techniques
is the use of motifs. A motif is a recurring theme that is used throughout the
work. In The Odyssey, Homer makes use of many motifs including
eating/drinking, Odysseus 's anger, bathing, and disguise, just to name a few.
However, perhaps the most important of Homer 's motifs is the symbolic death
and rebirth theme. This motif is used throughout The Odyssey to emphasize
the growth and enlightenment of ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
"Cyclops, if
any mortal man ever asks you who it was that inflicted upon your eye this
shameful blinding, tell him that you were blinded by Odysseus, sacker of cities
(IX. 502–4)." The symbolic rebirth of Odysseus can be emphasized by the
cave, which can be seen as a symbol of the womb, therefore making
Odysseus ' emergence from the cyclops 's cave a true rebirth. The next
example of the death and rebirth motif is a rather obvious one that needs little
symbolic inference: Odysseus 's descent into the underworld in book XI. Homer

uses many light and dark references to emphasize the death and rebirth
theme in this book–– darkness symbolizing death and light symbolizing life and
therefore rebirth. ". . .how is it then, unhappy man, you have left the sunlight
and come here to look on dead men, and this place without pleasure? (XI.
93–4). While in the underworld, Odysseus gains insights about his eventual
return home. With this knowledge, Odysseus and his crew return to the world
of the living, symbolizing their rebirth. Again, light and dark images are used to
emphasize this rebirth. ". . .where Helios, the sun, makes his uprising . . . (XII.
4)." As illustrated in the preceding line, Odysseus returns from the Underworld
to the place where the sun rises–– the symbolism is obvious. The

Rough Draft Of The Odyssey By Homer's 'The Odyssey'
"The Odyssey" Rough Draft In "The Odyssey" by Homer, Odysseus is on a journey home to Ithaca
after helping the Greeks win the Trojan War. The "Hero's Journey" by Joseph Campbell represents
the difficult journey a hero must go on to defeat the "final battle," meaning that he must overcome a
really difficult challenge to complete his journey and restore the world. In "The Odyssey" by
Homer, Odysseus experiences significant events on his journey home to Ithaca which includes
Entering the Unknown; he receives Supernatural Aid; and he experiences the Supreme Ordeal
related to Campbell's "Hero's Journey." After winning the Trojan War, Odysseus starts his journey
by entering the unknown; he does not know what challenges and dangers are to ... Show more
content on Helpwriting.net ...
Some of the time the gift is simply wisdom" (Campbell). The quote from "The Odyssey" is
supported by the quote from the "Hero's Journey" because Athena, a goddess, is a supernatural
element, and helps Odysseus by providing him information about the situation at his palace. Athena
helps Odysseus with the means to complete his adventure by preparing him for his supreme ordeal.
Odysseus must overcome his ultimate challenge, the supreme ordeal, in order to finish his journey.
Odysseus has to kill the suitors that are trying to steal his wife and his kingdom. With Athena's help,
Odysseus disguises himself as a beggar to sneak into the castle. He then plans out an attack on the
suitors by trapping them in a room where he will kill them all off. After Odysseus successfully
completes the challenge to shoot an arrow through several axe handles, he reveals himself and takes
action on the suitors; he screams out "You yellow dogs, you thought I'd never make it home from
the land of Troy. You took my house to plunder" (Homer, 610) Part 2. The "Hero's Journey"
identifies this is as the supreme ordeal as "once the obstacle is overcome, the tension will be
relieved... the worst is passed, and the quest while not officially over, has succeeded" (Campbell).
The "Hero's Journey" supports the quote mentioned from "The Odyssey" because after Odysseus
kills all of the

"Homer's Odyssey is the only surviving poem from a cycle of poems called the Nostoi ("the
Returns"), which told of the returns home of the various Greek heroes at Troy" (Norcott, 2012). The
Odyssey is one of many accounts of the Greek heroes that took part in the Trojan War. Odysseus'
story was just one that survived after all of these years. The story came out as an Epic only because
of how the people revered the heroes as they started many trends, such as Odysseus' Trojan horse.
"These epics lie at the beginning of the Western canon of literature, and have had an enormous
influence on the history of literature." (Homer, 2015). These writings were the beginning of
understanding and getting information across many nations. Among many translations, the basis of
the epithet is that the underlying message is important. The said message will be gone into depth
later on. "Homer 's works, which are about fifty percent speeches, provided models in persuasive
speaking and writing..." (Homer, 2015). His works seemed too real. "...that were emulated
throughout the ancient and medieval Greek worlds." (Homer, 2015). You can say that The Odyssey
has influenced many generations. The style has been copied for many, many years and was at one
point the only way of writing or telling of monumental journeys like Odysseus'. "Odysseus'
adventures and growth are much more prevalent in the Odyssey than those of any other character"
(Lower, 2015). He begins on Calypso's island, where he has everything,

The Odyssey
The Odyssey, one of the most well known epic stories Introduces Odysseus, the King of Ithaca. This
story demonstrates Odysseus's physical and intellectual strength. Striving to return home after 20
years of his treacherous journey, he uses strength, skill, and superior ability to overcome his
troubles. Although he faced numerous obstacles and fought many battles, he made it appoint to get
home to his kingdom through his physical ability, intellectual insight, and overcoming his epic flaw.
In the beginning of The Odyssey, Odysseus describes his homeland Ithaca and states "A rocky
island, good for a boys training". By saying this he makes it clear that he is proud of where he had
grown up and that he had trained there. This introduces ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
One of the most difficult obstacles Odysseus faced was overcoming if epic flaw. Odysseus had
excessive pride, or Hubris, which sometimes got him in more trouble than he was already in. For
example, in the Cyclops, as Odysseus and his men are leaving after stabbing the Cyclops' eye, he
shouts "Cyclops, if ever mortal man inquire how you were put to shame and blinded, tell him
Odysseus, raider of cities, took your eye: Laertes' son, whose home's on Ithaca." Before this,
Odysseus had told the Cyclops that his name was "Nohbdy" and could have gotten away without the
Cyclops knowing who it really was, but Odysseus had to boast and brag that if anyone were to ask,
it was him who blinded the Cyclops. Also in the beginning of The Odyssey after they had one the
Battle of Troy, Odysseus shouted to the Gods that nothing could stop him. By provoking the Gods,
he brought his 20 year journey onto himself. But by overcoming this flaw in the end, Odysseus
finally returned home. Although he faced all of these battles, Odysseus combined all of his skill to
defeat them and got back to Ithaca to reclaim his title as King. He couldn't have done it on his own,
but with the help of his men, using his physical and intellectual prowess, and overcoming his epic
flaw, he achieved his goal after 20 years of

The Odyssey
The Odyssey
Reading Comprehension Questions Part 1
Part 1 1) Where is Odysseus located at the poem's beginning? 2) What is a muse? And why is
Homer asking the muse to, "sing in me?" 3) Who is lord Helios? 4) What did Odysseus' men do to
lord Helios? 5) Who is Odysseus' father? 6) Where is Odysseus from? (What city is his home?) 7)
Who is Calypso? Who is Circe of Aeaea? 8) What did Circe do to Odysseus? 9) Who were the
Cicones and what does it sound like Odysseus did to them? What did they do to him and his men in
return? 10) After Odysseus' men (The Achaeans) left the island of the Cicones, how many of them
had been killed? 11) How does Odysseus come to the shores of the Lotus eaters? ... Show more
43) Who is Aeolus and what favor does he do for Odysseus? What do Odysseus' men do that ruins
the favor? 44) Who are the Laestrygonians? What do they do to Odysseus' men? 45) Who is Circe?
What does she do to Odysseus' men? 46) Where does Circe tell Odysseus he must go before he can
go home? Who must he talk to? 47) What are "libations?" 48) What two things does Odysseus vow
to sacrifice when he gets home, to assuage the nations of the dead? 49) What does he actually
sacrifice and let it's black blood flow into the pit he has created? 50) What is Erebus? 51) After
Odysseus makes the sacrifice, what stirred out of erebus? 52) Who is Persephone? (They used her
name in The Matrix) 53) What is Odysseus trying to keep away from the pit he's created? Why? 54)
Who is Elpenor? 55) What news does Elpenor tell Odysseus of Telemachus? 56) What does Elpenor
ask Odysseus to do for him? 57) Who is Anticlea and how is she related to Odysseus? 58) When
Tiresias appears, what does he bend down and taste? 59) Who is, "...the god who thunders on the
land...?" 60) What does Tiresias mean when he says, "One narrow strait may take you through his
blows?" 61) Who is Helios again? (Refer to Question #3) 62) What are Kine? Why is Odysseus
supposed to avoid them? 63) According to Tiresius, when Odysseus gets home, he will find some
men. What will they be

The Odyssey : The Aeneid And The Odyssey
The Aeneid and the Odyssey are perhaps two of the most famous epic poems to come out of the
ancient world. Both stories involve acts of heroism, divine intervention, and ultimately, victory.
They both offer insights into the cultures of Rome and Greece at the time of their writings.
Additionally, both works stem from the same event (the Trojan War) but follow different characters,
touching on different aspects of the idealized hero in Roman and Greek culture. We must first start
by discussing who Virgil and Homer were and the societies they came from. Publius Vergilius Maro
was born in Andes, a village near Mantua in Cisalpine Gaul, in 70 b.c.e. He was born into a peasant
farming family and the Italian countryside & its people influenced ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
In his works, disgrace due to dishonor is the worst that can happen to a hero, and a short life of
glorious deeds is considered far superior to a long life of peace and mediocrity, since by great deeds
a man might become immortal [3].
The Odyssey tells the story of the return of Odysseus to his wife, Penelope, and son, Telemachus, on
the island of Ithaca after ten years of fighting at Troy. While the poem centers on the return of
Odysseus from Troy, the content of the Odyssey is thematically diverse and its structure is complex.
It contains four major themes: the journey of Odysseus on his way home, (complete with monsters,
sorceresses, and a trip to the underworld); the parallel journey of Odysseus' son Telemachus, a
twenty years old man trying to grow to adulthood despite an absent father; Odysseus's actual return
to Ithaca and his winning back of home and wife; and his revenge on the suitors who were vying for
Penelope's hand, aided by his son and faithful aides [4].
The Odyssey portrays a detailed picture of life in Greece. It focuses on the city–state of Ithaca and,
in particular, the Greek family represented by Odysseus, Penelope, and Telemachus. It also includes
moving portraits of slaves and other non–aristocratic characters. The center of attention is always
Odysseus, who is not a tragic hero such as Achilles or Hector. He is a survivor. He confronts danger
and death head on, but is never truly in danger of dying before accomplishing

Odyssey Essay : The Odyssey By Homer
The Odyssey Essay The Odyssey is one of two epic poems written in the late eighth century BC by
the Greek poet, Homer. It encompasses the lives of many characters, including: Athene, the goddess
of wisdom, Penelope, wife to Odysseus, and Telemachus, the son of both Odysseus and Penelope.
With these and many others comes one major, most important character, son to Laertes and King of
Ithaca, Odysseus. In reading, The Odyssey portrays Odysseus to meet the many requirements of
being an epic hero: strength, courage, intelligence, and loyalty. The first requirement to earning the
name of an epic hero is strength, the quality or physical trait that helps in the battle of fighting
(dictionary 1). In this poem, Odysseus physical trait that aids him in the battle of fighting is being
and angry fighter along with not quitting till the job is done. Odysseus proves his physical strength
several times throughout The Odyssey. One example that confirms Odysseus's strength occurs
towards the end of the poem. Odysseus kills all the suitors, a group of ill mannered, greedy men and
women, who have deliberately taken over everything that his rightfully his as well as plotted a plan
to kill Odysseus's son. There are over a hundred of them and he along with his son and partner
Eumaeus kill every single one of them not quitting till he has gotten rid of all of them and gain back
what is rightfully his (Homer 300–313). The killing of the suitors also fulfills Odysseus's goal of

The Odyssey : The Concept Of Xenia In The Odyssey
One of the most important themes in the Odyssey is the concept of Xenia, which in Greek means
hospitality. Hospitality in the time of Homer is not the same hospitality you get in hotels today.
Xenia or hospitality is a way of life, and how you treat your guests was tied to your religion and was
guarded by Zeus. Examples of xenia would be allowing guests into your home, feeding your guests
a meal, offering your guest gifts, and allowing your guest to rest in your residence among other
things. This was observed when Odysseus found Eumaeus outside his hut and even though Eumaeus
did not recognize Odysseus disguised as a beggar, Eumaeus still invites Odysseus inside his home,
feeds him, lets him rest, and even offers him a cloak. In the Odyssey, through the example of
Eumaeus caring for Odysseus, Homer characterizes xenia as hospitality needs to be shown
regardless of the host status or identity. First of all, Odysseus comes home and is not recognized, but
still gets treated with great hospitality from Eumaeus even though he is seen as a someone not
usually acceptable. The first example is going to be when Odysseus first finds Eumaeus outside his
hut and Eumaeus welcomes him in regardless of what he had looked like. Homer writes, "Come,
follow me into my place, old man, so you, at least, can eat your fill of bread and wine" (14.50). This
example clearly shows how xenia was shown regardless whether Eumaeus knew the beggar which
makes for good xenia. This compares to an earlier

The Odyssey : The Three Values In The Odyssey
Colby Canova
Ms. Thomen
Mythology – Mod 2
November 3, 2017
The Odyssey
The three values found throughout the odyssey are as follows: Hospitality, Humility, and
Home/Family life. When reading the odyssey, we can see these values present; especially when
using textual evidence. While reading we should be aware this takes place ten years after the fall of
Troy. We also should be aware that Odysseus, the hero, has not returned to his kingdom in Ithaca
during this time. Everyone in the kingdom takes Odysseus as dead, except for his wife Penelope
who remained faithful to the lost hero. Odysseus was imprisoned by Calypso who had fallen in love
with him and kept him on her island, Ogygia. Meanwhile on Mount Olympus, Zeus sent Hermes to
save ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
We can see the first instance of humility when Athena had disguised Odysseus as a beggar. Despite
the beggar's appearance, Eumaeus warmly invited him in and nourished him in the hut. Shortly
afterwards, Odysseus met Telemachus and devises a plan to reestablish control of Ithaca. When
Odysseus appeared at the palace the next day, still have being disguised as a beggar, he endures
countless amounts of abuse and insults from the suitors. However, Penelope takes a liking to the
beggar, questioning if the man before her might be her husband. Penelope arranges to have an
archery contest and promises to marry which ever man who was capable of stringing Odysseus's
bow and firing an arrow through a row of twelve axes–something only Odysseus would be capable
of accomplishing. During the contest, each suitor attempts to string the bow and with no luck was
able to do so without messing up in some manner. When Odysseus stepped up to take his turn at the
bow, with little exertion, he fires an arrow through all twelve axes. After proving himself, Odysseus
then takes aim on the suitors. He and Telemachus, with the assistance of few servants, kill every last
suitor. Having been mistaken for being a weak beggar allowed the hero to get close and release his
true power upon these suitors. Thus showing the value of humility was a well respected value of this
culture.
The value of Home can be found in the later to last sections of the Odyssey, these

During, Homer's, The Odyssey many strengths were tested throughout the entire book. This book
was a mythological Greek folk tale that was created between the eleventh and eighth century B.C,
therefore it is filled with many exaggerated stories about the Gods and treacherous adventures
Odysseus had ventured on. He encounters a cyclops and after battles a six–headed monster. His
crew discovers their talent for making mistakes such as being turned into pigs by Circe and letting
strong winds out of the bag sending them farther from home. Odysseus experiences battles with his
emotional stamina as well. His depression about his travels are shown through his lamentation on
Calypsos' island and his will power to discover the loyalty of his house mates is tested by Odysseus
disguising himself as a beggar in his own home. Throughout, Homer's, The Odyssey perseverance
holds significance emotionally, physically, and mentally when enduring the battles and setbacks he
experiences. An occurrence when perseverance was not essential, however, was when Odysseus
encountered Polyphemus the Cyclops. Odysseus' instinct to stay without intent or knowledge of the
repercussions would cause a great disruption. As Odysseus confessed, "But I would not listen–
indeed it would have been much better if I had." The foreshadowing in this statement brings the
reader to conclude a mishap is in store for Odysseus and his crew. To their surprise, "The cruel
monster made no answer, but just jumped up and

The Odyssey : The Power Of Women In The Odyssey
Greek society is highly stratified, one where the distinctions between Nobles, peasants, and slaves
are explicit. While many people consider women oppressed in the ancient hierarchy, this notion is
somewhat contradicted in the Odyssey, where many women act as powerful figures. Penelope
separates herself from the suitors that plague her palace, who are relentless in their pursuit for her
hand in marriage. Circe has the capability to seduce an entire unit of Odysseus' men and turn them
into pigs. Athena benevolently guides Telemachus over the many obstacles he faces on his quest to
seek out his father. Helen defects from Sparta, rallying all of Troy for her cause. Clytemnestra
deceitfully plans Agamemnon's death for her new love interest, Aegisthus. Women in the Odyssey
show that through seduction, trickery, and wisdom, women of Ancient Greece are able to obtain
significant power. While Penelope is pursued vigorously by some of Ithaca's most powerful men,
this lust is shown to give Penelope some leverage of her own. The Suitors themselves say ",
(Telemachus) it's your own dear mother, the matchless queen of cunning. Look here. For three years
now, getting on to four, she's played it fast and loose with all our hearts, building each man's
hopes(96)." While Penelope remained heartbroken, awaiting Odysseus' return, she was able to tug
on the hearts of her suitors to postpone her forced marriage for years. Circe doesn't just seduce men
for her own protection, she seduces men to

The Odyssey
The Greeks define nobility as a person who would go and fight for their country, a person who has
values of bravery, intelligence, strength and keen judgment. He must also be a person who the gods
respect. In Homer's epic poem, The Odyssey, Odysseus is portrayed as noble according to
mythology legend. The American Heritage dictionary defines noble as a man often of divine
ancestry, a man who is endowed with great courage and strength who is celebrated for his bold
exploits and favored by the gods. (American Heritage dictionary) Odysseus was a noble man if he
was being described by the Greeks, but in today's society there probably would be some debate as to
whether or not he was truly noble. Although, Odysseus did possess some of these ... Show more
Athena, goddess of war, helped him by giving him extra strength to him defeat the suitors, if it was
not for his wit he would have been defeated. Odysseus was able to defeat the suitors and return to
his wife Penelope. Penelope was overjoyed to see him being that she had not seen him in twenty
years and it was nearly time for her re–marry (because of the promise she made to Odysseus). She
did not believe that he had really returned after all the years he was gone. However, because they
had a special secret she was able to easily determine that it was him. Odysseus was able to use his
courage, strength, and intelligence to defeat the Cyclops and the suitors. Although, Odysseus was
admired for using his intelligence in defeating the suitors, one may ask, is this a characteristic of a
noble person? Odysseus killed people just because they wanted to marry his wife. Many of them
thought he was dead. Twenty years had already gone by and there was no word from him. A noble
person would have revealed himself regardless of the consequences or find a better way to let the
suitors know that he was alive. He also killed some of the maids even though it was their choice to
sleep with the suitors. Someone who is noble does not kill people because they have the power.
Odysseus himself was disloyal to his wife. During his journey he had affairs with other women. He
had an affair with Calypso while

The Differences Of The Odyssey By Homer's The Odyssey
Odyssey Essay!
The amazing epic poem by Homer entitled "The Odyssey" shares many similarities and many
differences as well with the Hallmark movie of the same name. The epic poem is about the hero
Odysseus who has spent twenty long years filled with toil and loss, through war and sea desperate to
return to his home of Ithaca. Odysseus has angered some of the gods and goddesses of a Greek
Mythology with his destruction of the mighty city of Troy. Odysseus is represented in the poem and
the movie, but there are several differences between the two in the events he encountered. There are
also numerous similarities
For starters, the setting of the movie and the poem are both centralized around Ithaca and scattered
Islands of Greece. The Greek mythology was also a main theme in the two, such as Odysseus's
protection by The goddess Athena and the hatred be Odysseus and Poseidon. One of the more
difficult aspect that the movie had gotten spot on was the displaying of Odysseus's leadership
throughout the God's (mainly Poseidon's) wrath and the ever enduring seas of Greece. However
throughout all of the hardships his crewmen remained loyal to him and his faith that they would one
day return to the shores of Odysseus's mighty Kingdom of Ithaca.
Another main similarity between the poem and the movie but put into more depth in the movie is
how the people of Ithaca where dealing with Odysseus's absence. Penelope stayed faithful to
Odysseus while also keeping the promise of marrying

The Wanderings Of Odysseus And The Odyssey And The Odyssey
In Edith Hamilton's book, Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes and in "The Wanderings
of Odysseus" from The Odyssey the epic poem by Homer and translated by Robert Fitzgerald, Jason
and Odysseus display the following similar traits throughout their adventures: selfishness,
dishonesty, and delegate. Throughout Jason and Odysseus' adventures, they both showed a great
amount of selfishness. Selfishness is the act of being selfish, lacking consideration for others. On
Jason's quest to finding the Golden Fleece, the author mentions,"...he thought of ambition only,
never of love or of gratitude" (Hamilton 133). During the long quest for the Golden Fleece, Jason
was only focused on being successful, not much different from Odysseus. While on Odysseus'
voyage there had been fierce cannibals who bombarded the fleet of ships with boulders. Selfishness
played apart of this misdemeanor because Odysseus didn't seem to care to help out the rest of his
crew, "Only Odysseus, his ship, and its crew of 45 survive the shower of boulders. The lone ship
then sails to Aeaea, home of the goddess Circe, who is considered by many to be a witch"
(Fitzgerald 1224). Both scenarios from Hamilton's book and Fitzgerald's book are very similar. The
main characters both seem like they only care about themselves being successful and they don't
fully put thought into their mentor's health. Mentors are the people who have intentions to helping
out. The mentor in "The Mythology" would be Medea and in "The Odyssey," it would have been his
crew, who did not survive on the other ships. They may have not been aware that they were being
selfish because they were busy having their mind set on having to stay alive and complete the duty.
In effect of having their minds only set on getting the job done, all three of these characteristics have
played a part of it.
A great amount of dishonesty had played a part on the way of Jason and Odysseus' adventures. In
Edith Hamilton's book, Jason showed dishonesty by taking all the glory when many people helped
along the way, "All that she did evil and of good was done for him alone, and in the end, all the
reward she got was that he turned traitor to her" (Hamilton 133). Jason wasn't very honest to Medea,

The Odyssey : Book Report : The Odyssey
"The Odyssey" Book Report
Ten years after the fall of Troy, the victorious Greek hero Odysseus has still not returned to his
native land Ithaca. A band of rowdy suitors, believing Odysseus to be dead, has overrun his palace,
courting his faithful–though weakening–wife Penelope, and going through his stock for food. With
permission from Zeus, the goddess Athena, Odysseus' greatest immortal ally, appears in disguise
and urges Odysseus' son Telemachus to seek news of his father at Pylos and Sparta. However, the
suitors, led by Antinous, plan to ambush him upon return.
As Telemachus tracks Odysseus' trail through stories from his old Comrades– in– arm, Athena
arranges for the release of Odysseus from the Island of the beautiful goddess Calypso, whose
prisoner and lover he has been for the last seven years. Odysseus sets sail on a makeshift raft, but
the sea god Poseidon, whose wrath Odysseus incurred earlier in his adventure by blinding
Poseidon's son, the Cyclops Polyphemus, conjures up a storm. With Athena's help Odysseus reaches
the Phaeacians. Their princess, Nausicaa, who has a crush on the handsome warrior, opens the
palace to the stranger. Odysseus withholds his identity for as long as he can until finally, at the
Phaeacians' request, he tells the story of his adventures.
Odysseus relates how, following the Trojan War, his men suffered more losses at the hands of the
Kikones, then were nearly tempted to stay on the island of the drug– addled Lotus Eaters. Next, the

Odyssey Essay : Hero's Journey And Odyssey
Hero's Journey and Odyssey Essay The "Odyssey," written by Homer, is a long epic that describes
King Odysseus' journey back to his home from Troy. In the "Hero's Journey" by Joseph Campbell,
the steps a person takes to travel through his or her journey to reach a goal is referred to as a
monomyth. In the "Odyssey," Homer writes an epic that reflects many stages from Joseph
Campbell's monomyth. The author includes many key points involving a true "Hero's Journey," but
the main ones that are illustrated in the epic are: Call to Adventure, Tests and Supreme Ordeals, and
Master of Restoring the Worlds.
When Odysseus enters this new world traveling back home from Troy, he struggles with the
challenges he is faced with but, ends up prevailing ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
All the hero's training and toil comes into play now," (Campbell 3). This quote means that
everything that had tested Odysseus before, gives him the strength to stand up to the "supreme
ordeal" now. The small tests along the way have gradually built up Odysseus' courage to now face
the bigger problem of winning back his kingdom. In every monomyth, the main character or
characters complete their journey they are sent on and either restore or master their worlds.
Odysseus accomplishes both. Not only does he restored his world by capturing his kingdom back,
but he has also conquered the new lands he faces by conquering everything in his path with his
strength and most importantly, his wit. As Campbell describes, "success on the heroes' quest is life
changing, for them and often many others..." (Campbell 4). Once Odysseus finishes his journey, he
accomplishes something that affects more than not only his life but his kingdom as well. When
Odysseus comes back home
Sherman 3 after defeating the suitors, he has "restored his world." Homer writes when the king
finally returns home that killing the suitors cures the balance in his world and his family's by
making them both whole again, (Part 2), "In blood and dust he saw that crowd all fallen, many and
many slain," (Homer 613). In the "Odyssey," now

Life in The Odyssey In The Odyssey, Odysseus is constantly being challenged. He is being
challenged, so Homer can show us the standards for life in The Odyssey. There is no doubt that
Odysseus is a great man, Homer even says so in the beginning lines of the text. Although Odysseus
is a great man, he also makes mistakes but not any that he doesn 't pay for. We learn the
representation of life in The Odyssey through Odysseus ' challenges. Throughout the book,
Odysseus specifically struggles with arrogance and pride, female seduction, and revenge.
Throughout these struggles, Homer is trying to show us what life is like in The Odyssey throughout
Odysseus adventure home and how he deals with what is at his home.
Odysseus ' most prominent flaw is his arrogance. Previously on Odysseus ' way to Kalypso 's home,
he finds himself on an island with a cyclops named Polyphemus. Polyphemus is Poseidon 's son.
Polyphemus captures Odysseus and his crew and plans to eat them all. Odysseus outsmarts the
cyclops telling him his name is "Nobody." When Odysseus and his crew attack the cyclops he
shouts "Nobody is hurting me!", so the other Cyclopes on the island assume nothing is wrong.
Proud that he outsmarted Polyphemus and all of his other achievements thus far on his journey,
Odysseus makes the decision to insult and tell the cyclops his name shouting
"Kyklops,
if ever mortal man inquire how you were put to shame and blinded, tell him
Odysseus, raider of cities, took your eye:
Laertes

The Odyssey
The Odyssey
In Homer's epic, The Odyssey, each culture treats strangers and guests with distinct differences from
every other culture. One of the most hospitable cultures was that of the ancient Greeks, exemplified
in Homer 's The Odyssey by both gracious hosts and guests. In Greece and The Odyssey, not only
was good hospitality etiquette expected, but the added pressure that if they didn't treat their guests
with respect the gods would punish them further compelled excellent manners. The Odyssey
illustrates the proper etiquette when dealing with guests. In Homer's ancient Greece their are many
steps that a host must follow to complete proper guest–host relations, these steps aren't enforced but
are expected. When a stranger comes to ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
"...we're at your knees in hopes of a warm welcome, even a guest gift, the sort that hosts give
strangers." As a guest, Odysseus is very selfish and inconsiderate towards his hosts. Throughout the
duration of Odysseus' absence, the suitors are treated well, and in response to this, they refuse to
leave when asked. The suitors are fed and housed, and after a number of years they overstay their
welcome. In response to this Telemachus, prompted by Athena, informs the suitors that his father is
returning home and they are all to vacate Odysseus' home. The suitors, in turn, ignore him and
continue to eat drink and be merry, at the cost of Telemachus and Penelope's household. What are
the consequences of these actions taken by the suitors? Although the primary consequence is their
death, they also lose the hand of Penelope. None of them are able to pass the test of stringing the
bow of Odysseus except Odysseus himself. This is followed by the main consequence of the suitors'
execution at the hands of Odysseus and Telemachus. By not respecting the hospitality given by
Penelope, they set the stage for their own deaths. This is quite possibly a reference to the fact that
they saw hospitality as a way to honor the gods; giving hospitality to a stranger was the same as
offering it to a god. Zeus being the god of hospitality, one of the primary ways to worship this aspect
of Zeus ' godliness was to be hospitable to strangers and travelers. A

Odysseus' 20-Year Journey Home in Homer's Epic Poem

Recommended

Recommended

More Related Content

More from Amy Bakewell

More from Amy Bakewell (20)

Recently uploaded

Recently uploaded (20)

Odysseus' 20-Year Journey Home in Homer's Epic Poem