The story depicts the Greek culture of the time and was performed as oral poetry for audiences. This form affects the poem because “oral poetry was chanted to a lyre, which helped sustain rhythm and metre. It is distinguished from written poetry largely by the extent of its verbal repetitiveness” (Introduction, xxvii). Odysseus’ journey is paralleled in the journey ancient Greece has taken from each civilization. As Odysseus makes progress, it is symbolic of the progress Greece has made and will continue to make. The purpose of entertainment might have affected its content because Homer could have been more concerned with pleasing the audience and making the plot seem more exciting than it actually was. Finally, because the “dark ages” were not a good time for the Greek society, reliving those times over and over again could be painful and cause the audience to dislike the…
an adventurous journey Odysseus experiences on the way back home to Ithaca and Penelope. Odysseus comes across many situations where decisions need to be made in order to find safety. Odysseus has many roles in the Odyssey. Odysseus is known as a soldier and a king, as well as many more things. However, Odysseus was also acknowledged as a trickster, which defines Odysseus as a person and has been an aid in many situations, for when Odysseus encountered the Cyclops, Circe, and the suitors back in…
Odysseus of Ithaka encounters many challenges throughout The Odyssey, including the aftermath of the Trojan War, the Lotus Eaters, the Seirênês and more. Though he faces multiple challenges, Odysseus fails to learn from his mistakes and does not develop nor grow in character after the Trojan War. He does not evaluate the faults he has made in order to avoid the same issues in the future, and instead continues his journey with the belief that he is not the one at fault for the complications he…
Odyssey Essay Whether it’s actions, thoughts, or appearance, our traits without a doubt affect our lives. In fact, Odysseus, in The Odyssey by Homer, uses his many traits to succeed in many of his challenges. While I may not be as perfect as Odysseus, we are both intelligent and competitive. Odysseus and I demonstrate intelligence in a variety of ways. Odysseus shows being craftiness times throughout the book and receives what he wants from it every time. First, Odysseus gives a Cyclopes…
Odyssey by Homer Odysseus struggles to get back home to Ithaca to see his wife and son. Odysseus and his ten year journey got stalled by cyclopses, pretty girls and even Poseidon. His men aren't much help causing even more problems in his journey home. Without the gods help Odysseus would have never returned home. Athena, Hermes and Aiolos are just three of the gods helping Odysseus on his journey home. From the beginning, Athena tries to help Odysseus return to his home in Ithaca. Athena…
Odysseus, the man, the myth,the legend, the hero? I believe Odysseus is a hero despite some of his actions I think he is a beast. I think Odysseus is a hero because he safely navigated out of a storm that came out of Poseidon's wrath. He also escaped Polyphemus and his island of cannibalistic cyclops. He also killed off the strongest men in Ithaca and took back his kingdom. Imagine being caught in one of those scenes in a movie where people on a fishing boat are stuck out in the middle…
that makes people feel safe and loved, Odysseus from The Odyssey by Homer, was kept from his home for twenty years. Odysseus had to face a cyclops, sea monsters, and the intervention of the gods due to his hubris. In life, there is a journey and a destination, but to reach a destination, there must be a journey to get there. Odysseus was on a journey to get to his destination, his home, but did many things to make his journey longer. Odysseus was a very arrogant and impatient man before his…
Although Odysseus has weakness in part I, his mental and physical strength are the same in part I and part ll. Through Odysseus words he shows his mental strength.For instance Odysseus says “‘Cyclops, try some wine”(Od. 10 pg.289).Odysseus had the cyclops have some wine so he would be drunk and then he would be able to kill the cyclops.By yelling that nobody had stabbed him the other cyclopses were confussed. Through Odysseus physical strength he shows his bravery. Odysseus acted…
In Homer’s The Odyssey, Homer shows how Odysseus is / is not a hero in many ways with some cancelling out the other. In the beginning of the story he fights in the the Trojan war half heartedly and sparring some of the civilians. He however boasts about his victory claiming he won the war without the help of the Gods angered Poseidon. This causes Odysseus and his crew unable to return to Ithaca for year thanks to Poseidon's monsters blocking the way. He loses some men on the way. While…
Going to West Ithaca High School has taught me various things about the Greek Culture. The great hero, Odysseus, has also taught me many lessons through his example. The Odyssey teaches about hospitality, patience, and vengeance. Being welcoming and a good host is important to the Greeks. Everyone should be welcome whether they are a boy or a girl or familiar or a stranger. When Odysseus wasn’t welcomed by Antinous because he was a beggar was considered very rude. In Greece, not only should the…