Ithaca

Among all the Greeks, the king of Ithaca was known as one of the best and his legend is told world wide. This fierce warrior stormed the beaches of Troy with sword and shield, and ultimately burned the supposedly impenetrable city to the ground. He bravely sailed the Mediterranean sea for ten long years and never lost sight of reaching home. The Greeks knew him as Odysseus, but to others, this kings name is Ulysses. This man from Ithaca is nothing short of a hero to the Greeks, but his time here on earth was far from perfect nor ultimately fulfilling. A man who has slain whole kingdoms, has seen many dead faces and for a weary sailor cast out in sea for 10 years learns that time makes things change. Ulysses has accomplished many great things in his life but also has dealt with the consequences as well. In Alfred Tennyson 's poem "Ulysses" the reader learns of the glories and despairs of a aged ridden king. Ulysses is a proud warrior king who, although has a past rusted with time, finds a new…

are shown just how nostalgic Odysseus is when he begins to describe Ithaca. "There is a mountain there that stands tall, leaf-trembling Neritos, and there are islands settled around it, lying one very close to another. There is Doulichion and Same, wooded Zakynthos, but my island lies low and away, last of all on the water…" (bk. 9, ln. 21-25). Odysseus paints us a picture of Ithaca which signifies his wife and son were not the only ones he missed about Ithaca but also the small beautiful things…

The main character of the Odyssey, Odysseus the King of Ithaca is given a complex personality to an extent where it is hard to identify whether he is a true hero or not. True heroism is only achieved when a person achieves certain qualities that portray heroism. Odysseus is not a hero based on the standards of merciful, selfless, and gentle because of his actions of sacrificing his men, killing the suitors and being ruthless throughout the Odyssey. Along with many others qualities these three…

Many things can define a hero: bravery, cleverness, skills, strengths, and so much more. In Homer’s “From the Odyssey,” heroic actions are demonstrated in many ways. “From the Odyssey” is about a greek human by the name of Odysseus. Odysseus is a well known king from the kingdom of Ithaca. Throughout the blossoming of Odysseus being discovered, he does some pretty controversial things on his journey back home to Ithaca. At the same time, however, his actions demonstrated that overall he is…

Eumaeus, the swineherd of Odysseus, is an important character that Homer depicts within the poem of The Odyssey, and one very interesting aspect of this character is his characterization of loyalty. Homer establishes loyalty as a strong and vital characteristic of Eumaeus through the passage in Book Fourteen in which the swineherd is introduced into the poem, approximately from lines 40 through 85. This portrayal of the theme of loyalty through the character of Eumaeus is a crucial aspect of The…

In the book Odyssey written by Homer many different themes are used to help show the reader the struggles and conflicts the Odysseus must face on his long journey home. These themes demonstrate how a character can change over a period of time, however at times it seems as if Odysseus’s desire to return home is purposely delayed due to his personal actions and choices. The themes that are shown in the Odyssey, when closely analyzed, help paint a picture for the reader on how Odysseus’s journey…

A demonstration of Antinous’s greed comes early as it becomes clear that Antinous greatly desires not only another man’s wife, but also the crown of the city-state of Ithaca. A clear showing of Antinous’s arrogance, vanity, and gluttony come soon after as he is made clear to be a person who has no care for the well-being of others, especially as he devours the food and drink of Telemachus, his unwilling host. Finally, Antinous is portrayed as a megalomaniac when he attempts to kill Telemachus…

make an everlasting name for him. His egotism is clearly portrayed when he says “An eternal name I will make for myself” (111) His arrogance results not only on his best friend’s peril but also on his grand suffering when he realized that he was not going to be able to live forever. Gilgamesh apprehension towards death became his biggest weakness and drove him farther from being a hero. A much better example of a hero is found in The Odyssey. The hero and protagonist is Odysseus, king of Ithaca.…

In simpler terms, dramatic irony happens when the audience or readers knows something the character does not. Often times, the narrator or author will reveal something that the characters will find out later on his or her own. Dramatic irony adds an element of suspense and humor to the story. When the readers know something the characters do not, it excites the reader and encourages them to keep reading. There are several examples of dramatic irony in The Odyssey. One of the most prominent is…

Odysseus, are “blind to the fact that all their necks were in the noose, their doom sealed” (Homer 22.37-38). The suitors have angered Odysseus by ruining his home and now trying to kill him. Homer is telling the reader that Odysseus will not show any mercy to the suitors at this point in the epic- all of the suitors will be murdered. Odysseus has decided that he will not hold back while punishing the suitors. He has plotted this slaughter since his arrival in Ithaca and the time has finally…