bellied out and a dark blue wave, foaming up at the bow, sang out loud and strong as the ship made way, skimming the whitecaps, cutting toward her goal” (Homer II: 469-472). This quote is possibly the most beautiful that I read in this section of The Odyssey. I was tempted to use it alone to analyze, but felt a good portion of its beauty comes from the context surrounding it. Firstly, there is the victorious moment when the boat fully catches the wind. One can only imagine a trumpet fanfare…
current world no longer has a clear image of what is right and wrong, so can no longer have a clear image of what a hero is. In a world constantly growing more self-absorbed, a “hero” really depends on how one sees it. In the well known take The Odyssey, Odysseus had left his country to fight in the Trojan War, with the intention to come back as soon as the war ended. However, years passed…
a bike or getting accepted into college, everyone wants to be noticed for their hard work. Sometimes, the longing for attention obscures one’s objectivity, pushing them to make detrimental decisions. Odysseus, the hero in Homer’s epic poem, The Odyssey,displays an egotistical, boastful personality on his voyage home which causes him to almost sacrifice his safe homecoming to gain dignity. After fighting in the Trojan War, Odysseus travels with his crew through the Mediterranean Sea, hoping to…
over Cyclops in the story with a few clever words. "'Cyclops, try some wine. Here's liquor to wash down your scraps of men. / Taste it, and see the kind of drink we carried / under our planks" (Homer 1052). Odysseus is a very good leader in the Odyssey because he is very intelligent and quick thinking. “Cyclops went on filling up his belly with manflesh and great gulps of whey, than lay down with a mast of his sheep” (Homer 1050). He tricked him into eating so he could kill him.…
Classical Greek literature, such as Homer’s The Iliad and The Odyssey, embodies heroic ideals while focusing on virtues like honor, bravery, and vengeance. Alternatively, Hellenistic Greek literature, such as Theocritus, concentrates on emotional values of humans and gods. A specific case can be identified in the Cyclops Polyphemus. Homer depicts Polythemus as a savage monster who feasts on Odysseus’s men, whereas Theocritus illustrates him as a sentimental Cyclops in love with the nymph Galatea…
In the opening pages of Book I of “The Odyssey” written by Homer and translated by Robert Fagles, the gods are conversing in assembly regarding the death of “handsome” Aegisthus. Similar to the modern-day court system, the gods attempt to justify the fate that Aegisthus, the human, has received. However, the gods - with knowledge of everything happening around the human world - rely not on the testimonies of mere mortals or on evidence received. Instead, the gods recall whether or not they from…
As Odysseus did in “Scylla and Charybdis” as well in “The Cattle of the Sun God” in The Odyssey. During Odysseus’ adventures to get home to Ithaka in Greece he learned many things especially in his encounters with the Scylla and Charybdis and the Sun God. “I told them nothing as they could do nothing they would have dropped their oars” (Homer…
concoction or hard truth specifically in regards to there ideals on valor, staunchness, and precocity. Literature of the past gives fortuity to allow us to develop an understanding of prior civilizations, and this is most certainly the case with The Odyssey by Homer. Through Odysseus’ endeavors, Homer gives insight on the Greek value of valor. Being a patriarchal society, men notably would strive to accommodate their actions as such: “Victory will only approach if strength, and might are…
The idea of a hero is based upon one’s point of view. A hero is admired and idolized for their courage. Odysseus is a cunning king, a loyal crew captain, and he is dedicated to go back to Ithaca. In the epic poem The Odyssey by Homer. Odysseus is the king of Ithaca, who spent 10 years helping his close friend Menelaus in the Trojan war. After that passed Odysseus had to venture home with his hearty shipmates, which lasted almost another 10 years just to reach home. Odysseus who was already…
Odysseus: Character Analysis “The Odyssey” by the Greek author Homer, is a “Highly stylized” epic poem, which tells of a hero Odysseus, who journeys to his home in Ithaca after a victory in the Trojan War (Pathways 466). Throughout the poem, Odysseus faces many obstacles on his eighteen-year journey and must prove himself an “epic hero.” Odysseus uses his many character traits, both positive and negative, to help him on his trip. Finally, Odysseus proves himself to be an archetype of a hero…