Penelope Lively

Since the beginning of recorded history, man has been telling grand adventure stories; exciting tales of heroes defeating enemies, seeking treasure, and experiencing perilous tribulations. “The Odyssey”, by the Greek poet Homer, is one of the most famous epics to date. It follows the adventures of the Greek king, Odysseus, as he travels through the Mediterranean, trying to return home. The protagonist of an epic is called the “epic hero”, and he must exhibit certain characteristics to fulfill…

“We don't mature through age. We mature in awareness.” Byron Katie, an American speaker and author. The Odyssey, by Homer, is about the main character Odysseus leaving his home of Ithaca to fight a battle in Troy. Odysseus also left behind his wife Penelope, and their newborn son, Telemachus. Odysseus has not been home in 20 years, so Telemachus did not have a father figure growing up. Telemachus is not very mature and he does not know how to act like a “real” man. Throughout The Odyssey,…

Fearless and cunning, yet modest, Homer portrays Odysseus as the ideal Ancient Greek hero in the Odyssey, especially during his encounter with Polyphemus and his humble attitude around king Alcinous. One of the most prominent examples of Odysseus’ courage is when he is able to gather up enough audacity to challenge Polyphemus, the horrendous cyclops who captured and ate four of his men. When Odysseus and his men are trapped in the cyclops’ cave, only Odysseus is smart and brave enough to make a…

In “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, the Mariner recalled his story about unfortunate events he faced while at sea to a wedding guest. During the Mariner’s voyage, an Albatross guided him and his crew through a storm and brought them steady wind and good weather. The Mariner impulsively killed the Albatross, causing the Mariner to receive punishments for his cruelty. The punishments given to the Mariner was fitting for his crime because the pain of isolation and…

The story Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, starts with an introduction of four letters. The four letters are written by Robert Walton, and he writes the letters to his sister Mrs. Saville. In the first letter Walton is on an journey to look for a passage through the Arctic Ocean to the North Pacific Ocean through the seas of the North Pole. “I feel a cold northern breeze play upon my cheeks, which braces my nerves and fills me with delight” (Shelley 2). He knows how the weather is going yet he has…

Deaunna Tillman Ms. Burtt Literature 09 October 2015 The Admirable Odysseus Homer tells The Odyssey using Odysseus as an admirable character. In the beginning of The Odyssey, Odysseus has to leave his son and his wife to fight in the Trojan War that lasted ten years. When the Trojan War was over, it took Odysseus ten years to get home. In total, Odysseus was away from his home for twenty years. Odysseus faced many hardships on his way home. Through these hardships, Odysseus proved to be…

The Odyssey, written by Homer, is an epic that revolves around Odysseus and his men overcoming many obstacles while trying find their way back home to Ithaka after being lost for 20 years after the Trojan War. Back in Ithaka, Odysseus’ wife Penelope is struggling to keep up with her marriage due to the suitors forcing her to marry one of them. Telemachus, his son, who has been fatherless for a very long time now, will not give up on the idea that Odysseus will soon come back and embarks on an…

I wanted to curse Odysseus so that he will never be able to see his home or his Penelope again. I wanted him to be lost at sea until he died. I honestly hope that Poseidon drowns him. I did not deserve to be deceived by unworthy humans twice. The first time all I felt was betrayal and anger. Those I could deal with, but this time there…

Xenia is a key value in the The Odyssey by Homer, as the book focuses on when it is offered and when there is a lack of it in the places Odysseus visited. Xenia is the Greek concept of hospitality, generosity towards travelers who are far from home and is very important to the Greeks. During Odysseus and Telemachus’ travels, they encountered many people with different ideas of a welcome to their home. A few were very hostile and Odysseus lost men, but many offered an open home to the unknown…

where Odysseus’ loyalty is tested. Odysseus could be considered both loyal and disloyal in different cases. Although it is true that Odysseus has been loyal to Penelope by coming home in Greek standards, Odysseus was not loyal…