...For κλέος, the temptation of glory, it is important not just to look at what Odysseus does, but how he frames his actions. Upon his departure from Circe’s island, Odysseus is left with her divinations for the next portion of the crew’s journey. “‘You will come first of all to the Sirens, who are enchanters of all mankind and whoever comes their way; and that man who unsuspecting approaches them, and listens to the Sirens singing, has no prospect of coming home and delighting his wife and little children as they stand about him in greeting… (12.39-43).’” While she does give Odysseus the idea to listen to the Sirens, even instructing him on how to do so safely, she does not frame the deed as one of glory. Odysseus, on the other hand, has...
Words: 1353 - Pages: 6
...say evils come from us, but it is they, rather, who by their own recklessness win sorrow beyond what is given.”(Odyssey 1. 32-34) These words are spoken by Zeus at the beginning of Homer’s The Odyssey as he explains that it is not the gods who are responsible for the suffering of mankind, but that these hardships come from one’s own choices and character flaws. Homer begins The Odyssey with this dialog to inform the reader that the fate of Odysseus, his ten year long journey home, is the result of his own choices and flaws rather than portraying him as a victim of the gods. Although Odysseus is certainly a great hero, Homer makes it clear from the beginning, through that quote from Zeus, that...
Words: 1298 - Pages: 6
...The Odyssey is an epic poem written by Homer telling the story of the King of Ithaca. Odysseus displays the traits of a true hero; strength, nobility, confidence, courage, and the love of glory. He gains fame through his journeys, victories and skill. As with all Homer created heroes, Odysseus possesses pride which causes him to do very unwise things. The Iliad is another epic poem written by Homer entertaining us with a story about Achilles. Achilles was the greatest warrior in the Achaean army. The most significant flaw of Achilles is his excessive pride. He is willing to subvert the good of the whole army and to endanger the lives of those who are closest to him to achieve emotional blackmail. The plot of the Odyssey is Odysseus’ 10 year struggle to return home after the Trojan War. While Odysseus battles mythical creatures and faces the wrath of the gods, his wife Penelope and his son Telemachus fight off suitors or fakers trying to steal Penelope's hand from Odysseus and Ithaca's throne long enough for Odysseus to return. The Odyssey ends with Odysseus winning a contest to prove his identity, killing the suitors, and retaking the throne of Ithaca for himself. The plot of the Iliad is about the final year of the Trojan War, a conflict in which Greek warriors sailed the Aegean (Turkey) and surrounded the fortress of Troy for ten years, three millennia ago. The plot also includes the greek hero...
Words: 444 - Pages: 2
...the Odyssey, the Iliad, and the Mahabharata is to compare how these exiles were brought upon the heroes and the consequences when the hero returns to society. The difference between the Mahabharata and the other three epics, is that the exile of the Kuravas was imposed on them by others. Though Yudhisthira is technically the only one in the family who brought it upon himself by playing the crooked dice game. For the most part, the exile of the Kuravas is not self-imposed. This is very different to the exiles seen in the western epics. In the Iliad, Achilles exiles himself for feeling shamed by Agamemnon, he chooses not to fight and instead have hundreds of his countrymen die. In the Epic of Gilgamesh, Gilgamesh chooses to abandon his kingdom for an unplanned amount of time on a search for immortality somewhere in nature because of Enkidu’s death. Both Achilles and Gilgamesh exile themselves because of strong feelings they get. The exile of Odysseus is about brought on by himself, by making Poseidon extra mad, not leaving Calypso’s Island, among other transgressions against the gods....
Words: 570 - Pages: 3
... The Odyssey The Odyssey, a great epic, told us the story of Odysseus and his adventures. Its characters , their problems, obstacles and their morals weave their way into our live as well. The morals and beliefs of the Greeks represent to us through stories and incorporate themselves into our mind. I believe the Odyssey to be an allegory, meaning it has two parts of interpretation to it. The obstacles, problems and goals relate to our modern day lives. It symbolizes the events that occur in our life and how we react to them just shown in the Odyssey. Odysseus and his trails put a representation of obstacles that ourselves face in our present day life. The journey to the Land of the Dead where the dead receive reciprocity was not so much a test for Odysseus as it is an epiphany. His mortality is put in context as he watches shades of warriors, comrades, legendary figures, and even his own mother. To followed instruction, he must speak to Tiresias, the blind seer from Thebes, before he can allow his mother or any other to approach. Then, he drank the blood to temporarily revitalize the deads , so they can communicated with Odysseus to speak the only truth. First, Tiresias warn him when he goes to the island of Helios his crew shouldn’t eat his cattle. If they does, they would die. At last, he met Achilles, who rather choosing living out a long uneventful life than die in glory on the battlefield. “ I’d rather slave...
Words: 642 - Pages: 3
...similar concepts in “The Odyssey”, as well as other classical mythology works. There are many examples in “300” where the Spartans express a common theme of fulfilling their fate no matter the cost. A case in point is during the first half of the film when Leonidas blatantly slaughters Xerxes’s messenger. Thus, starting a war and...
Words: 594 - Pages: 3
...Father-Son Relationship in The Odyssey The Odyssey introduces the theme of father-son relationships to exemplify how influential fathers were at the time. Fathers act as role models to their sons and can determine their actions even if there is a physical and psychological space and difference between them, like Odysseus and Telemachus. The reader is able to gain greater insight into the nature of ancient Greek society by analysing these father-son relationships for their complexities and circumstances of their familial ties. With each father-son relationship shown, Homer offers a unique perspective about the roles that were available to both father and son. Book 1-4 Throughout the Telemachia, we learn that Telemachus has been forced to grow up without the influence of his father and has been directly affected by Odysseus’ absence. When he confides in Athena under the guise of Mentor, he proclaims that he does not have solid proof that he is in fact Odysseus’s son and doubts that he is still alive. However, the dialogue between both Athena and Telemachus initiates Telemachus’ spiritual development. So, when the pre-economy of Odysseus and Telemachus re-uniting is fulfilled – Telemachus will be in the position to assist his father in killing the suitors and to restore the natural order in the Ithacan society. Telemachus first asserts his male privilege by ordering Penelope from the public rooms of the palace, indicating to the suitors of his intention to assert his claim...
Words: 997 - Pages: 4
...Without will power, temptation and curiosity can cause many to stray from the goal of their journey. In “The Odyssey” by Homer and “Siren Song” by Margaret Atwood, the poets characterize the Sirens as manipulative and powerful through the SIrens flattering diction and captivating voices. The sirens use their alluring words to captivate the sailors into their trap with tempting offers. These creatures are manipulative and do everything in their power to lure these men to their doom. They trick and sing their song to the point where the men are unwillingly pulled to the island by the irresistible song. “The song is a cry for help: Help me!”(21-22) In the poem the sirens know that no man can resist a damsel in distress, a situation like...
Words: 449 - Pages: 2
...Hail them who fought for glory and honour by the use of their bravery and intelligence that brought them to excellence. The movie Odyssey showed many Greek qualities perfectly. It also manifested and gave more colors and meanings to their mythology. The bravery of Odysseus mirrored how the Greeks stood for their own civilization. His intelligence manifested the Greek’s intelligence – their culture, their artworks and how they worked for their society’s growth were the products of this. Same as Odysseus, the Greeks loved their own society that they’re ready to sacrifice even their own lives. They had their very strong faith to their gods as their foundation in living. Greek’s unity leads them to excellence that no one could ever surpass. Odyssey tried to prove to their gods that he could achieve victory and honour without their help but he got it wrong. He then realized that without Poseidon, he can’t cross island from island; without Athena, he can never have his wisdom to conquer challenges; without Ionnus, he can’t have air to breath and so sail across oceans; wholly, without their gods, his life would never exist – the Greeks had this belief in their lives. They also can’t have their very well-known civilization without gods. Greeks had their unsurpassable love for their society as well as Odyssey. They had their lives that they’ve wanted and worked hard for. They accomplished many incomparable things and they became supreme in every artwork that had ever exist...
Words: 270 - Pages: 2
...Throughout the history of human existence, scholars have wondered what characteristics found in ancient literature exemplified in their corresponding ancient societies and how these classical works influenced said cultures. One way to answer these questions is to look at famous literary works and the epic heroes that comprise them. Characteristics of epic heroes such as those found in Beowulf, Gilgamesh, the Iliad, and the Odyssey often reflected traits that were seen as favorable within the societies in which they were written, which, in turn, led to these archetypal heroes greatly impacting surrounding societies. When comparing and contrasting epic heroes such as Beowulf, Gilgamesh, Hector, Achilles, and Odysseus, it becomes evident that...
Words: 1808 - Pages: 8
...Similarly, “Siren Song” by Margaret Atwood battles to revise the idea that men are more powerful compared to women through the story of a Siren. In Margaret Atwood’s “Siren Song,” Homer’s portrayal of the Sirens in The Odyssey is critiqued in order to remove the detrimental effects of an androcentric perception. The Odyssey points at an authority in power that men have compared to women. In the epic poem, Odysseus prepares his crew as they sail towards the Sirens’ island, avoiding the tempting songs by blocking their ears with...
Words: 656 - Pages: 3
...Of the three epic poems read thus far in Classics 2220, Virgil’s Aeneid and Homer’s works: the Iliad and the Odyssey, the most important difference between Virgil and Homer is whether fate is treated as fact or can be affected by the choices of mortals. Homer’s works are more meaningful for citizen readers because they emphasize the importance of free will as illustrated in the shields and prophecies of the narratives. Aeneas faces a prophecy and acts believing it would come true regardless of his choices. Though Achilles and Odysseus face prophecies, both perceive the ability, however limited, to choose their own futures. Many feel trapped by what society has told them and feel they have no control, while in reality, just like Achilles and Odysseus, every person has the ability to affect their future for better or worse. In Virgil’s Aeneid, it is preordained that he will immigrate to Italy from Troy and found the city of Rome (1.1-19). In the very beginning,...
Words: 478 - Pages: 2
....Homer’s life is a shadow in the mists of ancient history. All that we know for certain about him is that he composed two of the greatest epics in world literature, The Iliad and The Odyssey, as well as several hymns to the gods. The content, ideals, and style of his epics formed the basis of Greek education in the classical age of Socrates, Plato, Sophocles, and Aristotle and influenced the course of western literature for centuries to come. .......The Iliad and The Odyssey stand as two of the greatest works ever composed. They have influenced writers throughout the ages for the beauty and power of their imagery, for their character development, for the universality of their themes, and for their extraordinary stories. They take their place alongside the Bible, Sophocles’ Oedipus the Rex, Dante’s The Divine Comedy, Cervantes’ Don Quixote, Shakespeare’s Hamlet, and Tolstoy’s War and Peace as among the most popular and most highly praised literary works in history. Remarkably, Homer had no authors to imitate, no prototypical literature to guide him, for literature—indeed, civilization itself—was still in its infancy when he composed his works. He was the world's first great writer, a model for others to imitate. .......Scholars conjecture from scraps of evidence that Homer was a blind poet who may have been born on the island of Chios (also spelled in English as Khios) in the Aegean Sea; in Smyrna, a seaport in western Turkey; in Colophon, near Ephesus, Turkey; on Rhodes, an...
Words: 2682 - Pages: 11
...In Homer’s The Odyssey, the author tells us of a magnificent story of lust, deceit, greed, and heroism. The Odyssey is a display of a journey of determination, willpower, patience, and virtue. The author tells the tale of Odysseus, on his voyage home to Ithaka. This is happening after the end of the Trojan War. Odysseus, the main character, goes through a series of many unforeseen trials and tribulations in this exemplary journey. This exemplifies his character and displays him as a hero in the eyes of the audience. During these different happenings, Odysseus makes decisions that do not correspond to his character. Odysseus is displayed as not only a hero but also as a good leader to his men. Throughout all their trials such as the Sirens, Polyphemus (the cyclops), and the enchantress Circe, Odysseus is displayed as clever, patient, cunning, and fearless. Odysseus made decisions not only for himself but also for his men as well. For example, he did not leave his men on the island of the Lotus Eaters when they clearly had no desire to go back to Ithaca; he knotted them onto the boat and left the island. He was determined to get home with as many of his men as he possibly could, though they repeatedly disobeyed him. Odysseus is one of history's greatest leaders and this is a vital part of what makes him such an epic hero Another characteristic that stand out and makes Odysseus a hero is his ability to overcome his obstacles in order to reach his goal. Odysseus is faced by many...
Words: 955 - Pages: 4
...“Where we love is home – home that our feet may leave, but not our hearts”. Oliver Wendell Holmes perfectly captures the essence of Odysseus’ journey home. In Homer’s The Odyssey, home is described not as a geographical location, but moreover, an emotional state of being. In order for Odysseus to truly get home, he must achieve two particular emotional states. One, where he is in an environment where he is welcomed, loved, and cherished by others, and, two, where he finds joy, peace, and fulfillment in his own heart. As far as a chronological setting is concern, Odysseus is home after killing the suitors, revealing himself to his father, and reconciling with the towns people. One may argue, however, that Odysseus is home simply when he reveals himself to Telêmakhos, prior to killing all the suitors. Additionally, the novel places the genuine joy of returning home above any other earthly pleasure, even the joy of warcraft, as was presented in The Iliad. The first emotional...
Words: 1435 - Pages: 6
