Premium Essay

Obstacles In The Odyssey

Submitted By
Words 521
Pages 3
In book 12 of The Odyssey, the main character, Odysseus, has many obstacles to overcome and most of them are outcomes from his actions. That is, Odysseus has caused most of his problems because of how he chose to act upon a situation. Situation one includes The Sirens. The Sirens are known for entrancing the men on the ships and causing them to wreck and drown. For example in the story it say that “The Sirens will sing his mind away on their sweet meadow lolling”(Homer 9-10). The example is telling us that the sirens will catch the mens attention with their singing and distract them from steering the ship and they will crash and die. Situation two includes Scylla and Charybdis. Scylla is a six headed monster with twelve legs almost like tentacles …show more content…
The problem with her is that if you pass by her then she takes six of your men and eats them but opposite of her is Charybdis who takes everything so it is a lose-lose situation. The second half to the second situation is Charybdis. Charybdis is a giant whirlpool who takes everything, which includes you, your ship, and all of your men.An example of her is “A great wild fig, a shaggy mass of leaves, grows on it, and Charybdis lurks below to swallow down the dark sea tide. Three times from dawn to dusk she spews it up and sucks it down again three times, a whirling maelstrom”(Homer 61-66). This example of Charybdis tells us that she is just a giant and violent whirlpool who sucks up everything including the tides which are huge, so the choice when you pass between Scylla and Charybdis, is if you would rather lose six of your men or lose everything. The last situation is Helios and his

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

The Obstacles In The Odyssey

...The Odyssey is One of the most fierce, Adverturstics, and thrilling epic poems that ordinary people like us can relate to. How? You may ask, well just like the odyssey we all have to face different and hard obstacles in our everyday life.In the odyssey we also learn a moral value at the end of the obstacle. The Odyssey was the story of a men named Ulysses returning home from war in Troy. He wanted to go back to Ithaca to his wife Penelope, But before that he had to face a few obstacles before actually returning to his homeland.   The story all began with the apple of discord, it was a golden apple that said “for the fairiest”. Zeus was supposed to choose one but couldn’t, So he then decided that  paris was to choose one for him. Paris decided...

Words: 1297 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Overcoming Obstacles In The Odyssey

...Voicinging Weak-Willed Tyranny and Disguise The Basic idea of the Odyssey, by Homer, is the obstacles Odysseus faces. Starting from the Cyclops, Sirens, Circe, Calypso, and more. He spent ten years at war and another trying to get home. We all have many difficult obstacles to overcome, that’s why The Odyssey can be a good story to relate yourself to. One main obstacle I have faced, and will face for a long time is to find my true identity and who I am. I know I am not the only one trying to find who I am, but it makes it so much harder on trying to find who I am while everyone else is trying to find who they are. We are all supposed to be different. Odysseus is also trying to find his true self, and in book 9 it really shows how he feels. This is when he told the Cyclops his name was “nobody”. He finally comes to realize that he is Odysseus. The husband of Penelope, father of Telemachus, and ruler of Ithaca. This is only one of the obstacles that Odysseus and I face....

Words: 521 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

What Are The Obstacles In The Odyssey

...As the Odyssey begins, the hero, Odysseus, sets forth onto his journey to the Trojan War at Troy from his home island Ithaca. Once on his journey, Odysseus conquers many obstacles with his men but always gives no thanks to the gods that helped him overcome those feats. Even after he and his men won the Trojan War, he exclaims that he, Odysseus, was the greatest warrior that ever lived and had no help from Poseidon (who killed the messenger who was going to expose the Trojan Horse). This untrue statement upset Poseidon and overall influenced him to make Odysseus and his men's journey much more difficult. Many of these self-inflicted incidents were important, but I believe that the incidents of Polyphemus, Scylla, and the sirens took the...

Words: 462 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Examples Of Obstacles In The Odyssey

...Have you ever been through a tough obstacle throughout your life? As human beings we all go through something in our lives. Whether it’s good or bad these obstacles throughout life change us for the better or worse. It could be an obstacle where we’ve lost someone, a near death experience, or even a broken bone. Nonetheless, we all go through obstacles that we overcome and change us. In On Being Seventeen-Bright, and unable to read David Raymond faced many obstacles and issues because of his dyslexia. He explained in the story how he would feel “dumb” compared to everyone else and had trouble pronouncing and reading words in class which led to getting bullied by his classmates. Along with this, he fell into depression and became suicidal...

Words: 610 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Overcoming Obstacles In Odysseus In Homer's Odyssey

...Odysseus is the considerably relatable main protagonist of The Odyssey. The Odyssey is a thrilling epic poem composed by Homer in 8th century B.C. Greece. Similarly to Odysseus, I have goals of my own. Adventuring to various faraway places is something I love to do frequently. We are similar in appearance, as well. Obstacles prohibit us from doing what we want to do. Those aforementioned obstacles also push us to achieve our goals. I participate in the sport track as a sprinter. Throughout the entirety of my high school career —whenever I would walk down the hallway— I would look at the track and field school record board. I did not look at just any record, I looked at the 400m dash record. As time passed, I aged and matured and progressively...

Words: 697 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Overcoming Obstacles Faced In Homer's The Odyssey

...The Odyssey is a Homeric Poem written by Homer, a blind poet, that is one of the greatest poems ever written. The Odyssey is filled with heros, monsters, creatures, and gods. This poem is about a journey taken by Odysseus. On his way home he faces many obstacles making his journey home much more complicated. While he is facing obstacles he is faced by 4 gods Athena, Zeus, Helios, and Poseidon. These gods help him throughout his journey home. Athena, the most powerful god, helps Odysseus make his journey home by providing him with guidance and beauty. Athena is the goddess of wisdom, warfare, crafts, and is one of the most powerful of the 12 olympian gods. Athena created the potter's wheel, vase, horse bridle, the chariot and the ship....

Words: 988 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Obstacles In Odysseus Of Homer's Odyssey

...Odysseus was king of Ithaca, son of Laertes and Anticleia. He brings a thousand ships and goes across the ocean, and there he had to face a lot of difficult situations like fighting a big giant creature. He also has to climb the big mountain to save his men. Also, the God of the sea, Poseidon, tries to stop Odysseus from going home because he said he that he wants him to suffer. And at home, his place is captured by suitors and he came and saved the land. The first obstacles Odysseus faces is the Cyclops. He is a giant monster living on a island and he is the son of Poseidon. Odysseus and his men get trapped in the cave where the Cyclops live and they try to get out, but there is a giant stone blocking the way and only the Cyclops can move it. Cyclopes want to eat all of them and they give Cyclops a drink and play a music, he falls into a sleep. And Odysseus comes with a plan to get out and well Cyclops is asleep they make a spear and blind him , and Cyclops cry and try to go out and Odysseus and his man tied himself in the sheep’s stomach and get out. Odysseus saves his men and goes away from the Cyclops. The Cyclops calls for father and say father they blinded me no one ever did...

Words: 596 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

A Hero's Journey with Odysseus

...Odysseus Of all literature works read thus far, the Odyssey full fills the hero’s journey in all aspects of the story. Throughout this story there are vivid examples of how the hero’s journey is outlined. From the beginning of “the hero’s journey”, which is the call to adventure Odysseus will begin his journey when he makes the choice of going into battle in the Trojan War. There will also be specific events in this epic story to display “the hero’s journey” even further. Eventually the end of the journey will be revealed when Odysseus regains his family, friends, and home. This part of hero’s journey is called the return. As stated earlier, the hero’s journey starts out in the Odyssey with the call to adventure. This is shown when Odysseus goes to Troy. He had the right to refuse but he goes anyway. He didn’t want to leave his wife and son, but he felt it to be his duty to show his son what a true man and soldier he was. There were plenty supernatural aids within this story. One would be Athena. Athena is a goddess who always helped Odysseus along his journey. One example of how she helps him is that she convinces Zeus to send Hermes to Calypso. Hermes gives instructions to Calypso to release Odysseus from her prison. If Athena never would have convinced Zeus Odysseus might not have ever left Calypso’s island which would have prevented him from returning home. Circe is also a supernatural aid in the Odyssey. She was a sorceress who turned Odysseus men into Swine...

Words: 1192 - Pages: 5

Free Essay

Odyssey

...Odyssey As defined in the Webster’s dictionary Odyssey means a series of adventurous journeys usually marked by many changes of fortune. Odyssey can be defined in various ways to others. This word originated from the Greek literature written by Homer called “The Odyssey”. The main summary of this Greek literature is when Odysseus who is the king of Ithaca goes through many obstacles to return to his own kingdom. In today’s society Odyssey would mean all the situations and adventures one goes through life. Many people go through situation that leaves them positive and negative marks. Many people today have their life planned out. They have all their goals set that they want to achieve in life. Along with these planned life goals, also come things that are unplanned. In my opinion an odyssey in today’s world would be someone who is fighting for their rights. An odyssey today would be a person that is fighting in the political world. I believe that it is someone that is fighting in the political world. This is because people today are not as scared to speak what they say or act on what they believe is true. For example today it would be an individual fighting for their rights In today’s society there not people fighting to be king, queen or to have a throne. A person today is hoping to get go back to their hometown and see their family. An odyssey today would be an illegal immigrant. It is an immigrant because an immigrant here is always wanting to be able to go back home and...

Words: 448 - Pages: 2

Free Essay

The Ramayana and Odyssey

...Joseph Banks Dr. Harl English 201 December 15, 2012 The Ramayana and The Odyssey The Ramayana and The Odyssey have been huge pieces of literature worldwide for many years. The Odyssey and The Ramayana are two different stories that are very similar in ways people may not realize. Odysseus and Rama are both great heroic men that have love for their wives. These heroes had set voyages that had obstacles they had to conquer. The historical contexts of these two tales are similar as well. Both of these stories being so old were started by oral traditions. They were passed on from generation to generation through the oral traditions used back then. Oral traditions used to be the only way that the common people could communicate their stories. Culturally both stories came from the same background to an extent. They each were from places ruled under monarchies where kings ruled over all the people. One difference is that The Ramayana was at a state of peace whereas The Odyssey tells its story when they are not at peace they are at war. Rama is exiled into the Dandaka Forest and Odysseus has been at war and has had trouble getting back for nearly twenty years. Each one is having a hard time getting what they desire and the obstacles along the way do not help. Rama, his wife Sita, and his younger brother Lakshmana are exiled in the forest.” I cannot live without my Sita.”(Ramayana) This is when the ten-headed king of Lanka abducts Sita while Rama is away. Odysseus...

Words: 683 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

O Brother Where Art Thou Character Analysis

...time. As readers and viewers, we are impacted by the depiction of “the journey” after reading The Odyssey and watching O Brother Where Art Thou? Several factors lead to the impaction that a reader may face or feel including, but not limited to the obstacles they face, the characters’ goals, and the setting. To start off with, the characters’ actions is a reason that a literary journey can influence a reader. From The Odyssey, we can see that Odysseus’ main obstacle was the cyclops. What this means is that the cyclops impacted his journey because he had to defeat him. Additionally, from O Brother Where Art Thou? we can also see that they faced a major obstacle as well which was the law. To explain further this means that there were multiple times that their plan could have failed when...

Words: 443 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

The Odyssey

...Ky Truong. English 1A November 4, 2014 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...

Words: 642 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Odyessey

...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

Premium Essay

Comparing Inman And Odysseus In Cold Mountain

...This last quarter we read the book Cold Mountain. We also read the epic poem The Odyssey. Through both of these stories we find a multitude of similarities between the journey of Odysseus and the journey of Inman. Both Inman and Odysseus begin their journeys in the same way. The two main characters are returning from very important wars for their home. Inman is returning from the Civil war. Although he fought for the losing side in the end Inman still fought in a war that is very important for his nation. Odysseus fights for the winning side in The Trojan War and it has an equal importance for his homeland. This sets the scene for both of their journeys home. Meanwhile both of our main characters have a lover who is struggling without them at home. Odysseus’s lover is penelope who must deal with all the suitors who think that Odysseus is dead because he has been...

Words: 984 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

The Odyssey: Comparing The Book And Movie

...The book of The Odyssey starts off the ninth book with Odysseus introducing himself of his traits and what he did. It then skimmed through the war and talked about overcoming obstacles that the movie didn’t show. Some obstacles were explained less drastically making it calm compared to some of the other ones. The text version was lengthy compared to the movie since the movie only featured the scenes with action, suspense, and story. The book also shows Odysseus doing actions that would require thought. The way the book depicts the story makes the story seem like a long perilous journey with hard choices bound on many paths. The movie and book have two different point of views which set different moods and mini-climaxes. The book version...

Words: 427 - Pages: 2