...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
...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
...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
...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
...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
...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
...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
...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
...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
...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
...Because she ate the food of the Underworld, she must stay there for a period of time with Hades. While Persephone is away, Demeter mourns, so Earth experiences winter. When Persephone returns, it is spring. Tiresias is a blind prophet whose spirit Odysseus visits in the Underworld. In The Odyssey, Tiresias foretells Odysseus’ fate- that he will return home, reclaim his wife and palace from the wretched suitors, and then make another trip to a distant land to appease Poseidon. Sirens are creatures, part man and part bird, whose songs lure sailors to their death. In The Odyssey, Odysseus pours wax in the ears of his crew so they will not be affected by the Sirens voices. Then, he makes his crew tie him to the mast so he can hear the Sirens but not be lured to his death. Scylla is a six-headed monster who devours sailors. Charybdis is a dangerous whirlpool personified as a female monster. In The Odyssey, Scylla and Charybdis pose as obstacles in Odysseus’ path home. Language Situational irony is an outcome that turns out to be very different from what was expected; the difference between what is expected to happen and what actually does. An example of situational irony in The Odyssey is when Odysseus's wife tells him she will make his bed for him outside of her room and when she coldly and skeptically welcomes him after he reveals his identity. It is an unexpected event/ occurrence because you would guess she would be excited to see him after twenty...
Words: 269 - Pages: 2
...The Odyssey by Homer and the poem “Ithaka” by C.F. Cavafy depict a magical journey full of surprises representing the ruling importance of the journey over the destination. In these two writings, the destination is Ithaka, a beautiful island located in Greece. However, the journey is the one who increases the value and beautifulness of Ithaka in Odysseus’ eyes. In The Odyssey, both Telemachus and Odysseus embark on an expedition which shape their character and views of the world. Ithaka was only their destination; the journey magically transformed Odysseus and Telemachus. Expeditions shape heroes, change their perspectives of the world, and increase their self-esteem. For instance, Telemachus’s voyage increased his maturity; he turned into...
Words: 745 - Pages: 3
...To me there is nothing better than someone who battles everything to get back to his wife. In the story, The Odyssey, Odysseus goes on a 10 year quest to get back to his wife, Penelope, and his son Telemachus. On this quest he has to battle sirens who sing men to their death, cyclops who eat people, circe, who turns men into animals and most importantly has to sail on the ocean, which the only god that hates Odysseus, Poseidon. Odysseus had to conquer monsters in order to get back to his wife and his son. Therefore this is why I think that in the book The Odyssey, the main character Odysseus was a good hero. One reason why I think that Odysseus was a great hero was because he tried to save everyone he could. “ Odysseus urges his exhausted crew by Thrinacia, the island of the sun god, Helios. But the men insist on landing. Odysseus makes them swear not to touch the god’s cattle”(Homer 922). This shows that he is a good leader because he warns them so that they won’t die so they want to go back to...
Words: 541 - Pages: 3
...difficult for him to achieve his goals. Dante and Virgil travel through the circles of hell in order for Dante to search for his humanity. The plot of these two stories are evident when comparing the epic characteristics, epic conventions, and comparing the different religious backgrounds of the time period in which these novels were written. Both the Odyssey by Homer and Dante’s Inferno were written to reveal culture and tradition of life and values that each epic portrays. In the Odyssey by Homer the main character Odysseus is a man struggling with multiple obstacles while trying to return home after twenty years fighting in the Trojan War. In the Inferno, Dante is on a journey between good and evil, with references to heaven and hell. The Gods or angels are used in both books by helping Odysseus and Dante to grow in faith and attain their own potential dream. Odysseus faces challenges on his journey home are plagued by the wrath of the Gods. Dante is challenged by going through hell in search of his humanity. Throughout the Odyssey by Homer Odysseus must face obstacles and struggle to be able to overcome these obstacles by using his mind and also his strength but he needs to make sure all that he does in good and honorable. The goddess Athena is on Odysseus’s side guiding him on his journeys, but Odysseus thinks that he is above the Gods and is able to make it home on his own merits. This thinking causes Odysseus and his men to encounter many different people and places...
Words: 1124 - Pages: 5
...Jade Zayas Intro to World Mythology Final Paper 05/07/2012 O Brother, Where Art Thou? vs. The Odyssey When it comes to entertainment and box office hit movie making, it is not uncommon to come across films adapted from popular literature. Taking a story that is popular and well-known is a formula for a successful film, as long as it is done the right way. The Coen Brothers, famous for successful films such as “Fargo” and “The Big Lebowski,” made a movie together entitled “O Brother, Where Art Thou.” This film, while unique in its setting and a little bit different in the plot, is clearly an adaptation of the ancient classic poem “The Odyssey” by the poet Homer. Even a review by the renowned film critic Roger Ebert states: “O Brother, Where Art Thou? is a Homeric journey through Mississippi during the Depression (Ebert, Roger 2000).” The film itself depicts the obstacles and fate of a man during the Great Depression who escapes from jail and whose only goal is to make it back home. The struggles he and his fellow escapees meet along the way are strikingly similar to the perils that face Odysseus and his men on their mission to get back to Ithaca. Also, the character references in the film that parallel the characters in the epic poem are abundant. The film is almost a modern homage to the ancient poem in all the different ways it emulates “The Odyssey.” To fully understand all of the different ways the film relates to the poem, it is important to establish the character...
Words: 2094 - Pages: 9
