Free Essays on The Odyssey

â€Å"THE ODYSSEY† AS A HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL REPRESENTATION OF RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THE PEOPLE AND THE GODS AND GODDESSES OF MT. OLYMPUS The overall objective of this research paper is to identify and discuss â€Å"The Odyssey,† by Homer during his journey of Odysseus following the Fall of Troy. It was during this sojourn that Odysseus encounters various characters, and gods as previously indicated, which represent the essential source for this study including the primary source. It is true that the story is set within the context of the Trojan War, but it has been argued by scholars for a long time as to the factuality’s of the events in this story. Overall, it is a tale of adventure and homecoming after a long absence. It has even been debated whether or not the story took place during Greek times or pre-Greek times. Nevertheless, the story is alive with characters and adventures. I believe that more than anything, Homer’s â€Å"The Odyssey† is an exercise in the meaning of story telling through song and other aspects in â€Å"The Odyssey,† including lying and the lore, as I shall explain. Homer’s â€Å"The Odyssey,† is basically the story of the wanderings of Odysseus, but it is not in the form of a continuous narrative that this story is told. Clearly, â€Å"The Odyssey† incorporates materials that are older than the poem itself, and foremost among them in all likelihood was the tale of Odysseus’ wanderings immediately falling the Fall of Troy which is narrated by Odysseus at the banquet given in his honor by the Phaeaceans. This narration may well have constituted a separate poem or lie which was worked into a longer narrative by a later poet whom we know as Homer and his primary concern was not with the adventures of Odysseus but with his relationship with his wife and son. This later poet undoubtedly had to deal with the character of Odysseus as it was then current in folk lore - ... Free Essays on The Odyssey Free Essays on The Odyssey The Odyssey Odysseus, is an epic hero in "The Odyssey by Homer" which is an epic story that has been a significant piece of literature since it was first composed and will remain so for ages to come . One of the reasons it has so is because of the hero, Odysseus . Odysseus is one of the first Greek mythic heroes' renowned for his brain as well as his muscle . He is a man with an intelligent mind , he is also a man with outstanding bravery . We also shouldn't forget that he is a topnotch athlete which only adds to this seemingly insuperable character . It is no wonder why many people refer to Odysseus as a powerful mythic hero . Odysseus often hesitates before acting , since he uses his reason and gift to evaluate things . This patience is one of his most important additional attributes . This has saved him and his men many of times , and it can be seen in various instances throughout his travels such as when he disguised himself as a beggar when he finally reached Ithaca , waiting for the right moment to reveal himself. As great as he was , Odysseus still had some weaknesses that prolonged his voyage back to Ithaca . His most important weakness that he possess is that of his pride . Pride is good to have , but in Odysseus' case he had to much of it . This is clearly evident in the episode on the Cyclops' island . " Cyclops , if anyone asks you who it was that put out your eye , say it was the brave warrior Odysseus." ( P. 84 ) When Odysseus and his men are clearly safe away from ... Free Essays on The Odyssey â€Å"Tactical Trickery† Tactic, n. â€Å"An expedient for achieving a goal; a maneuver.† (American Heritage College Dictionary, co.2000) Tactics are important strategies that a person can devise and employ in order to earn what they strive for. In warfare as well as other â€Å"sticky situations†, tactics often prove to be a salvation. In his epic the Odyssey, Homer studies the use of tactics through three specific characters: Odysseus, Athena, and Penelope. Athena, the mythological Greek goddess of warfare, was known for her strategic planning. Aware of this, Homer highlights this fact through her actions in the Odyssey. In preparation for Odysseus’ visit to the Phaiakians, Athena disguises herself as a crier of the king, letting the people know that Odysseus, famous war hero, was coming. (289) Pouring â€Å"her grace out upon him,† Athena impresses the Phaiakians with Odysseus’ splendor. (290) She uses these tactics to ensure that the suspicious Phaiakian people will help Odysseus and his men. Later, Athena discloses her role to Odysseus. â€Å"†¦I who made the Phaiakians befriend you†¦I planned it so.† (368) Homer uses Athena’s tactics such as this to prove that the gods were on Odysseus’ side. Later, Athena also dresses Odysseus as a young man: â€Å"As for my change of skin, that is a charm Athena†¦uses as she will.† (405) This tactic is used to impress Telema chus of his heroic father. Again portraying Athena as a great tactician, Homer reminds the reader of her help during the Trojan war, when she helped Odysseus be providing him with the idea of the Trojan horse. (370) Though Athena provided the idea for the Trojan horse, Odysseus, known as the â€Å"Great Tactician† (395) actually carried out the plans for it. Working with Athena or alone, Odysseus often proved to be an excellent tactician. He also managed to save himself and some of his men from the cannibalistic Cyclops through a carefully ... Free Essays on The Odyssey â€Å"THE ODYSSEY† AS A HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL REPRESENTATION OF RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THE PEOPLE AND THE GODS AND GODDESSES OF MT. OLYMPUS The overall objective of this research paper is to identify and discuss â€Å"The Odyssey,† by Homer during his journey of Odysseus following the Fall of Troy. It was during this sojourn that Odysseus encounters various characters, and gods as previously indicated, which represent the essential source for this study including the primary source. It is true that the story is set within the context of the Trojan War, but it has been argued by scholars for a long time as to the factuality’s of the events in this story. Overall, it is a tale of adventure and homecoming after a long absence. It has even been debated whether or not the story took place during Greek times or pre-Greek times. Nevertheless, the story is alive with characters and adventures. I believe that more than anything, Homer’s â€Å"The Odyssey† is an exercise in the meaning of story telling through song and other aspects in â€Å"The Odyssey,† including lying and the lore, as I shall explain. Homer’s â€Å"The Odyssey,† is basically the story of the wanderings of Odysseus, but it is not in the form of a continuous narrative that this story is told. Clearly, â€Å"The Odyssey† incorporates materials that are older than the poem itself, and foremost among them in all likelihood was the tale of Odysseus’ wanderings immediately falling the Fall of Troy which is narrated by Odysseus at the banquet given in his honor by the Phaeaceans. This narration may well have constituted a separate poem or lie which was worked into a longer narrative by a later poet whom we know as Homer and his primary concern was not with the adventures of Odysseus but with his relationship with his wife and son. This later poet undoubtedly had to deal with the character of Odysseus as it was then current in folk lore - ... Free Essays on The Odyssey Homer’s The Odyssey has many different themes. Among them is Telemachos’ own journey from a child to a young man. In the book, Homer shows Telemachos’ change from a child who, lacking his father’s guidance, is not ready to rule a country to an adult who is prepared to take the crown passed down by his father. To better understand Telemachos, some general background of his life much be given. Odysseus, Telemachos’ father and the main character in The Odyssey, left for the Trojan War when his son was only an infant. The hero is gone for 20 years, and Telemachos is raised without a father. Also, while Odysseus was away undergoing the many trials that are described in The Odyssey, 108 suitors have descended upon his palace at Ithaca. Their aim is to convince Penelope, Odysseus’ wife, that her husband is dead and she must remarry. They also have wild parties every night, eat the livestock and food in the palace, and leave Odysseus’ home in disarray every night. Telemachos does not have the strength or the status to get rid of the powerful suitors. He feels that he cannot help his mother, who has promised that she will remarry once she is done weaving a burial shroud for her father-in-law. Penelope is smart, however, and she unravels her weaving every night so she is not yet forced to remarry. At this point, Athena, disguised as Mentor, wisely advises Telemachos to go in search of his father. The young man agrees, and he bravely calls the first assembly since Odysseus’ departure twenty years ago. Telemachos gives a compelling speech on why the suitors should leave his house, but it is evident that he still has a lot of maturing to do. At the end of his speech, â€Å"in hot anger [Telemachos] threw his staff to the ground, his eyes grown bright with tears.† (Book 2, line 86) When Telemachos loses control of his emotions, it is clear that he is still in many ways a child. Finally, Telemachos requests a ... Free Essays on The Odyssey An Honorable Hero? By: Ryan Volk Calvin Coolidge once said, â€Å"No person was ever honored for what he received. Honor has been the reward for what he gave.† In Homer’s epic, The Odyssey, Odysseus is a character that gives nothing, and takes everything, and yet he is still viewed as an honorable man in many people’s eyes. However, Odysseus becomes a hero by telling tales of his past voyages and the miserable endings that they possess. For instance, as Odysseus is telling the Phaiakians about his treacherous voyage to the Laestrygonian land, he makes himself appear to be heroic in his actions, because he attempted to get his men out safely However, all of Odysseus’ actions are really performed in order to benefit Odysseus’ own well-being, not the well being of his crew. The tale that he tells to the Phaiakians is primarily told in order to make them perceive Odysseus as an honorable hero and also so they will aid him in his journey home. As Odysseus begins his tale, he explains to the Phaiakians, â€Å"Six whole days we rowed, six nights, nonstop† (Homer, 233: 88). By starting his melancholy tale with this statement, Odysseus is trying to prove to the Phaiakians that he has determination and bravery. Odysseus then continues his tale by saying, â€Å"I alone anchored my black ship outside† (Homer 233: 104), and â€Å"I tied her fast to the Cliffside† (Homer 233: 106), in order to gain honorable mention from the Phaiakians. It now appears that Odysseus not only possesses determination and bravery, but strength as well. At this point, the Phaiakians are on Odysseus’ side; after all, he is an honorable man. Then Odysseus continues his story and it is evident that the sole purpose of his â€Å"bravery† is to benefit him. Odysseus is not a hero who wants to save or help others; he is only in it for himself. A hero is any person, especially a man, admired for courage, nobility, and ... Free Essays on The Odyssey In The Odyssey written by Homer and translated by Robert Fagles, several themes are made evident, conceived by the nature of the time period, and customs of the Greek people. These molded and shaped the actual flow of events and outcomes of the poem. Beliefs of this characteristic were represented by the sheer reverence towards the gods and the humanities the Greek society exhibited, and are both deeply rooted within the story. In the intricate and well-developed plot of The Odyssey, Homer harmonized several subjects. One of these, was the quest of Telemachos, (titled "Telemachy") in correlation with the journey of his father. In this, he is developed from a childish, passive, and untested boy, to a young man preparing to stand by his fathers side. This is directly connected to the voyage of Odysseus, in that they both lead to the same finale, and are both stepping stones towards wisdom, manhood, and scholarship. Through these voyages certain parallels are drawn concerning Odysseus and Telemachos: the physical journeys, the mental preparations they have produced, and what their emotional status has resulted in. These all partake a immense role in the way the story is set up, stemming from the purpose of each character's journey, their personal challenges, and the difficulties that surround them. The story commences when Odysseus, a valiant hero of the Trojan war, journeys back home. Together with his courageous comrades, and a several vessels, he set sail for his homeland Ithaca. Fated to wander for a full ten years, Odysseus's ships were immediately blown to Thrace by a powerful storm. The expedition had begun. Upon this misfortune, he and his men started a raid on the land of the Cicones. However, this only provided them with temporary success. The Cicones had struck back and defeated a vast majority of Odysseus's crew. This was their first of many disastrous experiences to come. Storms then blew his ships to Libya and the la...