Analysis Of Homer 's ' The Odyssey '

In the Odyssey Telemachus has varying relationships with his mother, Penelope, the suitors, and his nurse, Eurycleia; a mother and son but also head of household and subordinate member of the household, a young boy and superior men, and a son and mother but also a master and servant. In the poem, Telemachus must find out what became of his father, Odysseus, who never returned home from the Trojan war. Meanwhile suitors from various places try to force his mother, Penelope, into marriage while they deplete all of Odysseus’ resources and destroy his house. With all of these complicated situations, Telemachus must take on a variety of different roles depending on who he’s interacting with. Based on the text, Telemachus has superior, strained, and complex relationships with his mother, the suitors, and Eurycleia.

he Odyssey, as written by Homer, intricately and excitingly weaves Colin Renfrew’s Subsystem Theories throughout the entire play. Many of the five subsystem theories can be seen and support understanding of the novel. Of the five systems, trade/communication, social/ political hierarchy and symbolic subsystems will be the focus of analysis in this paper. All of these subsystems come together in The Odyssey to explain the characters and their lives, and also how they fit into the society which they live in. To understand the growth and development of the characters, we must understand the systems theories, “many human actions have a meaning at several different levels, with undertones and overtones… it is the complex interconnectedness of the subsystems which gives human culture its unique potential for growth.” As this paper will demonstrate within The Odyssey, trade and communication, social and political hierarchy and lastly symbolic subsystems create adventure in Odysseus’s harrowing, yet exciting journey back to his kingdom and family. These specific subsystems add depth and excitement because we see how each specific one impacts Odysseus’s journey back home. They help us understand who Odysseus is a man and sympathize with all that he goes through. The communication subsystem helps explain how communication between people (and gods) in different lands aid to the success of his return home. We are able to see from the social subsystem how Odysseus and other men

The Odyssey by Homer has been around for almost three-thousand years. Many critics and analysists have given their opinions on his pieces. Throughout the reading of Howard W. Clarkes' article in Classical and Medieval Literature Criticism, it was thought to be a comparison between a father and sons journeys. While many believe Telemachos' journey was to find out in sequence details that have taken part in his fathers' 20 year odyssey throughout Greece and partially throughout the underworld, some indeed believe that it was only Telemachos' journey to find his heroic self to carry on the traits of his warrior father (Clarke 281).

Telemachus, who is the son of Odysseus was seen to be insecure and immature that had trouble in making decisions in his life. He had trouble coping with the idea of losing his father and letting others to rule Ithaca. It is noticeable from the beginning of The Odyssey, written by Homer that Telemachus finds himself in a complicated situation where his life is seen to be in danger. He is a character of being distance from people. The idea of Telemachus becoming his own father, threatens suitor’s control in Ithaca. Homer describes Telemachus as a teenager who has not found himself and is on a mission to become an adult as his father. Telemachus wants to be seen as a powerful and respected man. Before his mission, Telemachus meets with Athena who gives him courage to go and find his father. The meeting with Athena makes Telemachus more confident in making decisions. His mission to find his father and meeting with different kings and queens changes Telemachus into a secure and confident man. The people that he met during his mission made a tremendous change in his life in becoming more than he expected.

Throughout the course of Homer’s epic The Odyssey, Odysseus and his son Telémakhos both share a passion for each other and courage, yet also differ in that Odysseus has a seemingly higher intellect and is not as careless as his child. The term “Like father, like son” paints an accurate portrayal of the relationship between Odysseus and Telémakhos. The devotion they have for glory and their family is shown constantly. They also share a distain for the suitors that have invaded their home. However, Telémakhos lacks his father’s wit and cunning and is prone to mistakes, showing that he is yet to develop fully as an adult. Their relationship is still a very strong one though, because as soon as Telémakhos realizes the beggar’s true identity,

Though Homer does not focus heavily on him, Odysseus’ adolescent son, Telemakhos, plays a crucial role in the foreground of The Odyssey. Having been both the son of a great warrior and the heir to Ithaca’s throne, it would be expected that Telemakhos’ personality would follow in the likes of his father. However, when first mentioned, he is described as “[the] boy, daydreaming” (1.145). This initial understanding of Odysseus’ son will soon change as Telemakhos grows into the young man worthy of the nation’s trust. Through his display of respect for his parents, his loyalty to Ithaca, and his hospitality towards strangers, Telemakhos proved himself to be a virtuous hero.

In Homer’s epic poem, The Odyssey, certain characters are granted with the ability to make decisions for themselves, while others must deal with external factors, whether it be fate or divine intervention, that predispose their lives. Similarly, women are predisposed with the inability to make choices for themselves while men are born with the right to uphold power and enforce control over the female gender. Contrary to these gender stereotypes concerning power in a Homeric world, Homer instills Penelope with complete control, while leaving Odysseus with none. It is this distribution of control in Penelope that enables Odysseus to complete his nostos and re-identify himself, therefore pushing the boundaries of gender norms.

The ancient civilization tells a story of things that have happen in a world of their own. The plot consists of very powerful demigods, heroic warriors, supernatural beings, and the mistreatment of women. Many believe that women have been overlooked and disrespected in this world for years. The irrelevance of these women was a part of the Greek life. In the epic poem, “The Odyssey” by Homer, Penelope becomes a different person when she is brought into a time where women are taken control of more than anyone else in the Greek world. During this epic story, Penelope becomes a person of her own and not just someone that is focused on the hard times that she faces as well as her husband being gone for a long period of time. “Yes she’s in

Throughout the Odyssey, the hero, Odysseus is portrayed in two different and contradicting lights: the wise hero and the capricious leader blinded by his own pride. The epic writer, Homer, embodies the theme of hubris throughout Odysseus’ journey home. The idea of hubris, a trait of excessive pride, significantly develops personalities of characters within The Odyssey, and Homer ultimately creates a statement about excessive pride. The dual portrayal of Odysseus leads the reader to ultimately perceive him as a flawed hero who is responsible for his fate.

Homer’s epic poem The Odyssey follows Odysseus on his long journey home. The Epic also includes the stories of Odysseus’ family left behind: the travels of his son, Telemachus, and how plenty, of what we would now call “home wreckers”, suitors pressured his wife, Penelope, into marrying one of them. The characters are beautifully crafted and the story is truly epic. All the elements presented can bring in any reader from any century, the Cyclops, the Gods, the trickery of Penelope, and the disguises of Odysseus, are all legendary literary hooks . There are many things to learn—about writing, about the world around us, the world ahead of us, and the past behind us—from The Odyssey. (26) It is undeniably evident that this ancient text has

The Odyssey, a text written by Homer, originates from Ionia (a part of Asia Minor). This epic poem relates the journeys of both Odysseus and Telemachus. During their journeys, they encounter a wide variety of hosts. Telemachus provides Mentes a great meal and is later also given a feast from King Nestor. In addition, King Nestor also gifted Telemachus two horses and a chariot; Athena gave Telemachus the gift of wise advice, for which he used to go on his journey. And as their paths crossed in a meeting back in Ithaca, Odysseus is given food and allowed to rest by Telemachus just as his emotional need had been cared for by Alcinous through ending the lyre’s tune. The figures that host Odysseus and Telemachus during their travels highlight the importance of hospitality. As revealed by The Odyssey, the Ancient Greeks valued feasting, gift giving, and caring for the need of the guest as important values of hospitality.

Throughout life we are faced with many different challenges, and obstacles. Temptation is followed from our instincts, insights, or through the support system that we have built within. Nevertheless, loyalty can idealize as an extremity that extracts our thoughts and mental processes, which can make decisions coincide with ease especially considering who we can count on in times of need. Loyalty, many people may look upon it as actions but in all actuality it is what lies deep down inside of the mind, heart, beliefs, and character of a person. In Homer’s book The Odyssey, there is loyalty present from beginning to end and I would like to express how words imply loyalty on an aspectual basis.

The Odyssey, is known as an epic tale of one man’s expedition for nostos. In the beginning of Homer’s Odyssey, it is evident Telemakhos has not yet matured to manhood despite his age; throughout the first four books, known as the telemachy, he goes through a journey in which he develops and ultimately helps with Odysseus’ nostos. Athena has an important role in Telemakhos’ growth to manhood. It is Athena who encourages Telemakhos to go on a quest to find his father. Within this quest Telemakhos matures into adulthood. Telemakhos also learns a lot about himself that helps him with his maturation. Telemakhos is known as the prince of Itakha, he is always being catered to. It is within this journey that Telemakhos learns how to take care of himself. He develops some important characteristics that help prove his parentage ties with Odysseus. (should I add quote where he doubts him being Odysseus son?)

Homer’s Odyssey makes use of its epic qualities to narrate the lives of three men. The tale begins with Telemachus, a young prince who leaves his homeland to learn about his father and about himself at the same time. Through the use of this initial event, Homer creates a chronological structure that is further observed through the introduction of the story’s main character, Odysseus, the king of Ithaca and the father of Telemachus. Both father and son long to see each other after a decade of separation, and develop an increasingly complex relationship that bears unique attributes in the Homerian tradition. Similarly, once Odysseus returns home from Troy, he also visits his father, Laertes, and again the author elucidates upon the

In the Epic Poem ,The Odyssey, by Homer the story portrays the protagonist Odysseus, facing many tribulations on his journey home to Ithika, after his battle at Troy. However, Odysseus’ strong pride and boastful character provoke Poseidon, god of the sea, to not let him return home easily. During his absence, suitors raid his kingdom intending to marry his wife Penelope, and take Ithika for their own. Helping the hero, but also resisting lord Poseidon wishes, Athena, goddess of wisdom, attempts to bring the hero home. With disguise, Athena brings Telémakhos to venture off on his own journey to find his lost father whom he has never met. Even early, deception and disguise help Odysseus through tribulations; however, can trickery continue to fool the minds of his foes and loved ones? Odysseus must maintain his patience and self-control and not let envy and hatred for the suitors consume him.