Analysis Of ' The Odyssey ' And ' Oedipus The King '

In the Epic, “The Odyssey", spoken by Homer, conveys a heroic tale of an epic hero named, Odysseus, who faces many challenges as he sails to get home. One of the tasks Odysseus faces is, "The Sirens", who challenge Odysseus 's will power. Another challenge Odysseus encounters is, “The Cyclops", who torments and slaughters some of Odysseus 's men due to his curiosity. One of the hardest threats he had to confront was, “The Land of Dead" which tested his self-restraint, and revealed his human weaknesses of sorrow. The Epic Hero, Odysseus, struggles with many challenges such as, the taunting Sirens, the brutish and cruel Cyclops, and one of the arduous territories Odysseus has ever crossed, The Land of the Dead.

In the “Odyssey”, Odysseus goes through obstacles throughout the book that a normal man couldn’t subside. One example is in book 9, his main obstacle that he is trying to face is to escape from being held hostage in a cave by a Cyclops better known as Polyphemus. Odysseus is a archetypal hero, he is also a role model, with an ambition to get to his homeland Ithaca. He goes through resisting temptation and using his intellect and physical strength to get him there, no matter the obstacle nor the negative flaws that he faces. Odysseus put himself and his men in that situation by being curious and wanting to know what kind of land his ship and the winds led him to. This was selfish of him because it cost him some of his men, but a leader and hero has to play that role and some lives will be dealt with on the way. Odysseus says, “The rest of you will stay here while I go with my ship and crew on reconnaissance. I want to find out what those men are like, Wild savages with no sense of right or wrong Or hospitable folk who fear the gods” (Homer 429). Saying this quote alone makes Odysseus a humble man due to the fact that not even a piece of land is going to slow him down on his journey back home.

The character Ulysses Everett McGill from “O Brother, Where art thou?” is a worthy representation of Odysseus from the “Odyssey”. Ulysses Everett McGill, or Everett, was the main character of the movie who was trying to get back home. Odysseus was a king and warrior who spent 20 years away from home due to obstacles and distractions. Both characters share many personality traits and events that make the movie a modern adaption of the epic poem

“Sing to me of the man, Muse, the man of twists and turns ... start from where you will—sing for our time too” (I, 1, 12). From the very beginning, Homer shows his intention for themes of The Odyssey to be applicable in the modern age and essentially “sing for our time” (I, 12). Homer’s epic provides the ideal reflection upon the very definition of heroism because it details the strenuous journey of Odysseus, a crafty hero whose key priority is to return home to his family. As one of the most prominent themes, The Odyssey carries forth the idea of heroism through the portrayal of Odysseus, and establishes a connection with the real world through the expression of life lessons. Consequently, Odysseus is characterized to serve as a role model for the successful hero because, after all, the poem is essentially centered on his very name. However, The Odyssey simultaneously conveys that an entirely perfect hero may be impossible, but a means for improvement is always present. The attributes for success that are revealed in The Odyssey can be examined under interconnected ideas of passion, perseverance, and prowess. Thus, heroism is the most compelling theme of The Odyssey because it exemplifies the attributes for success while also demonstrating that heroes are not without mortal flaws.

Literature is one of the most powerful and revealing aspects of a society. In ancient Greek society, Homer’s The Odyssey provides a detailed insight into the values of this intricate culture. In particular, this epic discusses the ways in which the deathless gods influence the fates of the mortals. The overall impact of the gods’ power is the mental straining that emerges from the unrelenting conflict of man versus immortal. Likewise, the actions and misfortunes of others also catalyze this extremely significant and powerful mental battle. Homer’s The Odyssey reveals the values of ancient Greece by portraying the intrapersonal struggles between a person’s self-determined honor and his/her worthiness in the eyes of the Gods. This underlying

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

Some civilizations perish into ashes, and others supersede the former and ascent to power. Ancient Greece is one such example, rising to the apex of its glory, and as history is depicted to repeat itself, the future was simultaneously on a quest to bring about its diminution. Although this cycle is inevitable, we are blessed by our biological programming to relay the chronicles of such civilizations through stories. Literature allows us to peek through the fabric of time and gain insight into the ideals a civilization was structured upon. Examining the Odyssey will allow us to view the values the Ancient Greeks were reliant on, and how those values and brought about the indomitable hero

In Homer’s The Odyssey, loyalty is not only a vital character trait for Odysseus, but also an important trait for any dutiful citizen. Odysseus personifies loyalty as he journeys back to Ithika in, but his wife and servants also display an extreme amount of devotion to their lost king. Those that are loyal are rewarded, while those that aren’t are punished.

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.

As the world evolves, so does it’s cultures; furthermore, there are some exceptional parts of all cultures, such as literature, that manage to not become lost with the changes in the world, but these also become subject to the evolution of culture. A great example of a piece of culture that has managed to endure the test of time is Homer’s The Odyssey, and epic poem telling of Odysseus, a warrior and a king, and his long and trying journey back to his home country(Fagles, 186). The evolution of this epic can be seen as it gets interpreted and transferred into other forms of media, particularly film, which is one of the most prominent

While a multitude of factors creates of the human condition, there is none as certain as our mortality. In fact, the aspect of mortality is so essential to the human condition that without it, we could not be deemed truly human – man is not perfect, and his imperfections are conceived in the form of our vulnerabilities to suffering and death. Both Homer’s The Odyssey and Sophocles’s Oedipus the King place emphasis on the prevalence of mortality and human vulnerabilities throughout each narrative, creating a profound discussion concerning the inevitability of death and the manner in which we must make meaning of our own oblivion.

Greek epics are the cornerstone of Greek mythology as we know it. Epics tell of voyages and hero’s greater than you could ever imagine. From the powerful son of Zeus, Hercules, to Achilles and that heel of his. There is a broad spectrum of stories and skill sets that these heroes posses. We all know that some characteristics of an epic hero would include courage, devotion, loyal and justice. But never do we touch on intelligence. Is it a trait amongst all hero’s? No, however two stand out due to their cleverness. Odysseus from Homers’ the Odyssey and Oedipus from Oedipus the King. Now these two share the fact that they are intelligent, however this shows in different ways; Odysseus has a more interpersonal sense of intelligence and

The institution of marriage represents an abiding covenant between a man and a woman that unites their differences in a transformational and purposeful way. The intimate sacrament demands a lifelong commitment to one another, hence the traditional vow, “till death do us part.” Ideally, each maintains their individuality, surrendering themselves to each other, becoming compatible in mind, body, and spirit. However, as unbridled anger breeds distrust and deceit, this steadfast romance can easily distort into dismal apathy. These contrasting representations of marriage in Homer’s The Odyssey, and Aeschylus’ Oresteia govern the works’ narratives, setting the scene for the climatic events and highlighting various themes presented throughout the

Homer’s Odyssey provides a detailed account of the Greek hero Odysseus’ return home after the end of the Trojan War and the many obstacles and adventures he encounters along his journey. Depicting a non-traditional heroic character, this epic poem gives an insight into the intricate relationships between mortals and gods, commenting as well on societal norms and expectations in ancient Greece. Odysseus, though not developing as a character in Homer’s Odyssey, experiences dynamic shifts in his character throughout the poem. This constant shifting between two contrasting versions of his character allows Odysseus to be situated as a representation of mankind, a fusion of both civilization and barbarism.

The characters in a novel or play are attributed certain characteristics by the author. The opinions one might form of a character are based on these; therefore, the characteristics suggested by an author are intrinsic to the reader having a complete and subjective understanding of a work.  Characteristics are often displayed through a character s actions, in what is said about them, and what they themselves say, which shall be the focus of this essay.  Both Oedipus, in Sophocles'  King Oedipus  and Odysseus, in The Odyssey of Homer, oftenare spoken of by others, but their own words are telling, as certain emotions and traits can be seen.  Traits of a character can often be