Comparing and Contrasting Homer's Odysseus and Tennyson's Ulysses

In reading the first four books of "The Odyssey" we see a lot of different struggles going on but once we focus on Telemachus we begin to capture a more metal picture of this main character. Odysseus's son, Telemachus has lost his father, suitors are pursuing his mother, and he is learning how to grow up without the legendary guidance of his great father. Telemachus appears to be a young, lost boy who is trapped in a world that he has no control over. Feelings of being left behind and not getting the recognition he so rightfully deserves to take over the throne, Telemachus will set out on a journey to find the answers he needs.

Odysseus and Telemakhos are both clear-headed, eloquent, and emotional. These are but three of the traits that they share. They both can keep their head clear in battle, and think quickly to get out of bad situations. They both are able to use their powerful speech to get things to go their way. Both also can become very emotional at times. This shows what a great impact a father has on his son. By setting a good example for Telemakhos, Odysseus guaranteed that Telemakhos would be just as great a man as he

In the beginning of The Odyssey, Telemachus is not yet a man and not sure of himself yet. Embarking on a mission to find his father, he matures from a child to a strong, single-minded adult. Throughout the poem, Telemachus finds his place in the world and becomes a more well-rounded person. Although Telemachus never quite matches his father Odysseus in terms of wit, strength, agility, his resilience does develop throughout the text. In the epic, The Odyssey, by Homer, the young boy Telemachus changes from an insecure teen into a confident and poised young man as he travels the seas in search for his father, whose bravery and intelligence proves to be comparable to his own.

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.

Odysseus’ and Telemachus’ journeys or nostos were both very similar and different. They parallel each other in some ways but they are also completely different at other times. Telemachus starts as a younger, less mature boy, and without the presence of his father during his childhood, he becomes a timid, shy and spineless boy who is greatly pampered by his mother. He has even more to achieve, being the son of a world-famous father, and this is a very difficult reputation to live up to. His journey, and after that the killing of the suitors who took advantage of him really show how his journeys and problems throughout the book mature him from being a shy, timid boy into a mature man. Odysseus’ journey also taught him about many things

First of all, the protagonist Ulysses Everett McGill and Odysseus share traits besides being the main characters. Odysseus’s downfall is his pride in his heritage. He always names his royal father and accomplishments when asked who he is, the same way Ulysses prides himself in his hair and appearance. The suitors in the Odyssey are set up to inherit the source of Odysseus’s pride, his power (and Penelope,) and Vernon T. Waldrip inherits Ulysses’ hair product (and Penelope.) As for impiety, Odysseus had disrespected Poseidon, and Ulysses refused to believe in God, although this only became an obstacle for Odysseus. Delmar and Pete represent Odysseus’s crew, teammates with whom he journeyed, though it was later revealed that he betrayed them. Odysseus had kept from his crew that they were destined to die, according to the prophet Tiresias, and he told them this on his own behalf because they might not have continued to sail with him if they thought it would lead to all of their deaths. Ulysses also betrayed his friends on his behalf when he told Delmar and Pete that he would share a treasure with them when they reached their destination (in order to convince them to escape prison with him,) but there was no treasure and the two were left poor and still on the run. Ulysses did all of this to be with Penelope, like Odysseus. The final protagonist

Everett and Odysseus are both determined to get home. Through out their story, both never gave up when facing challenges. In the film, Everett and his friend are robbed of all their money. Though they are left with nothing, they still push on. This signifies that even though they lost everything, including their opportunities, with perseverance they were able to overcome everything facing the group. Odysseus also showed the act of being perseverance, during the long journey, Odysseus did not give up when he faces challenges. "...what I want and all my days I pine for is to go back to my house and see my day of homecoming. And if some god batters me far out on the wine-blue water, I will endure it, keeping a stubborn spirit inside me, for already I have suffered much and done much hard work on the waves and in the fighting. So let this adventure follow." (Book 5 219-224). Odysseus has been away from his home, Ithaca, for 20 years and is

Throughout The Odyssey, Telemachus proves himself worthy to be Odysseus’ son. Through the help of Athena, Telemachus slowly matures and becomes assertive and authoritative.

Through modern culture, most people are familiar with the whole storyline of The Odyssey. Odysseus leaves Troy and embarks on an epic journey filled with adventure and fantasy. However, most readers are unaware that there are actually two journeys that are unfolding simultaneously throughout Homer’s epic. Telemachus’ journey greatly differs from that of his father, Odysseus. While it might not be filled with as much adrenaline and adventure as his father‘s journey, Telemachus’ quest is certainly one that should be noted since the first four books are dedicated to him. It is the story of Telemachus’ coming-of-age as he matures into a more capable young man. However, it is debatable if he will ever become the man that Odysseus is.

"Be careful to leave your sons well instructed rather than rich, for the hopes of the instructed are better than the wealth of the ignorant." This quote, stated by Epictetus, is an ideal depiction of the importance of father-son relationships in Homer’s ancient Greek epic, The Odyssey. The protagonist of The Odyssey, Odysseus, fights among the other Greek heroes at Troy and struggles to return to his kingdom in Ithaca where his loyal wife, Penelope, and his loving son, Telemachus await. Telemachus is an infant when Odysseus leaves for Troy, leaving him alone with his concerned mother and her arrogant suitors. In father-son relationships, both fathers and sons provide and learn from each other while

Telemachus becomes a better man and warrior when his father came back. He helped kill the suitors, and he kept the secret of Odysseus being at his house in disguise. A quote that shows he helped Odysseus and that it made his confidence grow is: " You'll soon see what I'm made of, Father, And I don't think you'll find me lacking."

Odysseus in The Odyssey displays a strong sense of loyalty and perseverance, maintaining these strong moral characteristics despite the suffering he endures throughout his journey to return home. After being absent for twenty years, held in the city of Troy as “Helios, the Sun God, took away the day of his homecoming” (27), “that very year came in which the gods had spun for him his time of homecoming” (27) and Odysseus is faced with the task of returning to his home in Ithaka. However, this challenge is not an easy one and Odysseus must use strength, determination, and courage in order to make a successful return, keeping that perseverance upon his return.

When Odysseus returns home, he perseveres and stays focused on his goal of gaining back his

Odysseus and Telemachus have one final thing in common on their journeys; they are both aided by Athena. Athena had been an ally of Odysseus since the Trojan War, mainly because she reminded him of herself. Throughout The Odyssey Athena aides both heroes on several occasions; Athena begs her father Zeus to allow her to aid Odysseus, so he can go home to his family, "Father, son of [Kronos], King of kings, it served Aegisthus right … it is for [Odysseus] that my heart bleeds, when I think of his sufferings in that lonely sea-girt island, far away, poor man, from all his friends” (Butler BK 1). Athena helps Telemachus by getting him his ship and crew before the journey to search for word of Odysseus, and develops a bond with both of them throughout the story.

Although Ulysses and Odysseus share similar traits, Homer would not agree with Tennyson 's portrayal of Odysseus in the poem "Ulysses". Whereas Odysseus wishes to complete his journey and find relief, Ulysses seeks to continue on a never-ending one.