Homer's The Odyssey : A Story As An Epic

A hero isn’t shaped by his strengths but by the values he possesses. Homer’s epic, The Odyssey, reveals the moral and ethical constitution of the ancient Greeks. Over time, certain cultures have grown to value a number of human characteristics. Those who acquire such values become respected heroes. After the fall of Troy, the protagonist of the epic, Odysseus, set sail for his home, Ithaca, where his faithful wife and son were waiting for him. Over the course of his journey, Odysseus faced some of the most ferocious opponents known to the Greeks. Even through this formidable journey, Odysseus and his family have stayed true to the diverse aspects of the ancient Greeks. The Odyssey exemplifies the human ideals of hospitality, loyalty and

In Homer’s historic epic The Odyssey the protagonist, Odysseus, is venturing home to his native land of Ithaca. Throughout the story Odysseus is faced with many great challenges and is forced to make many decisions that will greatly affect his life and that of everyone around him. Each decision is crucial to his survival and his journey home. Homer portrays many patterns that are susceptible throughout the tale. One of the major themes that he portrays is that temptation can befall any man, even Odysseus. Many times throughout the story Odysseus and his men fall or are delayed due to the sweet temptations that the world offers them. These temptations do not end even after Odysseus

“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.

The Odyssey Rough Draft When reading an Epic, it's important to know that most stories are about a hero’s journey. A hero’s journey is a story of how a hero becomes the hero, the Odyssey is a great example of this. At first, Odysseus is a selfish and cold-hearted brute but as time goes on, Odysseus learns from his mistakes and becomes a better hero. So let's explore Odysseus’ adventure to be a hero.

The Odyssey by Homer is a phenomenal story that was written about two thousand years ago. The main character, Odysseus, is trying to get home from a voyage that lasted about ten years. The reasoning? On his way home, he and his sailors stopped on an island to get needed supplies. He and his crew ended up interacting with the cyclops named Polyphemus. That is where there long journey began. The Odyssey exemplifies the ideal assumption of an epic story with its use of writing, the hero himself, and use of foreshadowing.

The Odyssey is about the Greek gods and heroes and their adventures (Makman). Odysseus is the main character, and he is going on a quest that takes him several years to complete. Homer’s story, the Odyssey, arises many questions in the later years of its readers (Thornton). Homer’s work is has such an impact on poets and literary works today that no one could match his work in

Odysseus left Calypso’s Island and began his journey back home. His odyssey might be described as one’s own life struggles. There are ups and downs to every situation, and through reading The Odyssey, readers can connect parallels between Odysseus’ experiences and lessons learned in their own life. Human weaknesses can still prevail through even the strongest men you may think of; examples of this are shown in this epic. Even though there is a large gap in space between Odysseus’ travels and the present, human nature and weakness still share the same obstacles.

Before long, the jarring roller coaster ride started as the Odyssey rotated a full three hundred and sixty degrees followed by a series of precipitous repetitive descents and ascents. Surina’s heart leaped into her throat even though she remained transfixed by the view of the ancient boulders hurtling past. Quickly stealing a glance at the other passengers, she noticed a few kept their eyes shut while clutching the armrests of their chairs. However, the majority, including the Ellison children, continued to stare out of the portholes at the asteroids whizzing past the Odyssey. Miraculously, the starship escaped from several potential collisions by only a hairbreadth. After a temporary lull, they resumed the tortuous ride for what seemed

Throughout modern and contemporary culture, there are countless allusions and references to Homer’s literary works, specifically, The Odyssey, due to its impact upon readers, capturing their imaginations and inspiring countless works of art, literature, cinematography and music. Within the music world, there are numerous references to The Odyssey made by song writers and performers. Drawing upon the trials and tribulations of Odysseus and other characters within the plot of the epic for artistic inspiration, who serve as references to clarify perspectives and particular situations, within their songs due to the many topics and personal experiences relating to human struggles that are covered throughout. Such an example of the trials and tribulations recorded throughout The Odyssey are recreated through music by progressive American metal band Symphony X’s song “The Odyssey,” which was released on their fifth album, The Mythology Suite in 2002 (Symphony X History). It highlights the main struggles of Odysseus throughout the epic as he continues to journey home to his family and homeland of Ithaca.

Classic literature often provides insight to an ancient society, their values, and their beliefs. Many books that are considered classics today focus on ancient Rome and Greece. Revenge, hubris, and other themes, and the relation of this book to modern life, classifies the poem The Odyssey by Homer, translated by Fitzgerald, as a classic. For this reason, it is still read today.

Zeus is portrayed as the all-powerful holder of the golden scales, the king, father, husband and ruler of the gods of Olympus. His role as the purveyor of fate is repeatedly demonstrated throughout The Iliad, guiding battles to ensure the desired outcome of the Moirae. There are limitations on his power as in all his many roles, however the main is fate. To maintain his dominion over the gods and by extension the mortal realm he is forced stand by and watch his mortal child die a fated death whilst he cries tears of blood.

A modern adaptation of Homer 's Odyssey – one of the most widely read ancient literary works in the world – Margaret Atwood 's novella, The Penelopiad, retells this classic story, this time from the perspective of Penelope, Odysseus ' wife, who spent ten long years waiting faithfully for him to return form the Trojan war, and is now lameting her life from the greek underworld, Hades. The Penelopiad deconstructs the portrayal of penelope in the Odyssey, showing that instead of waiting and wasting away, she instead employed her wits, feminine charm and strength of character to build a strong empire and achieve her own ends, or at least, that 's what she would like us to believe. Chapter 26 is a courtroom scene, where Odysseus is on trial for the hanging of the 12 maids, which he justifies by convincing the judge of their supposed indescretions. Atwood employs various literary devices, such as the exploitation of genre and dark humour, to convey the double standard between genders, the failures of the justice system, and the lack of consequences awarded to those in power.

The Odyssey, an epic poem written by Greek poet Homer, follows the story of Odysseus, a war hero and king of Ithaca, as he went on a journey to return home from Troy ten years after the Trojan War. On his journey, he was confronted by various monsters, including the one-eyed Cyclops, and faced the loss of his men and his ship. Not to mention, when he returned to his land, he also had to defeat the suitors who had overrun his home and were trying to court his wife, Penelope. Homer not only tells us the adventure of brave Odysseus, but through his story, he also tells us the four qualities that a commendable Greek must possess: hospitality, humility or absence of hubris, honor, and heroism. First, hospitality, also known as “xenia,” refers to showing generosity to guests or visitors. By treating every guest with generosity, people in ancient Greece believed they could avoid angering a god if one appeared at their door disguised as a stranger. Not doing so could result in punishment from the gods. Then, hubris refers to extreme, ignorant pride shown by an individual and is punishable by the gods. Homer emphasizes the importance of showing humility and not possessing a sense of superiority over others throughout The Odyssey. Next, honor refers to having a reputation for excellence, and it can be earned through killing others in battle, looting, or even dying. In ancient Greece, battling others was considered the duty of a soldier, and dying in battle was a glorious feat.

An epic is a long, episodic narrative poem that recounts the adventures of a historical or mystical hero. Episodic narratives have a larger story broken down into closely connected, but individual and separate sections. Some important qualities that distinguish an epic are unrealistic antagonists, the Gods and Goddesses playing important roles, and a story involving the re-establishment of a proper leader. “The Odyssey”, by Homer, is an epic because Odysseus (the hero) faces supernatural antagonists, the gods and goddesses play an important role, and Odysseus is being restored as a rightful leader.

With this personal narrative, I will analyze two themes from Homer’s epic’s pertaining to the Iliad and the Odyssey. I have chosen hospitality (Xenia) and shame (Aidos) as the subject of interest, and will focus on these as a main source of the topic.