Symbolism In The Odyssey

Homer’s great literary classic, The Odyssey, represents and illustrates many emotional and mental values. All of these values can be classified under three different main themes that are constant throughout the epic tale. These themes are: A boy’s struggle to be a man, a king’s struggle to reclaim his kingdom, and a man’s struggle to return home. As one reads this book it will become more and more evident to them that a man’s struggle to get home is the most important theme throughout Homer’s adventure.

Homer’s epic poem The Odyssey translated by Robert Fagles completely illustrate Odysseus’s journey home after The Trojan War. Separated into twenty-four different books, the poem describes the hardships Odysseus faces and how he overcomes obstacles. Though this poem is composed for listeners and may seem incomprehensible, Homer includes a plethora of literary devices to help audiences better understand, follow, and enjoy the context of The Odyssey. Throughout this poem instances of epic simile, foreshadowing, epithet, and xenia are included to help the poem flow.

After returning from war, veterans often face many hardships. This theme is demonstrated through pathos and logos in both “The Odyssey” by Homer and “Back from War but Not Really Home” by Caroline Alexander. These texts use these rhetorical devices to prove that a soldier’s struggle does not stop when he leaves the battlefield. By doing so, they open the eyes of the reader to the injustice they face.

Novelist and poet, Rainer Maria Rilke once said, “The only journey is the one within”(Rainer Maria Rilke Quotes). Meaning, what makes a journey important is how one changes and learns from the experience. The claims made in this quote are well proven in relatively new literature and even one of the oldest poems still studied today. The Odyssey is a famous, well known epic poem. It was written by the renowned poet, Homer, in ancient greek times. The Odyssey follows a man known as Odysseus, he just left fighting in the Trojan war after years. Odysseus has quite the adventure due to the gods’ and goddesses’ constant manipulation, all in the hope of reaching his homeland, Ithaca, and beloved family. Quite the opposite, much younger and shorter “The Journey” is a poem written by Mary Oliver in the 1900s. This poem relays what a journey really is and the purpose of going on journeys. Despite the differences between The Odyssey and “The Journey”, the two both use figurative language to convey a very similar message. People embark on journeys to fill an empty void and learn what they appreciate in life.

Homeric or epic similes can be found all throughout The Odyssey written by Homer. A simile is the comparison of two unlike objects using like or as. Homer’s similes are considered to be “epic” because of how elaborate they are to help the audience “feel” and picture a scene. One of the most glorified scenes in The Odyssey, full of epic similes, is when Odysseus stabs the eye of Cyclops Polyphemus. As soon as Polyphemus fell asleep from the over-consumption of wine, Odysseus put his plan into motion to escape the Cyclops’ cave. Courage took over Odysseus and Homer writes:

In Book IX of the Odyssey, Homer uses imagery and foreshadow to illustrate how the cyclopes’ loneliness can significantly reveal how Odysseus and his men gets involved in a conflict with the cyclopes later on in the book. Homer uses foreshadow to develop the plot and build suspense. For example, Homer uses imagery to show what it was like when Odysseus encounters the land of the Cyclopes. Using imagery, readers can interpret the Cyclopes’ living conditions as well as their personality. The phrases “screened with laurel”, “cavern yawning”, “A prodigious man slept in this cave alone”, and “he seemed rather a shaggy mountain reared in solitude” shows that the Cyclopes are living in an isolated society and are very lonely on their island. Also,

If a group of strangers came to your home or territory, how would you treat your guests? In the opening passage of The Odyssey (Book IX) by Homer, the setting is when Odysseus and his crew on their Journey and encountered sea monsters “Cyclops.” The clever Greek leader, Odysseus, and his men become trapped by a vicious one-eyed monster, who eats the men one by one. Notwithstanding, Odysseus devises a plan, blinds the monster, and escapes with his men. The unique language techniques used by Homer such as tone, diction, and dialogue reveal their characterization and moreover, it portrays a culture also corroborated that the Cyclops treat their guests in the whole different way.

Charles Frazier’s Cold Mountain largely an allusion to Homer’s The Odyssey through the character's traits and hero’s journey. Although the characters have similar elements, the ending of each story is different.

This quote is from the time Odysseus is trapped on an island by the nymph Calypso for nine years. These powerful words portray clearly the pain that Odysseus bears within him thus giving the reader a fuller understanding of the story and his character.

In The Odyssey, Homer emphasizes revenge throughout the text, as it progresses an endless cycle of characters harming each other because of the wrong inflicted to others. He employs figurative language, word choice, and dialogue to describe the vengeance between characters. To start, vivid figurative language elements are used to depict the violence aspect of revenge as Odysseus kills the suitors one-by-one. Dramatic similes and imagery are used to when the passage describes, “Backward and down he went, letting the winecup fall from his shocked hand. Like pipes his nostrils jetted crimson runnels, a river of mortal red,” (22.17-20).

Humankind was created in the image of God; He gave them like characteristics such as compassion, love, and faithfulness. In Genesis 3 we learn of the Fall of Humanity, which introduces not only sin into the world but also pain. (“Lecture 3”, 2015) After the Fall human nature is then scarred by sin, humans are born sinful by nature. In Genesis 4 Cain brings murder into the world; from here we see humanity relentlessly depart from the wisdom of God. (“Lecture 3”, 2015) Only by accepting Jesus Christ into their hearts, can they atone for their sins and get right with the Lord.

In Ancient Greece, gods were believed to have the power to do harm to whomever they wanted and were believed to be far more superior than the rest of the population. In a book from this time period, called “The Odyssey,” Odysseus and his crew have to overcome many obstacles in order to succeed. Throughout his journey, gods punish and bring wrath upon his crew members. However, despite these obstacles, Odysseus returns back home safely after many years away. In The Odyssey, Homer uses figurative language in order to convey a deep tone of maliciousness.

All heroes have unique aspects that make them special and considered heroic. These aspects can be anything from a role to a characteristic and are shown through many ways, such as descriptions and explanations. Most of these aspects are shown through symbolism, such as in the works of Alexandre Dumas, Homer, and Kenneth Branagh. Symbolism plays a key part in showing different aspects of a hero, such as the elixir in the book The Count of Monte Cristo, the hammer Mjölnir in the movie Thor, and Odysseus’s hunting bow in the book The Odyssey.

Love is tough business, the two involved in one relationship is expected to put equal effort into that relationship. Some people might not do so well and others may have great relationships, but then we come across ones that can stay together even through the toughest times. Sometimes the other person in the relationship leaves for a while, either for work, emergencies, and sometimes they serve in the military. Sometimes, they’ll be gone for a few days, weeks, months or years. A lot could change for both involved in that bond of love; moreover, the character of the people could also change.

Much like Odysseus had many setbacks and help from others on his journey home, I too had similar events on my journey to becoming a fully capable driver. In The Odyssey By Homer the characters and events that Odysseus came across all symbolize things that every person on a journey has experienced, no matter what it may be.