Tomorrow When the War Began

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 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 quit his job, went back to school, and won the County Science Fair. He was sent to Indianapolis for the National Science Fair. His dad was disappointed again that Homer went back to building rockets. He was the only one in town who didn't believe in Homer and his friends. His father helped him out when all of Homer's rocket supplies were stolen in Indianapolis the night before the science fair. His father made him

Homer’s The Odyssey, is an epic poem of mythology which includes twenty-four books. The ancient writings focused its topics of discussions on the Trojan War, a hero named Odysseus, and the challenges he faced

Homer is a character in the novel whose personality starts off as very stereotypical but changes as you get deeper into the story. Coming from a Greek background, Homer is forceful and domineering and has trouble dealing with other strong personalities. Although, he is a natural leader, brave and can even be a little insecure at times. In his teenage years Homer had built a front to hide behind, a front as a disrespectful, insensitive, uncaring guy. He starts to fall inlove with Fi, a refined and delicate

Ellie, from Tomorrow When the War Began by John Marsden, is a typical country girl who likes the rural way of life. She is the narrator in the book, which suggests she has a lot to say. She starts out as a stubborn, headstrong person who is very loyal to her friends and family. While she still has a determined and reliable character, Ellie’s character has further developed. She steps up to whatever is required of her in the dangerous situations she and the group find themselves in. During the novel, we see her character grow because of her situation and experiences.

Homer was forced to change the way he handled every situation and his attitude towards everything because of the live event of war. He became the leader of the group when people looked to him for guidance as they relied on him. We see the kind of character Homer was before the war when Ellie is describing all the characters going to Hell. She used spoken thought when she says “Homer was Wild, Outrageous, He didn’t care what he did or what anyone thought”. This gives the reader an insight into how homer was barbaric and confident. Homer developed as a character because his friends relied on him. They needed him to make plans and decisions on how to save lee, one of their friends, and avoid the soldiers. Ellie notices these changes uses the technique of spoken thought when she says “Homer was fast becoming the teachers he despised”. This tells the reader that Homer was becoming organised, he was becoming the advisor, someone that helped everybody which is a big change from his old reckless ways. This is like teenagers in society as they become more mature through the life events they experience.Most teenagers need to change and become more mature as they need to grow up because they need to get a job, meet someone and move on in life. This is learnt from the experiences they have and the events that occur. As we grow older we mature at depending on the circumstances. Just like Homer,

The Odyssey is filled with emotion and adventure. Homer’s ability to show and give the reader a visual of each and every scene gives the story its unbelievable significance. To all the people who read his work there is something to be captured within every sentence, each one different in its own, unique way. Through tales of courage and defeat, friendship and love this book tells of all the values within the life of a single, solitary man, and his journey to attain what is true and dear to him. And this journey is known to all of us as The Odyssey. The Odyssey is a test of human devotion and trust through the gods, the mortals, and the obstacles through which they venture. No matter where they go or what they do, humans are tested for

    Most people think of a hero as a strong, superior, good-looking person that could never make a mistake. However, in a story called The Odyssey, a connection to real life reveals imperfections to be common in heroes. Each person has their low points and highlights, regardless of their “rank”. The author and epic poet, Homer, exemplifies our main character, Odysseus, to take on this idea of a hero throughout his writing. The time period took place in Ancient Greece, allowing Greek culture to relate to the poem. Different aspects of such culture and history may have influenced the works and creativity of Homer as well. A major point includes The Trojan War because it focuses in on Odysseus’ journey to bring Helen back home by devising a plan to destroy warriors in the city. Acknowledge this factor when reading The Odyssey, for not only evidence of heroism, but also other major points of archetypes, in which the device reflects the insights of readers in modern time and what is seen from Ancient Greek culture.

Tomorrow When The War Began is a well-known novel written by the Australian writer John Marsden, detailing the seige of Australia by an unknown power. In this book, the author draws out both the inferior and superior side of the characters in the various circumstances faced during war. This is clearly illustrated at the beginning of the book when the characters Homer, Kevin and Ellie take a journey to Hell. However when they returned, they realised that they were involved in a war. To suit this sudden realisation, they changed both their approaches and attitudes. These significant character changes reveal a completely different side of them, resulting in the considerable difference of character even when accompanied by their closest companions. Consequently, their friendship was brought to a whole new level. All of the changes is attributed to the realisation of the war, and it would be true to say that war brings out both the worst and best in people.

Homer’s Odyssey may have followed the great Odysseus, but it was his son, Telemachus, that underwent the most significant change. The audience watched as he was forced to finally take responsibility for the wellbeing of himself and others, and with this responsibility came experience and maturity. This man, Telemachus, had been a boy despite his age, but thanks to the experience and such forced upon him by the circumstances, he soon became the adult that he had to be.

“Many ways Homer's portrayal was insightful and way ahead of his time in terms of how he explores the themes of war and heroism. At the beginning of the play, Odysseus appears to fit the traditional image of a war hero -- brave and strong. We also see him full of his own importance -- announcing himself as 'Odysseus, the slayer of cities. But, as the play progresses and he begins his long journey home, Odysseus is confronted with the lasting impact of the war both on himself and those at home. There many layers to his character and how the war and the themes of the play affect him. We gradually see Odysseus become completely broken by his experiences”(Sawyerr).

This sense of control through appeasement helped Homer’s characters cope with their helplessness and carry on trying to survive.

     Homer evolves a lot as the movie progresses also; he goes from the boyish gullible type to the independent intelligent man that he is in the end. While watching one single movie for the past 10 years or so, watching movies becomes and insationable love for Homer. Now he is mainly excited when he and Candy make their annual trip to the drive-in movie. Now they don't watch movies there, he just sits and stairs at the screen and imagines King-Kong on the giant screen. While all of this is going on, he doesn't get very giddy like you think a young adult would in the beginning of his new venture on life. I know I would be ecstatic.

Homer's epic tale The Odyssey is a story of the triumphs and downfalls that are in store for one warrior's long pillage home.  Odysseus, the hero from the Trojan wars, has led his people of Ithaca and other Achaean soldiers to victory and now wishes to return home to his wife and family of Ithaca.  Through his twenty year journey Odysseus is often tested not only of his physical strength, but his wits as well.  The many accomplishments he achieved earned him great status and recognition throughout ancient Greece.  The mistakes he made caused the deaths of many men.  Consequently, we as readers are able to see the many personas that Odysseus carries with him.