Different Types Of Messages In The Odyssey

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The Odyssey, written by Homer in the early 7th century, is an epic poem with 24 books of King Odysseus’s adventures. It talks about King Odysseus’s journey from the walls of Troy back to his kingdom Ithaka after being gone for 20 years fighting. His motivation to return home was to see his son Telemachus and his wife Penelope. The Odyssey shows three different types of messages throughout the text. The first message shown would be vengeance, also known as revenge. When Odysseus arrived at his home, overrun by suitors, he planned to kill every suitor out of revenge because they tried to take over his wife and kingdom. “Your clean-cut game is over”. Now watch me hit a target that no man has ever hit before.” (Homer, 609) This quote emphasizes how during the contest to win over Penelope, Odysseus hints that they are all about to be killed. …show more content…

The second message shown would be hospitality when Odysseus washes up on the land of the Phaeacians. Odysseus reached the king of the Phaeacians, Alcinous, and was led by Athena dressed as a little girl in disguise to get home and kill the suitors. “I came to this wild place, directed by Athena, so we might lay plans to kill our enemies. (Homer, 598) This quote is shown when Odysseus is talking to Alcinous and asking him to let Odysseus have a ship and crew to get home and kill all the suitors that have taken over his palace. The third and final message is the loyalty shown by Penelope when Odysseus was gone for 20 years. Penelope remained faithful to Odysseus even though her house was full of men. “I armed myself long ago against frauds of men, imposters who might come.” (Homer, 616) Showing how Penelope stayed loyal to Odysseus even after 20 years of him being gone. Odysseus was not faithful to Penelope, but in the earlier ages, it was okay for men to cheat, but not

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