How important is Book 11 to the overall meaning of The Odyssey?

How important is Book 11 to the overall meaning of The Odyssey?

The overall significance of Book 11 to the epic is that it shows how

things change over time (Anticleia's death, the suitors at his home),

which can be missed if someone is not around. It also shows us that

the Ancient Greeks believe in destiny and intervention from the gods.

The sacrifices and prayers from Odysseus and the attention he pays to

Teiresias about returning to Ithaca show this. If he did not pay

attention to Teiresias he may have done something to displease the

gods (such as killing the 'Sun-gods' cattle and sheep). This could

have lead to intervention from the gods to prevent Odysseus and his

men from returning to their home. Book 11 also shows that they

believed greatly in the afterlife, but unlike modern religions they

believed that everyone went to Hades (Hell), with the exception of

those souls who were left to wander the earth for all eternity. The

afterlife was always thought to be a lot darker and bleaker than

people now seem to think.

It is Circe who tells Odysseus of the trip which he and his men must

take. He then has to tell all of his men. All of them are very

distraught when they first find out that they must travel to the ends

of the earth. They know it is going to be a journey of many perils.

This is why Homer describes the men as 'heart-broken' telling us 'They

sat down where they were and wept and tore their hair. But their

lamentations achieved nothing.' (Book 10, lines 566-568.) This shows

that they are greatly disheartened by the news, having thought that

their next voyage would take them back to their homeland. They know

that there is nothing that they can do to avoid this risk filled

journey, which makes it an even more arduous a task for them.

It is probable that the men were aware that their end was fast

approaching. Any journey to Hades made by a living mortal is going to

be dangerous. It would only usually be made by the souls of the dead,

who would not need to sail, as Odysseus and his men did. This would

have most likely made the men think that they would not complete their

trip to Hades or would not return from it. At this point of the voyage

I don't think that anyone, with the probable exception of Odysseus,

expects to see Ithaca or their family again. It is more likely that

knowing they are heading for Hades, t...

... middle of paper ...

...tors and cheats whom this dark world brings forth in such

profusion to spin their lying yarns which nobody can test.' (Lines,

364-366.) This too is a possibility, as Odysseus has no proof of what

he is saying, and that could be another reason he has offered to stay

up to a year. Alcinous then asks Odysseus to continue, as he has 'the

artistry of a bard.' (Line 369.), asking more of his friends, their

expedition to Ilium and their deaths, saying 'We have endless time

ahead of us tonight, it's early for us to go to our beds.' (Lines

373-374.) Odysseus agrees to continue the tale, but does imply he is

tired, saying that there is also time for sleep.

I think that Homer sees humankind as chess pieces, which the gods or

destiny are playing with. From the prophecies made, and what we know

to happen after them, it seems that occurrences in the poem have been

pre-destined. I think in The Odyssey Homer sees humans as

insignificant overall. The have little influence over their lives; the

gods decide what will happen with them. The lives of mortals seem to

be a game for the gods, where they all want their character to win.

Athene wants Odysseus to win, but Poseidon does not.