The Odyssey is an epic poem that explores the journey of the hero Odysseus. The author of the Odyssey is Homer, who is famous for writing both The Odyssey and Iliad. The title of this poem basically means “The story of Odysseus” and is about his quest to return home ten years after the fall of Troy. There are many characters within the Odyssey, but the main ones you will hear about are Odysseus, his son Telemachus, his wife Penelope and Athena, the goddess of wisdom and daughter of Zeus. In Odysseus’s journey, we see that his hubris is the greatest obstacle for his ability to reason and make logical decisions. Odysseus encounters many obstacles on his way home. He makes many major mistakes that he does not learn from and we see how his big ego affects his future. The Odyssey explores Odysseus’s journey, the mistakes he makes along the way, and how his hubris makes the obstacles he encounters even more difficult to overcome.
Odysseus makes many mistakes
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“Just as I have come from afar, creating pain for many men and women across the good green earth so let his name be Odysseus…the Son of Pain, a name he’ll earn in full” (Book 19, Homer), said his grandfather Autolycus when naming him as an infant. In some ways, he was explaining that pain was in his blood and it would always be part of his life, whether it was his own or that of those around him. Odysseus shows that hubris can lead to one’s downfall. What could have been a quick journey home ended up being a ten-year journey because he was always doing things to cause setbacks. His ego caused him to put himself first in almost every situation. One can strive to always be the best but hubris can also cause you to be unable to reflect and react in moderation. Odysseus was a hero so in the end, he showed that even the most revered people are still human and all humans are prone to make
The Odyssey, by Homer and translated by Robert Fitzgerald, is an epic poem written about 3000 years ago. It is essentially a sequel to the Iliad, as it tells of the story of a Greek man named Odysseus and his ten year journey back home to Ithaca, after the Trojan War. It also follows the story of his estate and his wife Penelope which are both being fought over by the suitors that have occupied his palace and are consuming his goods. Along with his son, Telemachus, who is set out on a journey to uncover the whereabouts of his father by the Greek goddess Athena. The epic also gives insight to many of the classic Greek ideals that Odysseus embodies and other Greek virtues and values that are explored through the story of Odysseus’s journey back home. A striking resemblance is seen between Odysseus’s characteristics and many of the characteristics we see in heroes in modern culture and entertainment today. Another striking resemblance is that of the journey of Odysseus and how closely it follows that of the Hero’s Journey archetype. Although some of these Greek ideals still maintain to be relevant, others are
There are numerous heroes throughout “The Odyssey,” but none of them are as significant as Odysseus. “The Odyssey” is a narrative poem written by Homer (around 800 and 600 BCE) to show the numerous adventures and experiences Odysseus goes through. Throughout the Odyssey, Odysseus a prominent Greek epic hero is on a quest to return back to his home in Ithaca; to his wife Penelope, and his son Telemachus. Just like real life, not all heroes are picture-perfect; they all have imperfections. In this case, Odysseus is sometimes insolent, and discourteous; but he is still considered an epic hero because of the many heroic qualities he endures. Odysseus proves himself to be an outstanding hero in various ways such as showing loyalty, intelligence, bravery, strength, and courage which are all some of the most momentous qualities found in a hero. If a true hero can prove they are a true hero, makes them a true hero.
In the epic poem, The Odyssey, Odysseus finally found his way back home during the hardest time of his life. Over the course of 10 long years, Odysseus encounters monsters, gods and suitors who strive to interfere with his return to Ithaca. The strength of this war-hero aided his journey home, but his intelligence and love for his family allowed him persevere through barriers that stood in his way. In the Odyssey by Homer, Odysseus shows the importance of cunningness and trickery to overcome deteriorating obstacles.
‘The Odyssey’ by Homer, follows the story of Odysseus, an epic Greek hero. It begins with telling of his venture to Troy, as he leads his army in the Trojan War, and of the separation he has experienced for twenty years from loved ones and his kingdom. However, the epic mainly focuses on the story of his homecoming and all he, and many others, had to endure while he was returning from abroad. His son, Telemakhos, was greatly impacted by Odysseus’s absence as he had no father figure, and grew up in the shadows of all the palace-dwellers. During the novel, Telemakhos finally realizes that Ithaca needs a strong
The Odyssey is a tale that has changed literature and storytelling. In this tale Odysseus is a Soldier from the battle of Troy trying to get home to his island of Ithaca, where he is king. His wife and son must wait ten years while he is trying to make his way home. In Odysseus’s absence wooer’s, or better known as suitors, learn of his absence and travel to Ithaca to win his wife’s hand in marriage. These men come every day feasting on Odysseus’s food and wine, and give his servant’s orders. His son Telemachus, does his best to keep the suitors from ruining his fathers house but he is only a boy, and doesn’t receive the respect of an adult. Telemachus then has a visit from the god Athena, whom Odysseus is friends with, who advises him to travel to find out about his father. In his travels he hears that Odysseus may still be alive. Meanwhile Odysseus goes through a series of adventures and hardships that prove his wisdom. It is interesting in contrast of the Iliad, even though Achilles was much stronger and a better warrior, Odysseus was portrayed as a greater hero due to his wisdom. He uses this wisdom to escape from the Cyclops.
Odysseus’ journey is like many peoples’ journey in life. His journey was hard, excruciating, and painful, but at the end he harvests sweet fruits from his heroism, determination, and ruthlessness. People in today’s society opting for an easy way in life do not find their way "home" and do not fulfill their goals. The harder journey....the sweeter the reward.
Odysseus is an epic hero of the epic The Odyssey. He goes to Troy to fight in the Trojan War. After ten years of fighting, Odysseus has won and is on his way home. The Odyssey is about Odysseus’ journey home. Odysseus and Nelson Mandela, our modern hero. The Heroes Journey is a pattern in a story that is recognized by Joseph Campbell. It appears in dramas, myths, and many other narratives. Both fiction, such as the character of Odysseus, and the real-life heroes, such as Nelson Mandela, endure aspects of the Heroes Journey.
The novel, The Odyssey, is written by an ancient Greek philosopher Homer who is the author of the lliad. This story is about Odysseus, king of Ithaca, who goes to fight in the Trojan War for ten years. After the Trojan War Odysseus has a long ten year journey home. When Odysseus does come home, he reclaims his home by
Within the pages of the Greek epic poem known as The Odyssey, the main character of the plot, Odysseus, lives after the Trojan War. After his time in the war, he deals with various trials and tribulations, moving across the vast world. Throughout his travels, he longs to return home, ultimately to be reunited with his wife and son (it is also important to note that Odysseus spends 10 years away from his homeland.) Homer, the author of this epic poem, as well as the preceding book named The Iliad, writes about the many different individuals that are within its pages.
The Odyssey is a story written by Homer, based on Odysseus and his Journeys that were dangerous, but yet adventurous. The journey begins ten years after the Trojan War and Odysseus was still not home in Ithaca since the beginning of the war. In his home in the town of Ithaca, the suitors who had overrun Odysseus are now trying to get Odysseus’ wife Penelope to choose between the suitors, but the problem is that Penelope is still loyal to Odysseus and is waiting for him to return from the Trojan war. Odysseus’ second Journey on his way back home is the Land of the Lotus Eaters. Zeus “the god of all gods” hit Odysseus’ crew with a nine day storm while they were sailing to get to Ithaca.
The Odyssey is an epic poem written by Homer, where Odysseus has a long and dreadful journey back home. This epic poem is like a journey through life. Everyone faces difficult decisions. Like Odysseus, I will encounter temptation and difficult decisions on my journey to become a well known Artist.
“The Odyssey” is an epic written by a man named Homer. The Odyssey is about a man, Odysseus, that spent 20 years away from his family and home. As Odysseus was gone, he had a wife, Penelope, that longed for his return. Penelope is an epic hero because she holds just as much power as Odysseus. She is queen of Ithaca and finds multiple ways to buy her husband some time.
The Odyssey, composed by the enigmatic poet Homer, depicts the journey of a man named Odysseus and his struggles to reach his home of Ithaca after fighting in the Trojan War around 1200 BCE. This epic begins with the narrator explaining how Odysseus has not returned home because the goddess Calypso fell in love with him and keeps him captive. The goddess Athena pities Odysseus and Zeus allows her to go to Ithaca to see Telemachus, Odysseus’s son. At Ithaca, Telemachus is overwhelmed by the rude suitors that are attempting to marry Penelope, wife of Odysseus and mother of Telemachus. Athena arrives at Ithaca disguised as an old friend of Odysseus and persuades Telemachus to visit Pylos and Sparta to obtain information on his father and during
The challenges that Homer give the protagonist is all a test of character. Odysseus continues to pass the obstacles with flying colors, but his arrogance is the one flaw that is in dire need of correction. Some of the many challenges Odysseus overcomes on his voyage home is defeating the Cicones, surviving the Island of the Lotus Eaters, outsmarting the Giant Cyclops, saving his men from Circe, Traveling to Hades, passing between Scylla and Charybdis, escaping Calypsos’ Island and many more. Odysseus survives these obstacles and uses his smarts to escape near disaster. Often times he was the only one to survive these things and his crew often lost their lives due to their own stupidity. “‘We left the island and resumed our journey in a state of gloom; and the heart was taken out of my men by the wearisome rowing. But was our own stupidity that had deprived us of the wind.’”(P127 L75-79) Odysseus shows how he is an extraordinary man by being much smarter than his crew and the men that follow him. As a part of this stripping of Odysseus, Homer shows that Odysseus is a collective symbol of Everyman. On the one hand Odysseus is a great warrior, who is extremely intelligent, noble, and a great man. Although he has many god- like qualities he is still human. He shows that he is human and like every man, because of the fact that he still has major flaws. The
“The Odyssey” is an epic poem that tells the story of Odysseus and the story of his many travels and adventures. The Odyssey tells the main character’s tale of his journey home to the island of Ithaca after spending ten years fighting in the Trojan War, and his adventures when he returns home and he is reunited with his family and close friends. This literary analysis will examine the story and its characters, relationships, major events, symbols and motifs, and literary devices.