Wait a second!
More handpicked essays just for you.
More handpicked essays just for you.
Odyssey literary analysis
Odyssey literary analysis
Odyssey literary analysis
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
Recommended: Odyssey literary analysis
In the middle of the great, blue ocean stood a ship and an immense sea monster, Cetus. The beast had shining, blue scales and bulbous, green eyes. Sharp spikes ran along its back and its mouth was filled with rows of jagged teeth and a long, forked tongue. Lydia and her ship were miniscule compared to Cetus, who was looming over the ship, casting a dark shadow. Pointed, rugged rocks protruded from the surface of the water, enclosing the ship and Cetus in a ring of rocks. The waters rippled ominously as the beast shifted its massive body. Poseidon appeared near Cetus and cried out,
“Daughter of King Theiodamas, you have disobeyed my command, for the Compass of Nesoi is currently not in your possession. I required you to keep the compass with
…show more content…
No weapon can pierce the body of Cetus, regardless of how powerful it is. Surrender now, or suffer a painful demise.
Refusing to surrender, Lydia gripped the Spear of Athena tightly, prepared for any oncoming attacks. Cetus began rising slowly into the air, its head looming over the boat. It hurled itself at Lydia and its ship, when suddenly, a beautiful sound filled the air. Crisanta, standing next to Lydia, began playing her lyre. Her music was melodious and breathtaking. Those who heard her music were filled with feelings of serenity and harmony. Cetus, inches away from the boat, heard the music of Crisanta and lowered its head down to her. No longer hostile and vicious, Cetus was in a state of tranquility.
Poseidon, whose ears were filled by the rich, mellow sounds of the lyre, was deeply moved by Crisanta’s music. His heart softened and his rage left him. Filled with intense feelings of compassion and mercy, Poseidon withdrew Cetus and disappeared. Cetus lowered itself below the surface of the waters and disappeared into the depths of the ocean. A pathway appeared between the ring of rocks, allowing Lydia and Crisanta to leave unscathed. Lydia and Crisanta, still continuing to play her lyre, continued their voyage home. At last, they returned home to the land of
So Poseidon stated to attack the wonderful city . He attack everyone how was fish, on a boat, and turned the fish against the city.
“Having just escaped the Laestrygonians, my men and I washed up on Circe’s Island, Aeaea. We stayed docked there for two long and relaxing days. We had all just feasted on my great kill, and I was ready to leave the ship. I decided that the best option would be to scope out the island and look for Circe’s house. On the island, there were many colossal mountains and cliffs that would give me the perfect view to look down at the island. I told my men that I would bring Aganon and Iros, two of my most trusted men, and that I would leave Eurylochus in charge of the rest. I informed them that I did not know how long I was going to be gone, so to stay prepared for my return at anytime. I demanded that they must protect the ship and each other from
A ship’s primary function parallels those of Aeneas on his journey to Latium. On the surface level, a ship is an efficient means of transportation for people and goods between one point and another. However, on a symbolic level, a ship represents escape from oppression and death; it carries hopes of new beginnings to the disheartened. This second interpretation perfectly defines Aeneas: a human ship. Just as his vessels, Aeneas gives asylum to and protection for the remainder of the Trojan civilization. He transports his people from the ashes of Troy to “rise again” on the grounds of Latium (I.282). A ship gives its passengers new life; equally, Aeneas gives his Trojan people a new civilization. Using The Aeneid, Virgil creates the perfect analogy between a man and his vessel.
The image of seductresses is a recurring motif in The Odyssey. These women are a temptation to Odysseus. They attempt to keep Odysseus from accomplishing his goal: his homecoming. Circe is a bewitching goddess. She entices Odysseus’ crew into her palace with her enchanting voice. However, after she feeds them, she promptly turns them into pigs. Circe also succeeds in enticing Odysseus; he stays with her one year as her lover. It is so long that his crew declares that it is “madness” (326). They say that it is “high time” that Odysseus thinks of his homeland (326). Later on, Odysseus and his crew encounter the sirens. Knowing the danger they pose, Odysseus has all his men’s ears stopped up with wax. However, Odysseus wishes to hear their song; so he asks his crew to tie him to the mast. The song of the sirens is so sweet and enticing. Their “ravishing voices” almost make Odysseus forget his desire to return home (349). His heart “throbbed” to listen longer; he signals for his men to let him go free. The grea...
book takes place in, is called to action and set in motion on his Hero
His crew makes many mistakes as they traverse across the sea in their return to Ithaca. As they lay stranded and trapped upon the island of Helios, Eurylochos said. “All deaths are hateful to miserable mortals, but the most pitiable death of all is to starve” (144). Despite the warning from Odysseus that they will all be doomed should they kill any of the sacred cows upon the island, they fear the death without remembrance and honor much more so then they fear the potential wrath of the gods that Odysseus has spoken of. This recklessness stands as their final temptation the crew faced as it resulted in each of its members’ death but it was far from their only opportunity in which they
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.
...g of the Sirens and end up as one of the corpses in their “meadow.” The Sirens have the power to “spellbind any man alive” with their “high, thrilling songs” and preventing them from ever making it home. A man lured by the Sirens will never see his wife or “happy children” again. His story will be over, and he will be lost forever. The Greeks rely on their story and legacy to retain their identity and memory after death. The Sirens represent distractions that lure travellers from their journey and decrease or completely remove their determination to return home. When a man stays true to his purpose and avoids any Siren-like distractions, he lives and comes home to a wonderful family. When a man makes himself susceptible to any Siren’s call, be it from an actual Siren or just something tempting enough to sway him from his task, he is destined to fail and be forgotten.
Homer’s poem The Odyssey depicts the tendency of people to ignore the consequences of their actions. Odysseus punished Penelope’s suitors without thinking of consequences that he would have to endure. He did not acknowledge the consequences because that would prevent him from doing what he wants to do. Odysseus wanted to kill the suitors; they ate away at his fortune. Finding consequences for murdering the suitors would force Odysseus to realize what he is about to do is not a good idea. Odysseus chose to ignore the consequences and killed the suitors anyway. Odysseus had absolutely no reason to kill the suitors; they had the right to stay in his home because Penelope made them feel welcome, Penelope and Telemachus both told them that Odysseus was dead, and although Telemachus told them to leave, he did not have the right to do so.
In book eight of Homer’s The Odyssey, Odysseus is on the island of the Phaeacians and is waiting to return home to Ithaca. Meanwhile, Alcinous, the Phaeacian king, has arranged for a feast and celebration of games in honor of Odysseus, who has not yet revealed his true identity. During the feast, a blind bard named Demodocus sings about the quarrel between Odysseus and Achilles at Troy. The song causes Odysseus to start weeping, so Alcinous ends the feast and orders the games to begin. During dinner after the games, Odysseus asks Demodocus to sing about the Trojan horse and the sack of Troy. This song too causes Odysseus to break down and cry. Homer uses a dramatic simile to describe the pain and sorrow that Odysseus feels as he recalls the story of Troy.
Throughout the epic, Aeneas suffered the loss of many people dear to him. The first person to pass away was his wife Creusa. During the ...
Cassiopeia was the queen of Aethiopia (or Ethiopeia), the wife of King Cepheus and mother of Princess Andromeda. As legend has it, Cassiopeia was a very vain woman in regards to her daughter. Although there are different versions of the tale, it is regarded that Queen Cassiopeia insulted the daughters of Poseidon known as the Nereids, the sea nymphs of the Aegean Sea, by boasting that her daughter was most beautiful. The consequences of this bold statement were almost grave. The Nereids went to Poseidon to voice their distress over the matter and Poseidon reacted by sending a terrifying sea monster named Cetus to mandate the ultimate sacrifice: Andromeda herself. Her parents decided that the only way to save their kingdom was to oblige
Poseidon was relied upon by sailors for a safe voyage on the sea. Many men drowned horses in sacrifice of his honor. He lived on the ocean floor in a palace made of coral and gems, and drove a chariot pulled by horses. However, Poseidon was a very moody divinity, and his temperament could sometimes result in violence. When he was in a good mood, Poseidon created new lands in the water and a calm sea. In contrast, when he was in a bad mood, Poseidon would strike the ground with a trident and cause unruly springs and earthquakes, ship wrecks, and drownings.
Years after the trojan war off the coast of Cicones, Odysseus and his group of soldiers sailed to the island of Ismaros. After they slaughter the men, the women are captured and enslaved. But that is not who’s all on the island. Some fugitives got away and told the cicones main army, and they came running on horseback to the coast. The cicones fought Odysseus's army and many live were lost. Odysseus’s men won the battle but they grieved the loss of their friends. Not only were they grieving like a baby crying for his mother, Zeus casted many storms upon the shipmen. And they were carried a long way from home.
As Proserpina was upset with tears dripping off her nose she began to reminisce on all the fun times that her and her mother had spent together. She began to think of how her mother Ceres and her would harvest the crops together and how that they would sit round the table and eat dinner together. Then she remembered how her mother told her not to wander away from playing with the sea nymphs. She said to herself “If only I would have listened to my mom and not wandered into the field alone, i wouldn’t be in this predicament.” She began to feel dumb and how if she would have obeyed her mom that she wouldn’t be her. There was a knock on the door of Proserpina's room.