In The Odyssey, it takes Odysseus twenty years to make it home from the Trojan War. On his journey home, he runs into many obstacles and creatures that he must overcome. He encounters the sirens, the Cyclops, and others. Each event in this epic poem has a symbolic meaning behind it. Homer writes about the history, symbolism, and the characters in The Odyssey. The Odyssey is about the Greek gods and heroes and their adventures (Makman). Odysseus is the main character, and he is going on a quest that takes him several years to complete. Homer’s story, the Odyssey, arises many questions in the later years of its readers (Thornton). Homer’s work is has such an impact on poets and literary works today that no one could match his work in the Odyssey (Nerdahl). It has been a while since the first English translation has been made (Wolfe). Book 5 of the Odyssey plays a very important role in the story for later chapters to come (Frank). Book 5 is very important because Athene asks Zeus to go easy on Odysseus, so he sends messenger Hermes to Kalypso's, so they will let Odysseus go (Frank). In the Odyssey, Odysseus is thrown into a mythical, different world after coming home from the Trojan War. He loses all of his army to these creatures of a wide variety on his mythical quest (Sale, “Homer”). The creatures he encounters can be quite scary but the will power to get home and help from the gods will guide him to the correct path, all while he and the reader learn meanings behind it all The whole theme behind the Odyssey is all based on his symbolic encounters with each creature and how he overcomes them (Sale, “Odyssey”). In The Odyssey, there are symbolic meanings throughout his quest, and everything he encounters means something for ... ... middle of paper ... ...rdahl, Michael. "Pouring the wrong wax in the literary mold: Plutarch's Mdrius and Homer's Odyssey." College Literature 35.4 (2008): 110+. Literature Resources from Gale. Web. 14 Jan. 2014. Sale, William Merritt. "Homer: Overview." Reference Guide to World Literature. Ed. Lesley Henderson. 2nd ed. New York: St. James Press, 1995. Literature Resources from Gale. Web. 14 Jan. 2014. Sale, William Merritt. "The Odyssey: Overview." Reference Guide to World Literature. Ed. Lesley Henderson. 2nd ed. New York: St. James Press, 1995. Literature Resources from Gale. Web. 22 Jan. 2014. Thornton, Bruce S. "Clever, enduring Odysseus." Claremont Review of Books Winter 2008: 45+. Literature Resources from Gale. Web. 14 Jan. 2014. Worman, Nancy. "Odysseus Panourgos: The Liar's Style in Tragedy and Oratory." Helios 26.1 (1999): 35+. Literature Resources from Gale. Web. 14 Jan. 2014.
Heubeck, Alfred, J.B. Hainsworth, et al. A commentary on Homer's Odyssey. 3 Vols. Oxford PA4167 .H4813 1988
Heubeck, Alfred, J.B. Hainsworth, et al. A commentary on Homer's Odyssey. 3 Vols. Oxford PA4167 .H4813 1988
Did you know, that although caves, and disguises play a small literal role in The Odyssey, are major symbols, and sometimes even considered archetypes? Sometimes when quickly reading through a book, one does not pick up on the symbolic interpretation of many images created throughout the book. A man named Homer wrote The Odyssey around 800 B.C. The story was a Greek epic poem, illustrating the struggle of Odysseys, the hero, to return home. He had gone to a war in Troy, leaving his family behind. Upon his return, his hubris angered the gods of Olympus, and they delayed his journey home 10 years. Throughout the story Athena, the goddess of wisdom, aids Odysseus. She intercedes for him on his behalf at Olympus, and helps him in his physical toils during his journey. While Odysseus was away, his wife began to be courted by the landholders and nobles of the area. These suitors plundered the house of Odysseus and angered his son, Telemachos, who then left to go looking for news of his father. In the end, Odysseus makes it home to his wife Penelope with the help of Athena, and his son Telemachos. Whenever Athena physically appears on earth to help either Odysseus or Telemachos, she usually appears in disguise as someone else. Throughout Odysseus' journey he also encounters several caves, which have not only a literal but also a symbolic meaning in each episode. The mysticism of caves, and the repetition of episodes with veils, concealment, or disguises, have a minor literal role in the book, but are of tremendous symbolic importance.
Jones, Peter V. Introduction. The Odyssey. By Homer. Trans. E. V. Rieu. London: Penguin, 1991. xi-l.
The epic poem, The Odyssey, by Homer, is about the events that happen after The Iliad. It tells the story of Odysseus and his journey home from the Trojan War. Odysseus, the King of Ithaca, encounters forces that are external and internal. These forces prevent him from returning to his homeland and achieving nostos. Although many different forces impact Odysseus’ journey home, internal forces such as recklessness and temptations hinder Odysseus and his crew from their homecoming far more greatly than external forces.
Heubeck, Alfred, J.B. Hainsworth, et al. A commentary on Homer's Odyssey. 3 Vols. Oxford PA4167 .H4813 1988
Homer. The Iliad. Trans. Murray, A T. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1924. Web.
The epic The Odyssey is about a hero named Odysseus that must go through many life threatening situations in order to return to his loving family. Odysseus undergoes many trials and obstacles in the form of mythological beasts that stand in the way of arriving home. All of the archetypes that show up in Ancient Greek culture are very similar to the ones that appear in modern times. The Odyssey takes place in the twelfth century B.C where its plot setting stretches from the Aegean and surrounding seas to his birthplace of Ithaca. This epic is an example in which its main story is covered by what writers base their characters off of today:archetypes. Homer wrote The Odyssey to get readers excited to learn about the archetypes that relate to the
Odysseus is a peculiar mix of both heroic and intelligent qualities that make him seem both human and supernatural. The Odysseus portrayed in the Iliad somewhat contrasts the Odysseus we see in the Odyssey. For the p...
The first reason The Odyssey is considered a journey of life is because in it, Odysseus undertakes an exhilarating, dangerous voyage over the course of ten years in order to get home to his wife and son. Just like in life, Odysseus departs from where he has been, with a sure final destination in mind. Although Odysseus is not sure of the length of his journey, what lies ahead on his paths, or how he will even reach his final destination, he has both fate that he is on the right path and also the determination to fulfill his promises of returning to his family. Like traveling along a rode and also like traveling through life, Odysseus’ route ahead of him is never evident. Odysseus and his crew often take wrong turns, like when Odysseus pursues the Cyclops only to be imprisoned by him; are misguided by gods, such as how Poseidon uses his power in an attempt to prevent Odysseus’ return; and are forced to make detours, which are not always successful, for instance when Odysseus causes the destruction...
Authors have enhanced their stories by creating a sense of sympathy for even their most diabolical characters since the beginning of literature. Like most great authors, Homer conveys this exact same emotional attachment in his epic poem The Odyssey. The Odyssey is a collection of individual stories surrounding the return of hero, Odysseus, on his way home from the Trojan War. The poem is considered to be one of the most influencing pieces of literature of all time. The author, Homer, introduces one of many antagonists in book 9, when Odysseus and his crew become washed up on his island. The antagonist’s name is Polyphemus. Despite his attempts to murder, torture, and eat Odysseus and his crew, readers still sympathize with Polyphemus. Readers
“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.
Heubeck, Alfred, J.B. Hainsworth, et al. A commentary on Homer's Odyssey. 3 Vols. Oxford PA4167 .H4813 1988
Homer’s literature served as a moral messenger to the people of ancient Greece. The Odyssey by Homer demonstrates the character development of Odysseus, the epic hero, and his journey of self-discovery. Odysseus was a great, wise, noble, and well respected war hero to his people. Odysseus had one tragic flaw that was demonstrated by his actions throughout the book. The author Homer continued to strip Odysseus of his arrogance throughout the story, by throwing challenges his way, making him pay for his mistakes, and allowing him to continue to overcome obstacles. The main purpose of Odysseus journey also to reach his home a more humble man. Reading Odysseus’ journey also served as a way to look at morals. The
The Symbolism of Homer's Odyssey Throughout Homer's The Odyssey, many tangible symbols are used to represent abstract ideas. Each symbol that Homer uses has two meanings. The double meanings of these symbols are used to represent Odysseus and Telemachus as they strive to meet each other. While each symbol has a meaning that represents the growth of Telemachus, each one also represents, by another meaning, the growth and development of Odysseus. When they meet for the first time, the symbols, and the character traits that they represent confluence, and the resemblance between Odysseus and Telemachus becomes complete.