In the Odyssey, the reader was shown magnificent and spectacular landscapes. Some of these landscapes had similar aspects to them, yet each was unique. Furthermore, each culture was inexplicably connected to the civilization living there. In Homer’s The Odyssey, the landscapes of Calypso’s island, Phaeacia, and the Cyclops’ island, introduced the reader to the culture living in each landscape. Furthermore, it was apparent that the landscape and the culture were interdependent, each having a profound similarity to each other. The first landscape introduced was Calypso’s island. Ogygia was a hidden paradise, untainted by humanity. The most striking aspect of the island was its glistening spring, which diverged into four bubbling rivers. …show more content…
This was shown through the use of the word “lustrous” to describe Calypso multiple times in book five. Similarly, the island’s landscape was breathtaking, like Calypso’s voice. “Thick, luxuriant woods grew round the cave/ alders and black poplars, pungent cypress too” (5. 71-72). The island had a magnificent effect on those who saw it, as shown through the lines, “Even a deathless god/who came upon that place would gaze in wonder/ heart entranced with pleasure” (5. 81-83). Later in the book, Calypso was depicted as “a joy to the eye” (5. 255). This correlation showed that both Calypso and the island had a mysterious and awesome presence. Moreover, the comparison was further extended to the idea of the wild nature of both island and nymph. The next place Odysseus traveled to was …show more content…
This isolated factor was beneficial to the Phaeacians way of life, and they lived in peace in a utopic world. With a benevolent king, Alcinous, and Queen Arete, whose name translates into excellence, the culture of Phaeacia was essentially perfect. The peaceful people lived in happiness, blessed by the gods for their piety. Odysseus’ stumbling onto this Eden-like setting was intrinsic to the story because it gave a glimpse into the Homeric idea of a perfect world. This world was flawless because of the extreme piety that its people showed to their gods, which indicated that Greeks believed that such a world was possible if piety was so practiced. During his stay in Phaeacia, Odysseus recited his journeys, and took the place of the bard to relate his tales of adventure and
The beginning of the Odyssey portrays the chaos in Ithaca and the uncertainty and turmoil of Odysseus family as they have longingly awaited his return. Book 5 finally introduces Odysseus and his captor Calypso. The beginning of the novel illustrates how Odysseus is torn between the charm and will of Calypso and the love and loyalty to the family he has left behind. Calypso is described as beautiful; her island as a virtual Eden and her home a magnificent palace that awes even the gods themselves. Before Hermes delivers the order to release Odysseus he gazes in wonder of Calypso’s abode.
Similar to an elaborate dish, a literary genre consists of multiple necessary “ingredients,” called epic conventions, which classify a text into a particular category. Homer follows an impeccable recipe in his magnificent work. Labeled as an epic, The Odyssey by Homer portrays the Greek hero Odysseus years after his victory in the Trojan War and his awaited journey back to Ithaca. As the plot develops it is evident it is no effortless feat for our hero to return home. The godly Odysseus encounters adversities in the forms of Cyclops, sea monsters, alluring flowers and formidable Greek gods with varying conceptions of him. These characteristics distinguish the Odyssey and its episodes as an epic and bestow Odysseus with the title of an epic
Homer uses literary elements to develop Odysseus’ character throughout the Odyssey through the use. In Sailing from Troy, due to the Greek rule of hospitality, King Alcinous welcomes Odysseus into his kingdom asking him to recount his adventures. Odysseus introduces himself saying, “ ‘..this fame has gone abroad to the sky’s rim…’ ( Stanza 1, Lines 18-20)”. Through Homer’s use of hyperbole, Odysseus sets an atmosphere around himself of boastfulness and pride when he says that his fame is renowned even to the gods in the heavens. In the same story, Odysseus describes his kingdom and home, Ithaca saying,” ...I shall not see on Earth a place more dear...” Again through the use of hyperbole , Homer shatters the image portrayed of Odysseus as a master of the land and seas, and more of a man who deeply loves his home and family.
Their next destined endeavor takes them to the land of the Lotos Eaters. The Lotos flower possesses powers which cause men to forget any thought they have of leaving the island. Odysseus, knowing of the Lotus’ special powers, orders his men to avoid the flowers. Three men took it upon themselves to taste the flower and were subsequently drug back to the ships kicking and screaming. Again, Odysseus’ intelli...
Throughout the Odyssey there are many themes that Homer uses to portray different people and events. To name a few, there are the themes of Betrayal and Revenge,Greed and Glutony, Hospitality, Role of the Gods and Wealth (the amount of money one had determined the status he held in the greek society, and this explains Odysseus's love for plunder).
Atop her stands our seamark, / Mount Neriton’s leafy ridges shimmering in the wind. / Around her a ring of islands circle side-by-side, / Dulichion, Same, wooded Zacynthus too, but mine/ lies low and away, the farthest out to sea,” Odysseus states he is from place named Ithaca, an island that is part of a circle of islands. Ithaca was a mountain that is leafy which you can infer that is green all time because he describes Ithaca as being sunny. One could also infer that when he is using the word sunny it reminds him of happier times because the color yellow related to psychological could represent cowardice, deceit, sunlight, optimism, happiness and/or warmth. Because Odysseus use the word sunny reminds us of sunlight which in reminds us of yellow it throws out the psychologic association of cowardice and deceit. He also states that his island is farthest out to sea then the other island which are Dulichion, Same and Zacynthus. In lines 28-29, he is describing how the sun rise at the other kingdom compared to his kingdom. This could be because Odysseus would like to see the sunset at his kingdom and know that his long journey is over. Then Odysseus states “Mine is a rugged land but good for raising sons— / and I myself, I know no sweeter sight on earth/ than a man’s own native country.”(30-33). He is saying even though Ithaca is a little rugged it is great for raising sons. He goes
Odysseus, meanwhile, was shipwrecked on his journey home from Troy. He is trapped on the island of the beautiful goddess Calypso. ...
Homer’s epic, the Odyssey, is a heroic narrative that follows the adventures of Odysseus, the powerful King of Ithaca. The main story involves Odysseus’s return journey to his homeland after the Trojan War. However, Homer skips around in the action periodically to give the reader a better understanding and interest in what is going on in the epic. Homer takes his audience from the present action involving Telemakhos’ search for news of his father’s return, to the past where Odysseus tells the Phaiakians of his tragic journey home after the war. The events in Homer’s epic are not in order but still prove more effective at guiding the reader through the narrative. Although the events in the Odyssey are not in chronological order, the story line is enriched by Homer’s use of the in media res method because it introduces characters that were not involved in Odysseus’ adventure, because it shows the urgency of Odysseus’ return to his kingdom, and because it allows the reader to become more interested in the opening chapters without having to wait for a climax in the action.
Many of the struggles that Odysseus faces enrich him in ways that he doesn’t realize until he returns home. When Odysseus hears of the battles they will face in book 12, he prepares his men with the tools necessary for dealing with the situations. They come across a monster known as the Scylla. The Scylla is a six headed monster that eats six men from every passing ship. Odysseus does not tell his men that six of them will be eaten, showing the readers his intelligence and wit. “Heads up, lads! We must obey the orders as I give them. Get the oarshafts in your hands, and lay back hard on the benches; hit these breaking seas.” (12. 150-153). Odysseus shows great leadership and learns how to keep his fellow shipmates calm. In order for the men to tackle this battle and remain alive no one can become frazzled. A storm is brewing and a funnel is growing around them. Although Odysseus loses six men he still has a strong crew to survive the next trial. Odysseus and his men discover the island w...
Learning the Greek rituals and after practicing them for many years, Odysseus, Odysseus' shipmates, and Telemachus became very reliant Greek tradition, especially that of treating all guests with great hospitality. At many times Odysseus would not have made it back to his wife and kingdom if it was not for the Greek tradition, that he relied on. After being at sea for seventeen days on a raft he had constructed, Odysseus spotted land. Poseidon then brought about a terrible storm, which wrecked his raft. After two days of battling waves that brought him near death, Odysseus was finally helped by a sea nymph onto the shore of Scheria. Once reaching the shore he kissed the earth, crawled under some olive trees, and fell asleep. Later, Princess Nausicca and her young friends went to the shore of Scheria to wash their clothes. Playin...
However, Calypso’s “love” is more like sexual desire. Calypso holds Odysseus on her island for sever year, and “in the night, true, [Odysseus] would sleep with her in the arching cave - he had no choice - unwilling lover alongside lover all too willing…” (Odyssey 5, 170-172). Calypso is a selfish goddess who wants to dominate Odysseus without considering Odysseus’s feeling. The fact that Calypso sleeps with Odysseus every night demonstrates that she treats Odysseus more like as sex captive than a real lover. Even though she claims, “ I welcomed him warmly, cherished him, even vowed the make the man immortal, ageless, all his days” (Odyssey 5,150-151), the hospitality that she shows here is just a tool to help her possess Odyssey. By making Odyssey ageless and immortal, Calypso can hold Odyssey and satisfy her possessive obsessions forever. Calypso’s sexual desire can be further proved in her angry speech. She says, “ Hard-hearted you are, you gods! You unrivaled lords of jealousy-scandalized when goddesses sleep with mortals, openly, even when one has made the man her husband” (Odyssey 5,130-133). Calypso is angry because female gods and male gods are treated unequally about the affairs with mortals. She asks Odysseus to become her husband because she wants to achieve sexual equality. However, at the end, Calypso releases Odyssey since she is afraid of the punishment from Zeus (Odyssey 5, 153). The fact that Calypso easily submits to Zeus’s
“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.
Brains over brawn, who will win this battle?Homer's tale of Odysseus' adventures in “The Odyssey” show that being intelligent and cunning can be far better than having physical strength. Being physically strong certainly has its advantages, but not in all circumstances. Strength in intelligence shows new meaning of strength. Odysseus is amused with himself when he defeats Polyphemus. His great skills with a bow outweigh the others abilities. Knowledge of the placement of his bed win his beloveds heart.
Homer's great literary classic, The Odyssey, represents and illustrates many emotional and mental values. All of these values can be classified under three different main themes that are constant throughout the epic tale. These themes are: A boy's struggle to be a man, a king's struggle to reclaim his kingdom, and a man's struggle to return home. As one reads this book it will become more and more evident to them that a man's struggle to get home is the most important theme throughout Homer's adventure.
Many diverse cultures are found in every corner of the world. Every culture is defined by its traditions and values. The film “The Odyssey,” depicts the culture of the ancient Greeks where it illustrates the life of a man, Odysseus, who has gone on a journey just to get back to his kingdom. Many values and traditions could be identified through the path of the journey. Some elements that are found important to the Greeks are the music, the religion, and the duty to the kingdom.