The Odyssey by Homer is an epic tale about the Greek hero Odysseus and his adventures back home to Ithaca. With the assumption that he had died, Odysseus’ wife Penelope and son Telemachus face off a group of suitors looking to court Penelope. A major theme found in The Odyssey is the notion of revenge. Additionally, a recurrent literary device—the epic simile—appears throughout the story, wherein comparisons are made in the form of similes, except on a grander scale. Homer utilizes a couple of epic similes in Book XXII to fully substantiate the formidability of Odysseus’ thirst for revenge against the suitors and his traitorous servants through the use of violent imagery.
In chapter 16 Telemachus has returned from Ithaca. Since Telemachus had been traveling for a while, Ulysses, Telemachus and Eumaeus caught up. Telemachus tells Eumaeus and Ulysses about the mischief planned against him by suitors on his estate. Eumaeus went to tell Telemachus’s mother that he had returned. Athena then came and disguised Odysseus and told him to reveal his identity to Telemachus and plan their revenge on the suitors.
Homer’s The Odyssey is one of the oldest works of Western literature, second only to Homer’s Iliad. It’s influence on Western culture ranges from the characters and story, to his innovative writing style, characterized by his use of literary devices. Though Homer uses many literary devices in his telling of The Odyssey, epic similes are one of the most vital part of the storytelling. They allow the reader to envision the scene in a different way, comparing it to descriptions that can be vividly imagined in the head.
Telemachus and Penelope must take on many challenges with Odysseus gone, such as being a source of moral support for each other and taking on more tasks. With one less person in the family, there is one less shoulder to cry on and absence in moral support is definitely a great loss. Penelope and Telemachus must have a special bond to be able to get through the absence of Odysseus. They must always be there for each other for moral support. Though the man of the house back in Ancient Greece did not do much housework, there are many important jobs that Telemachus and Penelope must fill in for in Odysseus's absence.
Even the most intelligent of people can be lead astray by temptation. Eurylochus' willpower is tested as he travels with Odysseus in Homer's epic, The Odyssey. When the crew encounters the beautiful enchantress Circe, Eurylochus is able to sense danger and resisted Circe's charm. On the other hand, when faced with starvation in the presence of Helios' cattle, he ignored Odysseus’ warnings and yielded to provocation. Overall, while Eurylochus is wise, he is mortal and susceptible to deception.
Homer created a complex leader to show that the weakness in someone doesn’t define them, it’s the way they approach the situation that will define you as a person. In The Odyssey, Odysseus is a complex leader because he’s supposed to lead his group home to Ithaca, but he makes some pretty selfish and rash decisions that are not what you’d expect from a leader. By doing so, this shows Odysseus’ character flaws, but it also shows his strengths. When Odysseus stayed on Circe’s island for an unnecessary amount of time, this showed his weakness, not being able to resist the urge to sleep with women. In contrast, it also showed his strength because he gained his ground after losing track of home, and found the strength to gather his men and leave.
Telemachus, Odysseus' son, lived hopelessly for the first twenty years of his life. During these years, Telemechaus lived in the shadow of his great warrior father. While waiting for his father's return, Telemachus was miserable and daydreamed of a life with Odysseus. Yet, the goddess Athena saw promise in him. Athena reminded Telemachus that he was the son of Odysseus and encouraged him to live his life to its fullest.
Odysseus and Telemachus – Father and Son Relationship: In The Odyssey, I noticed that there were a lot of father and son relationships between a very good amount of characters in the story. For example, Poseidon and his son Polyphemus, Odysseus and Laertes, and the most important one, Odysseus and Telemachus. It becomes common that you will see this father-son relationship between these two, towards the books at the end of The Odyssey. A very important thing to remember is that they haven’t seen each other in twenty years.
The Relationship between Telemachus and Odysseus his father is very different. First off, Telemachus has really never met his father but there is still some relation there. Telemachus longs to meet his father and have a relationship. It is very clear that Telemachus struggles to come to the fact that his father has been away for so long and questions at the beginning of the books if he will every come home. Once Telemachus is told by Athena in disguise that his father is still alive ( lines 220-228 in Fagles) he longs on a journey to try and find his dad to see if he is alive.
Epic poetry, known for its grand descriptions of glorious accomplishments, revolves around an honorable protagonist. As the hero faces adversity in his journey, he triumphs in fleeting moments of bravery. He often exhibits his physical strength to overcome his hardships, manifesting a story with a violent nature. In Homer’s The Odyssey, King Odysseus of Ithaca struggles to return to his loving wife and son after having fought in the Trojan War.
In the Odyssey, the book explores different themes as well as depicts what the community was like at that time period. Though only a story, the reader can use the Odyssey to understand more about cultural practices and daily life to help expand their knowledge of the Homeric age. Themes such as Xenia and masculinity were highlighted throughout the book, but the most prevalent theme was the importance of the father and son relationship. The book emphasizes the negative impacts of a son not having a father figure for guidance and shows how Telemachus needed Odysseus. Through reading about the effects of Odysseus not being in Telemachus’ life, it is evident that one of the most significant relationships in the Homeric age was between father and
The Odyssey by Homer revolves around the character, Odysseus, and his ten-year struggle to return home after the Trojan War. As the epic’s idol, he displays the combination of a clever, handsome, and courageous man popular among the mortals as well as the gods. Essentially, he embodies the ideals of the ancient Greek culture, being adorned with many favored characteristics of the era. However, an intriguing aspect of Odysseus lies in his personality. As the protagonist, he does not manifest the entirety of a stereotypical hero because Odysseus has a fatal flaw—his arrogance.
Before Athena appearing as a Mentor, Homer shows Telémakhos as a shy boy who is having difficulties to live up to his father’s legendary reputation. He is shown as detached, lost and confused. Rather than taking an action, Telémakhos kept on complaining about the suitors’ manipulation of Xenia. In order to reach manhood, Athena calls him to action through making him undergo a journey. This journey, through Homer’s words, is not only meant to pave the way for him to mature by the time Odysseus is back, but also to save him from the suitor’s plot to kill him.
Homer delivers very universal themes, such as loyalty is respected, but the epic also provides meaningful themes that are not as recognizable. The Odyssey is very focused on leadership and courage, as it centers on a hero's journey. There are many parts in the epic where Homer explains the actions of an admirable leader. In the Odyssey, Odysseus exemplifies the true meaning of being a leader through courage in the face of danger, which is shown by Circe, the Sirens, and the suitors. One might wonder why it takes Odysseus ten years to return to his homeland after he has achieved victory for Ithaca in the Trojan War.
The Odyssey would be less memorable without Homer’s masterful use of figurative language. This poem can only stand the test of time when the figurative language is used to help readers relate to the text no matter what time period they come from. Figurative language in the text has made the story as a whole more interesting and has made countless readers engaged by this tale of, in Homer’s own words, “that man skilled in all ways of contending.” (p. 813,
