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Examples Of Ithaka In The Odyssey

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Recommended: Use of symbolism and figurative language in the odyssey

A journey is to reach your destination, but what matters is what goes on within your journey. “The only journey is the one within”. {“Rainer Maria Rilke Quotes.”} For instance people go on journeys to reach their destination, but throughout the journey there will be sentimental moments that will mean a lot to Odysseus, like how he lost his crew. Also in the poem Ithaka it talks about how Odysseus has gained new things on the way of the journey, he dosen't need Ithaka to make him rich. In addition some background information on the main author Homer is that his name is ascribed by the ancient Greeks to the semi-legendary author of the Iliad and The Odyssey, two epic poems which are the central works of Greek literature. The scenes I will be …show more content…

It can be as long as years, and as short as months, and days to reach your destination. But throughout the journey there are many things to learn, gain, and to overcome. Odysseus was sent to Troy to fight and come back home to Ithaca, he did not expect this to be much of a journey. He did not know how long it would last for him to get home, or how many of his crew would die. But throughout his journey he learns many things on the way, learns about his crew, the importance they hold when they all work together, and how they hold meaning. “Keep Ithaka always in your mind. Arriving there is what you are destined for. But do not hurry the journey at all. Better if it lasts for years, so you are old by the time you reach the island, wealthy with all you have gained on the way, not expecting Ithaka to make you rich.”{This evidence proves that throughout Odysseus journey he learned many things on the way, he learned what was really important to him, and the values of all the things he had taken for granite like his wife penelope who wasn't able to see her husband in years. Odysseus must always keep the mindset that he will arrive home safely, but there will be no hurry what so ever. To take his time and do do what he was destined to do. So when he does arrive to his sweet home he will be home with all the new knowledge, and wealth he has gained up from his long voyage. Overall to part take in a journey it does not matter how long you are gone for in between your destinations, but what does matter is what you gained on the journey with all the time you were given, and what you can now do with

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As eager as Odysseus is to get back home to his wife and son in Ithaca, the shipmates on board with him are struggling with hunger and the loss of energy. Looking at Odysseus’ intense determination to return to his town, it seems as if the only idea that is filled in his mind is to go back to Ithaca without looking at the tired condition of his shipmates. Odysseus’ yelled difficult orders and tasks that were expected to be fulfilled by his sailors, and for the most part they were able to complete it. Looking at the poor men rowing day and night over the monstrous waves, Odysseus never gave them a chance to take a break and enjoy a single meal, until one shipmate decided to speak up. Even so, Odysseus was narrow-minded and thought only about

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After Kalypso expresses surprise that Odysseus still wishes for nostos after spending years with her, he answers that “it is true, each day I long for home, long for the sight of home.” (5.228-229). This, paired with his daytime misery on the island expressed throughout Book Five, highlights Odysseus’s reluctance to give in to the temptations of kalupto any longer. In addition to leaving behind the luxury and privacy of life on Ogygia, he leaves behind years of physical safety. Kalypso reminds him of this, telling him, “If you could see it all, before you go- all the adversity you face at sea- you would stay here, and guard this house, and be immortal.”

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1277 Words | 6 Pages

His fate and journey are ultimately changed by the actions of others who are selfish, greedy, and foolish. The suitor’s greed gave him the extra desire to finally return to Ithaca, and his journey changed as he became desperate to return to Penelope. The selfishness crew caused his journey to be delayed, as he was forced to travel for ten extra days. The foolish crew, and their need to die with full stomachs caused Odysseus to be alone and stuck on an island with Kalypso resulting in more time away from

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313 Words | 2 Pages

In the Odyssey the goal of getting home is more important to the development of Odysseus's character. He learns something important while on his journey that makes him a more fully developed character. He learns about the value of family. After the Trojan war, Odysseus understands that he can now go back home to his family.

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443 Words | 2 Pages

Journeys are an amazing thing. These qualities can bring out the best in you as a person. Odysseus demonstrates that certain traits are essential for survival, as demonstrated in the text The Odyssey. The epic poem "The Odyssey" by Homer shows what traits are crucial to surviving a deadly journey. A big part of their character was courage because they had to beat the suitors who came to their kingdom.

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865 Words | 4 Pages

In The Odyssey Homer makes Odysseus’ journey to his beloved Ithaca excruciating. Odysseus encounters many friends and foes throughout his journey and has to be a leader throughout his experiences. As an example, he encounters Polyphemus and Poseidon, both of whom make his journey mentally and physically painful. Odysseus faces countless scenarios in which he has to save multiple people in those situations. He also encounters the suitors, who are a group of men that try to marry Penelope, when he returns to reclaim his home.

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When creating a story, many great minds will use a pattern to enthrall readers and shape them into a hero. Established by Joseph Campbell, The Hero 's Journey is the iconic template many utilize to plan their imaginative tale. The Hero’s Journey is the cycle in which the protagonist ventures into an unknown world where he or she will go through a series of adventures and learn moral lessons. Heroes in ancient myths such as Homer 's epic poem, The Odyssey follows this formula since the protagonist, Odysseus, faces hardships throughout different regions that ultimately change his once arrogant character. Throughout Homer 's monomyth, Odysseus undergoes challenges that teach him the importance of humility.

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I wouldn’t let any of my crew / Spell me, because I wanted to make good time.” His poor decision of not telling the crew about the winds, and insisting to sail by himself is another byproduct of his pride. This scene can be directly contrasted to his journey from Phaeacia to Ithaca, as he finally trusts his crew and reaches home peacefully. The significance of this incident very much fortifies the obstacles and predicaments that Odysseus faces on his way home, as well as unmasking the impurities in the character of

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794 Words | 4 Pages

The journey matters more than the destination. The journey matters more than the destination in the Odyssey because Odysseus learns life lessons and tests his survival skills. Trapped in the cyclops's cave Odysseus is able to learn and improve survival

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415 Words | 2 Pages

The journey of Odysseus began at the end of the Trojan war, when he tried to make it to Penelope in his home, Ithica. But the gods were not happy with Odysseus, due to his arrogant ways and his lack of faith in the gods. Because of this, his journey home would become a 20 year one. He was moved, of course, a number of times by the gods or by weather, He faced many trials and was stopped at many places. Each place he was brought to ended up being another trial.

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953 Words | 4 Pages

My goals include graduating college, getting a job, and staying happy in my adult life, but these will be challenged with many obstructions, including distractions, large obstacles, and temptation. Even though Odysseus is facing physical monsters and creatures, we still face “monsters” every day that we have to overcome. These monsters have one purpose: to distract us from our true goals. It’s only once we defeat these obstacles that we are able to move on in life. The most important part of the Odyssey to me is that no matter how many obstacles or challenges that Odysseus faced, he always moved on in the end.

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1013 Words | 5 Pages

In The Odyssey, Odysseus’ journey is created by a cycle of self-created obstacles that are solved by quick witted thinking and ultimately reflect no real desire to learn from his errors or create any character development. Throughout the story, Odysseus expresses a strong desire to return home to Ithaca, however he is constantly thwarted by his own curious and boastful nature. For example, when

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591 Words | 3 Pages

In what ways does Odysseus develop as a character during the time of the story? Does he develop at all? Odysseus does not change a lot during the course of the narrative, especially related to Telemachus, who undergoes a passage from naive childhood to manhood. Odysseus, already an important soldier at the beginning of the Iliad, continues his role as the most intelligent and courageous of all the Achaean heroes. But this is not to say that Odysseus exhibits no signs of growth.

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755 Words | 4 Pages

Imagine being apart from your family for over ten years, fighting for your life in a war, and in the many battles and problems you will face on your way home from war. Would you be able to fight a cyclops, pass a dangerous whirlpool and have to face the fact that your crew betrayed you? In the novel The Odyssey written by Homer, Odysseus must do all of these things and more. He has been away from his wife, son and many other family members for over ten years now, fighting for his life on his journey home after fighting in the Trojan war.

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797 Words | 4 Pages

Odysseus has clearly learned not to be impulsive in his decision-making from his past errors, for example on the island of the Laestrygonians and that of the Cyclops, his bad decision making cost many of his men their lives. This decision to wait and contemplate where he is and think about his decision is very smart because at his palace, there is a “world of pain” (11.132). If he ran home, he might have been killed by the suitors. This question shows that after suffering so much, he finally has learned patience. In response to this, and his whole speech, Athena praises him and says he is “so winning” and he is “worldly-wise” (13.377,77).

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