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Examples Of Rite Of Passage In The Odyssey

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The rite of passage is a very integral and eternal ritual embedded in all of us. It is a primordial rebirth that is deeply ingrained in the self, manifesting as an archetype—a universal symbol or experience that we all somehow understand. This rebirth is the metaphorical death of an individual’s persona and the resuscitation of a more developed and matured one. The ritual can be an internal one, such as when a child of the Huichol tribe ingests peyote, a cactus containing the psychoactive compound mescaline, and emerges from the psychedelic journey as an adult. The ritual can also be involved in a ceremony of sorts, such as the convocation of students at a graduation, in which they partake in a formal transformation from scholar to adult. …show more content…

He does this by establishing his dominion over Odysseus’ bow, proudly stating that “…no man alive has a stronger claim [than he does]” over the bow (lines 365-366). This is especially apparent because only Odysseus can string the bow, however, when considering Telemachus’ almost successful attempt at stringing it, Telemachus showed that he has the same strength as Odysseus. In addition, he directly states that “[he] is the master of this house” (lines 377). These two examples function both as a metaphorical and literal representation, respectively, of Telemachus’ authority and inheritance to the throne. Secondly, Telemachus saves his mother from the impending bloodbath that is soon to happen. He orders Penelope with his newfound authority and power that she go to her room “and take care of [her] work” (lines 374-375). Penelope is astonished, and as a result of Telemachus’ authority and eminence, follows his orders and goes to her room with no objection. When a mother listens to her son it shows that he has matured and this is definitely the case in this passage. This proves to the audience that his newfound traits are indeed genuine and representative of his

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There is controversy in the classical scholarly community on the subject of why the first four books of the Odyssey focus on Telemachus. Jenkins claims it’s a tribute to Odysseus because Telemachus is a part of him. I disagree because though the Odyssey primarily depicts Odysseus’ nostos, it is also driven by Telemachus’ maturation in tact and intelligence to significance beyond simply coming of age. There are several scenes in the first four books and the last quarter of the epic in which Telemachus make speeches with key similarities that invoke identical responses from Penelope and the suitors.

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Odysseus’ Cocoon: The Timeless Transformation Of Soldiers During Their Return From War The concept of a rite of passage is a ritual that accompanies one’s transformation from one status to another. Rites of passage typically have a three-part structure consisting of a separation from the community, the liminal or transformative period, and the reintegration into society. The Odyssey acts as a rite of passage that facilitates a transformation between two identities. Odysseus’ journey home is used as a device that allows him to process the events of the war and to prepare to reintegrate into life at home.

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In the novel, The Odyssey translated by Robert Fitzgerald, Telemachus gives a speech to Ithaca. He argues to the suitors about disrespecting his father Odysseus’ home even though they think Odysseus is dead and will never come home. Courageously, from the heart, Telemachus goes up against the suitors to state control over the key social practices of marriage hospitality. Telemachus’ speech was effective because it showed pathos, logos, and ethos. Telemachus looks and acts the part of his father, astonishing those who presumably knew him as a boy.

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In the Odyssey, the entire poem symbolizes life because it takes place in the so-called "sea of life." Therefore, we analyzed each obstacle as a common obstacle in a human's life. For instance, the sirens represent that there will always be something holding one back from moving on. Lines 125-126 represent that you will want to stay back and not move on, but you must. Scylla in lines 187-188, when she takes six of Odysseus' men, represents that one may lose a loved one at anytime.

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Telemachus decides that in order to protect his mother from worry, he needs to leave out information:1` “Swear to tell my beloved mother nothing about this until the eleventh day has come or the twelfth

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273-275). This shows Telemachus being weak, because he has lost all hope for his father and his return and he also holds belief that his father, Odysseus is dead. This proves that Telemachus is still a boy in the beginning because, he is showing weakness by giving up and believing that Odysseus is dead and will never return. Another example of Telemachus being weak in the beginning is that he continues to lose hope and doubt his father 's return to Ithaca. Telemachus says, “Eurymachus, clearly my father 's journey home is lost forever/

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The young heir, having never left his home, now has most knowledge and respect of the native-born of his kingdom. The times have changed and Ulysses does not have the patience to lead, while his son has more than enough to even see the end of his plans. Telemachus will rule his people with a shepherd’s hand, unlike Ulysses’ who left his people for a war, completely unrelated and in a faraway land. While his son progressive, seeing honor and glory not a thing to constantly strive for, Ulysses wishes to constantly try to achieve, his own selfish ambitions for surpassing human knowledge, thus leading Ithaca into decay. This character trait will truly make Telemachus the better king in his future.

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Although he is young, Telemachus is technically the "man of the house" and by Greek gender standards has control over his mother. The suitors know this as they suggest that Telemachus is prolonging the situation by not "sending his mother away with orders to marry" (124). Somehow this is a credible argument to the suitors and they vow to "eat you [him] out of the house" (134) essentially squandering all their resources until Penelope decides to marry one of the suitors. Furthermore, they disrespect Telemachus by saying "your inheritance is going down the drain and will never be restored" (223) and "you've got some nerve laying the blame on us when the suitors aren't at fault it's your mother" (93-95). The suitors try to convince Telemachus that he has no right to be angry and that he's in this situation because of his mother.

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Athena disguises herself and reveals to Telemachus that his father is alive but tells him to sail in search of more information, “Do you hear me: As a goddess, yesterday/ you came to us, command me to sail/ across the shadowed sea, that I might learn/ about my long-gone father’s coming home” (32). Athena has Telemachus best interest at heart and by commanding him to find his father she played a big role in helping him shape himself and grow into the man he was destined to be. He takes Athenas’ advice and finally comes to the realization that he needs to stand up to the suitors, “Throughout all those years/ when I was still a boy, you suitors squandered/ the riches that were mine. But I am grown;/ and listening to the words of others, I/ can understand…” (33). Telemachus then sets off to find more information on his father and his possible whereabouts “I’ll come fetch what you’ve prepared.

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As a result, Telemachus embarks on the search for his father and brings him home, ultimately preventing his mother from marrying one of her

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At the end of the story, it is evident that, the character of Telemachus is fully developed. He is no longer the young powerless and weak boy who his mother’s suitors took advantage of in his father’s absence. At the end of the text, he depicts a character with great change after leaving Ithaca and in his own odyssey; he was able to prove his worth. Telemachus is a character who undergoes constant transformation and development throughout The Odyssey. His expedition was an initiation into the heroic world of his father, and a voyage that managed to endow him with the familiarity and essential virtues needed to become a future monarch.

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Those in the noble classes like himself tend not to be humble since they do not work to sustain themselves or/and rarely experience tragedy and get more than needed. Indigent people, on the other hand, struggle to maintain basic needs. By bringing Odysseus low, he was able to learn to be fortunate with little supplies and to be humble. He uses this wisdom he gains to teach Telemachus, replicating what the gods taught him. Understanding the recurring theme

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It is made clear by Homer in numerous occasions throughout the books. In the first few books, Homer depicts Penelope as the mother that depends highly on her son’s devotion. That is when Telemachus initially attested his

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In his journey, he gets help from Athena and wise knowledge from Menelaus. He takes risks, shows strength, confidence, and responsibility towards the end as he fights alongside his father. After enduring hardships and overcoming obstacles, Telemachus evidently matured into a man who made his father

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How to spot a liar The Ted Talk “How to Spot a Liar” by Pamela Meyer discusses and compares seeking the truth and seeking the lie. There is not only a strict scientific method to it but a more humanistic approach. Meyer tells us how lie spotters are armed with scientific knowledge on spotting deception (Meyer, 2011). The strongest points of Meyers’ argument are that lying is a cooperative act.

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