ipl-logo

Hospitality And Feasting In Homer's The Odyssey

987 Words4 Pages

In Homer’s “The Odyssey” the idea of feasting and hospitality is an ongoing image and it is portrayed in many ways. Elaborate banquets, poor hospitality, and gluttony are all found in this text. From the greedy suitors in Odysseus’ home to Circe's banquet of trickery, there is a repeated image of feasting. This idea is developed throughout the whole book. Hospitality and feasting are two images that consistently repeat and every time they appear in the text Homer seems to display a different side of them that enriches the image even further. The First image of feasting and hospitality is found in book one. The feasting is being done by the suitors who are trying to win over Penelope, Odysseus’ wife. They're immature, gluttonous, and repulsive. Homer gives the reader an idea of how Athena viewed the feast when she went to visit Telemachus. The text reads …show more content…

He seems to bring attention to different circumstances and how the character of each person is displayed through their idea of hospitality. For Penelope and Telemachus, they displayed patience and tolerance for the suitors who were taking their hospitality for granted. Circe was only pretending to be hospitable in order to deceive and hurt her guests. While on the other side of the spectrum Eumaeus seems to be genuine and kind. He wants to represent his master well and always extend hospitality to anyone who is in need. Aspects of Homer’s text also seem to indicate that feasting can be displayed in two different ways, gluttony and celebration. In each example of feasting the people who were eating were either overeating and overindulging themselves or they were being grateful for the kindness they received. Hospitality and feasting are two images that consistently repeat, and every time they appear in the text Homer seems to display a different side of them that enriches the image even

Show More
Related
602 Words | 3 Pages

1. Homer’s hearty descriptions fill the tale with so much beauty and imagination. His tale becomes real before your eyes, and grows with every place that is visited. Every land is a new adventure drawing the reader in. His words flow with glorious succession in detail that paints a picture in the imagination of the most uninventive minds.

Read More
237 Words | 1 Pages

In The Homer the Odyssey there are a number of instances that reveal hospitality and temptation. In Ancient Greece hospitality was very important to their culture. This is shown throughout the epic where different ones open their homes to guests whom they didn’t even know. Temptation also plays an important part several times causing Odysseus and his men great harm. They were tempted over and over and couldn’t seem to resist the over whelming desire to give into temptation.

Read More
228 Words | 1 Pages

In the Odysseus (book 9), written by Homer, (book 9) has several symbolisms throughout the episode. One major symbolism used throughout this episode was hospitality. Homer use Cyclops and Odysseus to represent the different view of hospitality. Odysseus action symbolize the poor use of hospitality. Odysseus and his men sailed to the land of the Cyclopes.

Read More
757 Words | 4 Pages

This passage that is spoken by Eumaeus represents two themes. The first is the theme of hospitality. Throughout The Odyssey, a common theme of hospitality has been shown. Eumaeus has welcomed the traveler into his home and has given him shelter and food despite the fact that he has little to offer. Compared to some of the other people that have hosted Odysseus,

Read More
1054 Words | 5 Pages

Throughout history, feasting has been a way to bring people together, to celebrate, and to entertain. In Homer’s play, The Odyssey, food serves multiple purposes. The opulent banquet that Telemachus attends in Sparta with Menelaus displays the hospitality and wealth of the Spartan royalty, and provides key information about the whereabouts of Odysseus. While this instance of feasting displays how eating can bring people together to celebrate, overindulging in the Odyssey is also portrayed negatively. As the play progresses, readers learn that excessive and unnecessary eating is one of the reasons that Odysseus does not quickly return home to Penelope, and additionally, it is the reason that many of the crewmen do not return at all.

Read More
1390 Words | 6 Pages

Homer, by presenting multiple heroes in aristéia, demonstrates nature as both inferior and superior to culture, with the

Read More
1235 Words | 5 Pages

In 2BR02B, Vonnegut provides a fruitful, dark, and mind-bending story. Vonnegut’s story represents the values of death of life when he says, “[d]eath, barring accidents, was an adventure for volunteers” (Vonnegut). This reveals that there are those who consider death an adventure and not an end. His story illustrates the toll of human nature on humanity no matter the situation. In particular, Vonnegut utilizes a story of population control to propel his ideas further.

Read More
762 Words | 4 Pages

Right after a hurricane warning was issued at the Glades, all the townsfolk gather at Tea Cake’s house and prepare for a feast. Janie cooks the meal, just like she did in Eatonville, but in this case, Tea Cake stays with her and encourages her by praising her young looks. Though Janie cooks and stays in the house, she is not rangebound like she is in Eatonville. Home cooked fresh beans along with other drinks and nibbles are served and everyone has a ebullient and mirthful evening. This meal is truly exemplary of communion because everyone, including Janie takes part in the evening, is comfortable with each other, and has a good time together.

Read More
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.

Read More
1268 Words | 6 Pages

Today it is quite frightening to stay in a stranger’s home, but in The Odyssey, it is common to do so. The Odyssey, a novel written by Homer in the twelfth century B.C.E. (Who Was Homer?), is about Odysseus’ journey home to Ithaca, his gentle wife Penelope, and his maturing son Telemachus after the Trojan War. In this novel, the theme of hospitality occurs frequently. Hospitality is the act of being welcoming to others by giving the guest food, drink, clothes, a place to rest, and a bath. Being hospitable in Homeric Greece is so significant, that it is a part of their culture.

Read More
1124 Words | 5 Pages

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,

Read More
1299 Words | 6 Pages

However, some characters in the epic display many great qualities. In The Odyssey by Homer, loyalty, courage, and trickery are displayed throughout the book in a positive manner, showing that they are the Greek’s cultural values. First, loyalty is shown as a cultural

Read More
610 Words | 3 Pages

The relationships between the Greek gods and mortals have always been complicated. The gods can be generous and supportive, but also harsh and destructive towards the humans. They claim to be all powerful beings with unlimited power and influence, but in truth, they are far more human than they are perceived. They meddle with human lives, not because they are wise, but because of their own selfish reasons. In Homer’s

Read More
906 Words | 4 Pages

Xenia, The Law of Hospitality The theme of Xenia was one of the most spotted out in The Odyssey, which is the Law of Hospitality. The Law of Hospitality is being polite to strangers who need assistance but it is more than it’s a host and guest relationship. Xenia is seen throughout The Odyssey. Xenia provides an effort of making the community a safer and better community.

Read More
1128 Words | 5 Pages

The dramatically different ways in which Homer and Virgil depict defining moments within their epics, perfectly sheds light upon the different intentions of between their epics. Even in spite of Homer’s work serving as a clear influence to Vergil’s work, the varying intent of the two epics lead to a completely different story. In essence, the purpose for Homer’s epic is primarily to entertain the audience, while the other is to serve as a piece of political propaganda and affirm the greatness of Rome. Furthermore, the different depictions of the underworld, along with the imagery adorned on the shields also communicate another key difference,which is the author’s perspective on the purpose of life. Overall, regardless of Homer’s influence

Read More

More about Hospitality And Feasting In Homer's The Odyssey

Related Topics

Open Document