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Lessons Learned From The Telemachus In Homer's Odyssey

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There is an important lesson that Telemachus stands to learn from the Telemachy. That lesson would be the transition from boyhood, to manhood. The Telemachy helps provoke much thought on this particular lesson that Telemachus stands to learn throughout the journey of books 1 through 4 of The Odyssey of Homer. Beginning in book 1, Telemachus is unhappy about what is happening in his home. His mother, Penelope, is under force to become remarried due to the disappearance and/or death, of her husband, Odysseus. Telemachus is not happy about this. As Penelope tried to decide what song the bard should sing for the suitors, Telemachus sent her to her room, signaling the first time he takes authority over a situation (1.15). The suitors were not used to or happy with his suddenly brave tongue (1.16). Penelope encourages this as we go on. …show more content…

He then announces his wants to visit Sparta and Pylos to search for Odysseus, his father. This is the first journey away from home, showing the distinction from boyhood to manhood (2.30). Continuing into book 3, Telemachus is taught of the concept called xenia. Nestor, the king of Pylos, goes by the social contract of xenia, and shows Telemachus a good time while he is there. Nestor tells Telemachus stories of Odysseus during the Trojan War as well as Orestes, praising him immensely. Telemachus learns and appreciates the ways of his father, and so decides to follow the story of Orestes, and kill the suitors to take back his father’s home (3.52). Lastly, in book 4, Telemachus visits Menelaus in Sparta. In this part of the journey, we learn more details of the Trojan War, and also that Odysseus is still alive but captured by Calypso (4.71). Menelaus continues, talking of tales about Odysseus’ bravery and cunningness, educating Telemachus about the heroism is father had, which he believes he should also

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The Odyssey : Book 4 Throughout the story, Telemachus changed drastically from who he once was. At the beginning of The Odyssey, the son of Odysseus was viewed as a scared and cowardly young man who was unsure of himself and lacked a fatherly figure in his life. It took the great goddess Athena to come along and install courage inside of him. Since he had to go on this journey, the young leader gathered traits that would help him in the long run. Telemachus gained faith and pride in his father Odysseus when he realized that even though this man didn’t die a war hero and no one knew what happened to him, he was still an incredibly intelligent man that was admired by everyone.

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In The Odyssey, Homer characterizes Telemachus as a young boy that lacks the qualities of maturity and confidence required in the place of his absent father, later transforming him to a man who is assertive and aware of his obligations as the prince of Ithaca. Because of Telemachus’ growth as a character throughout the text, Homer influences the audience to believe that when one is left in the midst of trials, harboring the absence of an influential figure, one must emulate the characteristics left in their memory and adapt them to the journey they have yet to take. According to Part 1, Telemachus “has been searching the Mediterranean world for his father, who has never returned from the ten-year Trojan War” and did not get the luxury of a

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Now, what if Telemachus could pick up the Odyssey and read his very own Telemachy? The most important lesson Telemachus can learn is the progression of his maturity is and it is provoked when he mourns about his father and shows respect to the Kings of the other countries. In Book

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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.

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If you have ever read The Odyssey before you know Telemachus grew up without a dad. In today's society children have grown up with their parents in the military which is just like growing up without a dad. This relates to Telemachus having to grow up with his dad being gone for most of his life. The struggle of being without a father is the same struggle Telemachus felt when his dad was fighting in the trojan war. It is also the same feeling you get when your dad is out there fighting for your country and having the fear he might not come back.

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He grows up in a difficult environment, learning to mature and deal with the suitors. When Odysseus reveals his identity and reunites with his son in Book XVI, he and Telemakhos establish a father and son relationship. Telemakhos becomes Odysseus’ true son by regarding him as a role model. Odysseus becomes a figure in whom Telemachus can place

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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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Telemakhus The Odyssey, written by Homer, tells the story of the adventures of Odysseus's journey. During his return, Odysseus encounters treacherous waters, horrifying beasts, and angry gods. The story also focuses on his family and friends that wait for his return back home in Ithaca. One character that shows the qualities of a hero is Odysseus's son, Telemakhus.

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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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After Telemachus and his father share a reunion, he leads his father to his house. Upon arrival, Odysseus disguises himself as a beggar and finds that the house has been taken over by sires trying to court his wife as a result of his actions. After completing Athena’s task, Odysseus reveals himself to his wife. However, Odysseus finds it very difficult to convince his wife that he has truly come back. When Odysseus reveals something no one else knows, Penelope runs to him and throws her arms around him.

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He has been gone for nearly twenty years, and his absence has stirred up much trouble for the survival of his kingdom. We are brought to the distinct knowledge that Odysseus was a highly esteemed character amongst his people, but it is mostly through his son, Telemachus’ coming of age and the journey which he embarks on that we learn of this. Telemachus a complete opposite of his father lacks certain characteristics that an ideal hero would portray due to the frank manner in which he conveys meaning and the way he perceives things that are spoken. Therefore, this essay aims to discuss the role that conversation plays as a crucial point of development for Telemachus and the influence it has on his development. Through closely analyzing the given extracts from The Odyssey I will explore Telemachus’ naivety as an undeveloped boy when his addressing Mentes, his secret journey to Sparta and Pylos, reuniting and conspiring with his father and his increased boldness in the end, accordingly identifying the emphasis that each of the extracts places on different points of conversation in his development throughout the essay.

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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.

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All through The Odyssey, the characters develop in a certain way that interchanges the outcome of the book. Odysseus is able to develop knowledge and wisdom to deal with his men during the battle and the suitors who were frustrating his wife. In addition, he came back home as a hero after the Trojan War. Telemachus developed into a mature man who could deal with any problem in his father’s absence. However, based on the story, it is evident that, Telemachus demonstrates a great change basing upon the times the characters were away from Ithaca.

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(At this point in time Odysseus had returned.) “Compensations/for perceived/absences and omissions,” shows that Telemachus had grown to a point of not needing his father. This is evident not because there are compensation for absences and omissions (a clear reference to a missing father) but because they are “perceived;” the supposed absences and omission are only thought to exist but do not actually exist in a way that many would expect Telemachus to feel. “My mother/was the sort of woman/who let you know she was suffering and then/denied that suffering since in her view/suffering was what slaves did;” These five lines mark a very clear change in opinion of Penelope in the eyes of Telemachus. He used to smile when she wept (see “Telemachus’ Guilt”) but recognized her suffering and also that she didn’t want to show that she was suffering.

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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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