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Odysseus Journey In The Aeneid

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A short summary of the Aeneid would be, Aeneas’ journey after the fall of Troy to the founding of Rome. It’s not a particularly personal journey, especially in comparison to the Odyssey where Odysseus makes his voyage home to his wife and son. While there is no doubt that Vergil has created a story about Aeneas and his experiences, the end result is about much more than his legacy, it is about the legacy of Rome. In contrast, Odysseus’ story is very narrow, having the greatest effect on those closest to him. Their treks into the Underworld are not much different. Odysseus experiences a very personal journey that affects his life and world, Aeneas, in contrast, journeys to Hades and finds his purpose and role in the founding of Rome, making …show more content…

6: 431-436). This is particularly interesting because Palinurus doesn’t even need to ask for his burial, it is promised regardless. The biggest difference though, is that Sibyl doesn’t promise that Aeneas will do it himself, instead simply that he will be buried. Aeneas has a much more pressing matter at hand, founding Rome. He doesn’t have time to focus on dead comrades, he must be making his way towards the greater …show more content…

Tiberius tells him, “And at last your own death will steal upon you… / a gentle, painless death, far from the sea it comes / to take you down, borne down with the years in ripe old age / with all your people there in blessed peace around you,” (Ody. 11: 153-156). After having spoken to Tiresias, he goes to his mother, “And with those words, / now that his prophecies had closed, the awesome shade / of lord Tiresias strode back to the House of Death. / But I kept watch there, steadfast till my mother approached and drank the dark, clouding blood,” (Ody. 11: 170-174). This moment where Odysseus cries for his mother, who has died in his time away from home, becomes the center point of Odysseus’ journey. He’s heard from Tiresias that he’ll make it home to Ithaca, but now he’s seen his mother who he hasn’t seen in more than ten years. They are reunited in death and Odysseus story becomes that much more devastating. Homer’s intentional choice for Odysseus to speak to his mother after hearing the prophecy makes Odysseus’ journey less about his heroic journey home, becoming more personal. It is now about Odysseus and his journey home to his family, some of whom are no longer

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Homer shows that Odysseus has feelings too, though he went through his journey without heartache. When Odysseus reunites with his son, Telemachus, he begins to shed tears of sadness and joy because it has been forever since he has seen him. As well he shows anger towards the suitors and Penelope because the suitors disrespected his wife and his home by trashing the home, eating his food, and plotting to kill Telemachus who is heir to the throne. Odysseus was also mad at Penelope because she devised a test to see if Odysseus was the real Odysseus which made Odysseus furious because nobody except for a god could move his

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Odysseus’s adventures were long, brutal and tested his weaknesses. I'm going to analyze how these weaknesses kept him from returning home. Because of these weaknesses odysseus’s son grew up without a father in his life, who knows if he even had a father figure in his life at the very least He survived many situations against all odds and was reunited with his wife and son after 20 long years. Two of his adventures were. Odysseus likes women that are not his wife, and he gets sucked into the goddess Circe’s “vortex” so to speak, his crew warned him it was a trap to keep them there but he didn't listen and they stayed there for a year eating and drinking as much as they could possibly want.

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As this theme of death shows more about the Cyclops and Odysseus’s character, fate becomes a big player in the excerpt. In the Cyclops' words, it’s said, “Or if he’s fated to see his people once again and reach his well-built house and his own native country, let him come home late.” (9. 590-592). In this quote, the Cyclops begins his speech about Odysseus’s fate, which is completely in the hands of the monster. The Cyclops at the beginning of the quote says “[H]e’s fated to see his people,” meaning he wants to make sure this doesn’t happen, as he is cursing him.

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When Odysseus travels to The Land of The Dead, he sees his mother. At this moment, we see a suffering man

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The natives there gave Odysseus and his men an intoxicating fruit of the lotus. After Odysseus and his men eat the fruit, they forget all of their thoughts about home and decide to eat more of the fruit. The only way that Odysseus can get him and his men back home is by dragging his men back to the ship and lock them up, Odysseus decides to go along with it. When Odysseus went back to Ithaca, He made the wise choice to go and see his wife Penelope. Odysseus was so brave to go see his wife because he didn’t know if she was going to recognize him at all or want to be with him for the rest of her life.

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Once he was finished Athena appeared in her normal form and explained to him how suitors were in his house drinking his wine, and eating his food. She told him how they were trying to take his wife away from him and how she believed that you were coming back. After a few days, Odysseus got back home and ended up slaughtering all the suitors with help from old friends, and other random people. He finally tells his wife, Penelope, that he is back and did not die. She does not believe it is actually him.

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From the onset of the book, death is a recurring event, persistent throughout the entire poem. In many ways, the Odyssey is the story of the death of all of Odysseus’ friends and fellow fighters during their return home from conquering Troy. These deaths are particularly heartbreaking to Odysseus because, normally, one would expect that all dying would conclude with the end of the war against Troy. In this case, however, the anticipation of his return to his family at home became a series of tragedies. This sequence of events changes his view and molds Odysseus’ character in regard to his surviving friends and family.

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All through his journey Odysseus craves his home, Telemachus, and Penelope. To his surprise, Odysseus learns of the suitors presence in his home and does everything possible to get home and save his family. Tiresias delivers a prophecy to Odysseus concerning him and his men; he tells Odysseus that only he will survive. He decides not to tell the crew what will happen to them. Instead, he keeps what is in their best interest in mind, and he knows it will not be beneficial to tell them that none of them will survive.

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1601 Words | 7 Pages

Odysseus encounters many monsters and immortals throughout his homecoming journey. He faces everything from Sea Nymphs to Sirens, from Lotus Eaters to Cyclopes, and from Enchantresses to even the Gods themselves. Because Odysseus stuck through and pursued on, he finally returned to his wife and child. When Odysseus arrives in his homeland, Athena directs him to Eumaeus’ hut where he meets his son. At first, his son refuses to believe his father has come back, but eventually convinces himself his father has truly returned.

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741 Words | 3 Pages

The novel tells of Odysseus, who left his home, wife, and son to fight in the Trojan War. He has then been on a mission, to return home to Ithaca. Odysseus shows why he is an epic hero through his courage and wisdom during his redemptive journey back to Ithaca in books: 9,10, and 12. The courage and wisdom of Odysseus help him to prolong his life and survive throughout his whole journey back to his homelands.

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In this important exchange between Odysseus and his mother,

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Still however the characters are very alike in both their motivations. Odysseus and Percy Jackson define as being epic heroes because of their bravery, and the strength they find within themselves. Their reaction to their world define their different values and attitudes is they start to learn about them. They find what the gods like or dislike. The relationships with their mother and wife shaped them as the men they are because they helped motivate them to do the right thing and get back to their world.

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The odyssey, an epic told by Homer in ancient greece, has many major themes following odysseus’s adventures. While Odysseus is sentenced to never return home after the Trojan War. He is overcoming challenges to return home to his wife penelope and his son Telemachus. Throughout the story major themes of loyalty, hospitality and vengeance are hidden within the plot. The story continues to show his heroic side with three major traits.

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The Odyssey just focused on the people that effected Odysseus’s personal life, while in The Aenid there are many political influences. Aeneas travels to the many sections of The Underworld, and sees many assortments of people. He visits the swamp of suicides, unborn children, the heroes, the mourning fields, and the place for those awaiting reincarnation. The reoccurring theme of Roman superiority is even evident in hell when Aeneas is shown the souls that are going to be reincarnated, and go on to be glorious, powerful roman men. Aeneas also gets shown the future from a prophet.

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The Odyssey by Homer is a book that involves the Journey of Odysseus and his men and the Obstacles they come across. The Odyssey portrays many themes including vengeance, hospitality, courage, bravery and more. Odysseus experiences some good and bad during his journey. He comes across people who help him, but also comes across creatures who hold him back. Odysseus is an Epic hero because of his quick thinking skills, bravery, and confidence for himself and his men.

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