ipl-logo

Similarities Between Ithaka And Odysseus

1303 Words6 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Heroism in odyssey

Odysseus Resembling the Human Experience
In the epic poem, The Odyssey, written by Homer and in the poem, “Ithaka,” written by Constantine P. Cavafy, the characters really are a lot like people today, but they have much greater challenges to face than today’s population. Both poems display Odysseus as being a very heroic character because of how he journey’s for many years to many different places in order to get back to Ithaca. In both the poem and story, Odysseus shows to be a symbol of the human experience through conflict, growth of knowledge, and aspiration.
Odysseus shows that conflict is a major part of his journey and the rewards that he will receive in the end will be worth the conflict, like someone enduring a hard time in their …show more content…

Odysseus shows that nothing can hold him back from finishing his journey now that he is so close when he is leaving Phaecia: “I know you won’t be driven off your course, nothing can hold you back—” (Homer 13.5-6). Odysseus has been wanting to get back to his family and his job as the King so badly that it seems like he will do almost everything in his power to get there and just about everyone can sense this, including the King of Phaecia. If someone in modern day were to work that hard to reach something, the exact same thing would happen to them and they would feel obligated to achieve their goal. In the human experience, typically anyone who pulls their weight will be rewarded whether it be right after they complete a task, or later in their life. Even before his journey started, when Calypso helped Odysseus to get out of his depression, he only had the aspiration to get home: “So then, royal son of Lartes, Odysseus, man of exploits, still eager to leave at once and hurry back to your home, your beloved native land?” (Homer 9.223-27). Odysseus always had the drive to make it back to Ithaca and only that. Anyone who was away from someone for 20 years would clearly miss them if they were close to them at all, which can happen in present day and in the book. The entire human experience wouldn’t be completed unless someone didn’t have any goals that they were looking to

Show More
Related
375 Words | 2 Pages

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.”

Read More
992 Words | 4 Pages

Odysseus was a man who showed great courage and intelligence throughout The Odyssey. Going through the twenty long years of fighting battles that no ordinary man could, he showed signs of perseverance, leadership, bravery, and concern for his crew. Against his will, he was thrust into a series of multiple voyages and adventures that could have killed him and his men, but he fought his way home. On these adventures, Odysseus always put others first and outwitted enemies that were far more powerful than he was. Showing signs of bravery, he always stood up to the fight, and never failed to meet a challenge.

Read More
1254 Words | 6 Pages

Johnny Wu Ms. Lane ENG2 Freshman Literature April 18, 2024 The Hubris of Odysseus Man is flawed. The Odyssey by Homer helps to highlight this through Odysseus. As the main focus of the story, it’s not a surprise that we are introduced to the many different facets and layers of Odysseus. Homer assists with his usage of creative narrative techniques in the form of giving the reader in-depth details of the consequences of Odysseus’ actions and the resulting turmoil he faces. Odysseus in a way mirrors the struggles we as humans face, although to a much less grander extent.

Read More
1764 Words | 8 Pages

In the book called The Odyssey by Homer, it mainly follows the story of a king of a village called Ithaca, hundreds of years ago-This man, is named Odysseus. Odysseus goes through many adventures after the victory of the Trojan War. However, this is where Odysseus, is not being as strong as a great war hero and a king as he should be. Although Odysseus was seen as a very strong person, physically and mentally, he lacks the appreciation and the care of his crew throughout the trials and didn’t think through many of his actions thoroughly and how they would affect not only his crew but people around him.

Read More
399 Words | 2 Pages

Odysseus is the main character in the book The Odyssey, this book is an epic poem with Greek gods, and goddesses. Odysseus in the book has many different features in his personality, but most important he is a hero. This character shows the value of patience in many different ways. The value of patience is a way of life, it is the action of waiting without getting upset or frustrated. This action is important because Odysseus portrays it throughout the whole story.

Read More
493 Words | 2 Pages

In the novel “The Odyssey” {{mention the author here}} we see that the main character Odysseus has been held captive by Calypso, Calypso held Odysseus for a number of years, however Calypso gave Odysseus whatever he wants and has provided for Odysseus in many ways. Odysseus still is a married man to Penelope and they have a young son that he wants to get back to and be with them. Calypso has held Odysseus to for seven years trying to marry him and sleep with Odysseus and she has given everything to Odysseus that he desires. Odysseus has a son that he wants to get back to and a wife that needs him. Odysseus has enough courage to try to leave the island when Hermes helped Odysseus escape.

Read More
468 Words | 2 Pages

The Odyssey is an epic poem written by Homer and translated by Robert Fitzgerald. In the epic a man, Odysseus, is separated from his family and is worried about the loyalty they have to him. Odysseus' story is relevant to those of men and women in the world. Just like Odysseus, people all around the world begin to wonder if their families have been loyal to them after a long absence. In book 11 Odysseus visits The Land of The Dead to get a prophecy from Teiresias, but as he goes to Teiresias Odysseus finds the ghost of his mother and bombards her many questions.

Read More
500 Words | 2 Pages

In the epic story the Odyssey by Homer, Odysseus is returning from the Trojan war, and on his way home he finds many obstacles ahead of him. Odysseus is the ruler of Ithaca and he is trying to return home to his land. Many creatures try and stop him from achieving his goal of returning home, but he and his crew have to push through and get home. Odysseus portrays bravery and courage leading his crew through these tough challenges. Odysseus heroically leads his crew and himself through dangerous obstacles, but also foolishly endangers them during the journey home.

Read More
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.

Read More
231 Words | 1 Pages

Odysseus is not only courageous, but he’s also very determined like myself. When we set our sights on something we go and get it. Meanwhile, Odysseus is trying to return home he says to the Cyclops “... though [my] land lies far” (896). His meaning to that indicates that he’s determined to get home and see his love one at all costs. That’s just one of the ways he shows that he’s set his sights on getting home.

Read More
688 Words | 3 Pages

Naturally, he has much to be proud of: his sexy and loyal wife, his bravery, and his victorious battles from the Trojan War and beyond. However, his arrogance creates a weakness in his character that negatively impacts himself and the people around him. The evolution in Odysseus’s personality turns him from an arrogant flaunter to a humble man, and demonstrates that the strifes he encounters during his journey home is not simply new experiences, but also his beginning of a profound revelation. Starting from the middle of the mountain, Odysseus’s new transformation will allow him to soar to the top with eagle

Read More
450 Words | 2 Pages

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.

Read More
276 Words | 2 Pages

When Odysseus and his men left Ithaca for the Trojan war, which of course a heartbreak for Penelope, their bodies were separated but not their hearts. The absence of Odysseus lasts for one year, then another year, three years, until the time itself forgot his presence to Ithaca. Many didn’t wait for him, forgot him and even his mother didn’t

Read More
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.

Read More
541 Words | 3 Pages

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.

Read More

More about Similarities Between Ithaka And Odysseus

Related Topics

Open Document