ipl-logo

The Irony In Homer's The Odyssey

912 Words4 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Where is dramatic irony in the odyssey and what does this show about odysseus's character

The Odyssey by Homer is an epic poem. The Odyssey is about Odysseus and his travels home to Ithaca while he encounters different mythical creatures and when he tricked them and the way Odysseus provoked them. Many Greek rhapsodies have been telling the world about the story of The Odyssey. This story was written and changed over time by believing in many gods and Greek values. These values have made their way into the Odyssey. Odysseus has set the examples of a Hero's journey during this epic poem but has also taught us Greek values such as honoring the dead or paying respect to the deceased, xenia, as well as having fate and believing in the gods.Odyssey tells many stories and many themes, one of them being how to honor the passing and pay respect to the …show more content…

On page 764 it states “ Here we stand, beholden for your help, or any gifts you give-as custom is to honor strangers.”This indicates that Odysseus and Polyphemus have very different points of view. Odysseus believes in Xenia and the goddess Zeus. Xenia is Zeus' way of protecting strangers. Also on page 764 it reads “ you are a ninny, or else you come from the other end of nowhere, telling me, mind the gods! We cyclops care not a whistle for your thundering Zeus or all the gods in bliss; we have more force by far.” The Polyphemus doesn't care about it and just thinks he is better than the gods by saying that he doesn't care about the gods and he has far more force. The Polyphemus also states that he doesn't care for Zeus or any gods in bliss and this matters because Odysseus and the cyclopes have different cultures and beliefs.The third example would be to have faith in trust in the gods and honor them with respect and dignity. This means that he promised Elpenor a burial and respected that he wanted one and also he has to trust that Tiresias was giving him the right information to go

Show More
Related
506 Words | 3 Pages

During the Ancient Greek era, their culture had different social codes than other cultures in that era and the ones to come after. The Ancient Greeks of the time created their own moral codes called, “The Eight Greek Evil Thoughts” that were detrimental and took away the aspects of being human. ”The Cyclops” is epic from the story, The Odyssey that was written by Homer and translated by Robert Fitzgerald. In the episode of “The Cyclops” Odysseus and his men have washed ashore onto an island where it is mostly inhabited by cyclops, Odysseus’ curiosity leads him to a cave that it also the home to a cyclops named Polyphemus. Polyphemus returns to his cave and soon notices that he is not alone, he slowly starts to eat members from the group until

Read More
1155 Words | 5 Pages

He then uses the stake to blind Polyphemus and escape from his cave. However, Odysseus also uses strategy by first getting Polyphemus drunk on wine and also telling Polyphemus that his name is “Nobody.” This allows him to trick the other Cyclops’ into thinking nobody hurt Polyphemus when he is blinded, making it more difficult for Polyphemus to seek revenge. Overall, Odysseus’ use of strength and strategy in this scene show that he is a skilled warrior and leader who is able to overcome even the most difficult challenges. In the story “The Odyssey '', Odysseus faces the villainous sorceress Circe and receives help from the god Hermes.

Read More
215 Words | 1 Pages

The epic The Odyssey by Homer is an important piece that helps us understand the past Greeks views and beliefs. The epic follow a man named Odysseus on his twenty year journey back to his home Ithaca after the Trojan war. Odysseus along with other characters often have a lack of Xenia, a practice that the Greeks valued highly. This lack of Xenia often leads to their downfall.

Read More
143 Words | 1 Pages

In Robert Fagles’ translation of The Odyssey, Polyphemus, a cyclops, denies Odysseus hospitality, or xenia, because of his rebellious attitude and arrogance towards Zeus and the gods. After accessing Polyphemus’ cave, Odysseus and his crew members kindly ask for xenia, meaning hospitality in the greek culture. Angered by Odysseus’ request, Polyphemus selfishly kills two of Odysseus’ men, then turns around and arrogantly falls asleep. “With his hands towards my men and snatching two at once, rapping them on the ground he knocked them dead like pups… But once the Cyclops had stuffed his enormous gut with human flesh…he slept in his cave” (9.325-335).

Read More
527 Words | 3 Pages

Odysseus escapes Polyphemus and continues on his way. He tricks Polyphemus into believing his name is nobody, which is ironic because when Odysseus finally arrives back to Ithaka

Read More
225 Words | 1 Pages

The Beggar and the Faithful Dog is quite a short story in the Odyssey, but even with little words Homer used different types of irony, giving a deeper understanding to the story. In the story, as soon as Argos hears Odysseus’ voice, he perks up and wags his tail, showing he had a deep heartfelt connection toward him because he remembered him after all of these years. Odysseus recognizes him, too, and was so tempted to run up and acknowledge him, but he had to keep up his disguise in front of Eumaeus. This is an example of Dramatic Irony because the reader knows that Odysseus is in disguise and the dog and his master recognize each other, but Eumaeus doesn’t know anything. Eumaeus’ response (the quote) to Odysseus when he asks why the dog is

Read More
1107 Words | 5 Pages

The Odyssey by Homer is an exemplary story that teaches life lessons to those going on a journey for themselves. It illustrates how the challenges and obstacles one may face can help someone become a better leader. The Odyssey highlights one man, Odysseus, a man filled with excessive pride, experiencing the wrath of the god Poseidon. He expects to arrive at his home, Ithaca, safely to reunite with his wife, Penelope, but unfortunately faces many temptations and setbacks. Due to the challenges he faces, it prevents him from arriving home as early as he thought he would.

Read More
994 Words | 4 Pages

The Odyssey by Homer is an epic poem about the adventures that Odysseus goes through on his journey back home after the trojan war. Odysseus is portrayed as a hero throughout the story, leading his comrades and saving his family from the suitors. While this is happening, Odysseus can be seen to exemplify hubris and kleos; greek terms one of which means excessive pride and the other respect and honor. The Odyssey also covers xenia; the hospitality and respect that goes mutually from a guest to a host, as an important topic in which the gods are involved heavily in. With all this in mind, Odysseus can be seen as more of an antagonist in contrast to what some may think.

Read More
704 Words | 3 Pages

TS1 (Thesis): In The Odyssey, Homer depicts Odysseus’ real foe as the theme of temptation with displays of hubris and lustrous goddesses, which portrays the importance of being vigilant to not submit to temptation. ST1: Homer depicts that Odysseus is determined to get home, but Odysseus succumbs to temptation when he leads his crew into the cyclops lair, eats the cyclops’ food, and demands for a gift, resulting in a protracted journey home. 1: Homer displays Odysseus as recklessly brave when he requests, “we’re at your knees, in hopes of… a guest-gift”(9.300) from the cyclops. 2: It is apparent that Odysseus has given into the temptation to be arrogant when he declares for the cyclops to give them, “a guest-gift,” after Odysseus and his men have broken into the cyclops lair, showing even further Odysseus’ isn’t vigilant to

Read More
404 Words | 2 Pages

Fagles’ translation of The Odyssey does more showing than telling because it describes the events of the books to their full extent. He achieves showing by using descriptive words to keep the passage going, instead of just saying what happened with a few non-descriptive, bland words that do not describe at all. Odysseus has finally returned home, just to find many suitors for Penelope. Odysseus is outraged, so he confronts Penelope’s most prominent suitor, Antinous. Odysseus gripped his bow, “Odysseus aimed and shot Antinous square in the throat and the point went stabbing clean through the soft neck and out… food showered across the floor, the bread and meats soaked in a swirl of bloody filth.”(440).

Read More
484 Words | 2 Pages

This is building up tension because he saying that Odysseus is his food then the whole sentence is saying that he would eat Odysseus last as a gift. Polyphemos is creating conflict between him and odysseus which means that Odysseus has to create a plan to get off the island. Another technique was imagery, which is to use figurative language to represent objects or even actions in a way that appeals to our physical senses. A quote in book IX was, “So with our brand we bored that great eye socket while blood ran out around the red hot bar.”

Read More
759 Words | 4 Pages

From Odysseus’ time with Calypso in Ogygia up until the moment he takes back his home and wife from the suitors in Ithaca, the struggles he faces help answer what makes for a good life. Homer uses Odysseus’ journey throughout “The Odyssey” to identify four aspects of a good life: mortality, honor, hospitality, and experiences. Homer reveals that mortality is necessary for a good life when Odysseus denies the opportunity for immortality that Calypso offers, he shows the significance of honor in his description of Odysseus’ bravery in the Trojan war and the consequent respect that Odysseus’ crew has for him, Homer reinforces the importance of hospitality in each city Odysseus travels to, and he conveys that experiences, good or bad, define a good life. The Greeks held their gods in high esteem and therefore when Homer or other characters in the epic refer to Odysseus as being “godlike,” this is one of the highest compliments he could receive.

Read More
591 Words | 3 Pages

Just as Achilles is confronted in the Iliad with the problem of balancing his honor with his pride, Odysseus repeatedly faces situations in which self-restraint and humility must check bravado and glory-seeking. In his early adventures, he fails these tests, as when he taunts Polyphemus, inflaming Poseidon. As the epic progresses, Odysseus becomes increasingly capable of judging when it is wise to reveal himself and when it is appropriate to rejoice in his

Read More
1056 Words | 5 Pages

Here, Odysseus tells Athena that she is all he has left and through her immortal powers, she is the only god still on his side who can help him in his time of need. Therefore, through Athena’s encouraging words, she is able to make Odysseus feel uplifted and more useful, especially as Odysseus is, at this point, very hopeless and miserably

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 The Irony In Homer's The Odyssey

Related Topics

Open Document