ipl-logo

The Heroic Death Of Ulysses In Homer's Odyssey

1755 Words8 Pages

Ulysses and his sullen ship sailed out of the accursed Underworld, hearts joyful to see the blue sky and the dazzling light of the sun. Ulysses sailed out, his hand stroking his red beard, pondering on the words of the dead. Suddenly, out of the blue, a crushing tidal wave began to come their way. “Down sail!” Ulysses ordered. “Ship the mast! Get ready to row!” The crew rushed out, following Ulysses orders, but it was too late. The wave swept them all the way to the island of Hades. While the crew was in chaos, Athene appeared before Ulysses. Ulysses immediately bowed down in respect for the goddess. “Lady Athene!” cried Ulysses. “Why must you appear before me?” “Do not fret, mighty Ulysses,” Athene said, “only you can see …show more content…

Clearly, my appearance at lord Hades’ island has angered him, but how will I calm him down?” Ulysses was getting anxious. His hands were sweaty, his heart beating so loud, he could hear it himself. Hades, sensing Ulysses nervousness, thought of a deal. “Sacrifice 108 souls to me, so I can become more powerful. Sacrifice strong souls, souls that can fight in my army, then I shall relent and allow you to build this grave,” Hades bargained. “If not, you shall die alone on this island, either from the animals here, or you die from this island’s air.” “Should I accept this contract? Where would I find 100 people to kill? Even if it is to save my life, is it right to kill 108 men?” Ulysses thought. After a few moments of thinking in silence, he thought of an idea. “This journey is surely perilous, with all the dangers I have faced, I will certainly find evil men to kill.” Ulysses reconfirming his choice, reluctantly agreed. “I shall do as you ask, lord Hades,” Ulysses bowed. Hades nodded, waving his hand. “What did you do, lord Hades?” Ulysses asked. “I have allowed you to breathe this air and ordered the animals that you shall not be harmed,” Hades explained. “I must go now, duty calls me.” Hades disappeared in a black mist, the place where he was at, smelled like …show more content…

Looking back, he realized that he knocked over the grave in his meeting with Hades. Fatigued, Ulysses moved each grain of the black dirt placing them in the shape of a long coffin. Half an hour later, Ulysses stopped, satisfied with his grave. He placed Elpenor’s oar carefully on top of the barrow. “Done,” Ulysses thought with satisfaction. “Now I must find my way to set sail, before my crew leaves without me.” Ulysses ran until he spotted the ship, joyful to see color and not gray. Ulysses climbed the ship, shouting orders. “Raise the mast and anchor, set sail!” Ulysses took the helm steering away from the island, with Athene smiling down at him from the

Show More
Related

Odysseus Dialectical Journal Analysis

155 Words | 1 Pages

As eager as Odysseus is to get back home to his wife and son in Ithaca, the shipmates on board with him are struggling with hunger and the loss of energy. Looking at Odysseus’ intense determination to return to his town, it seems as if the only idea that is filled in his mind is to go back to Ithaca without looking at the tired condition of his shipmates. Odysseus’ yelled difficult orders and tasks that were expected to be fulfilled by his sailors, and for the most part they were able to complete it. Looking at the poor men rowing day and night over the monstrous waves, Odysseus never gave them a chance to take a break and enjoy a single meal, until one shipmate decided to speak up. Even so, Odysseus was narrow-minded and thought only about

Read More

Odysseus Use Of Similes In Homer's Odyssey

708 Words | 3 Pages

Odysseus has finally swam across the sea and has found a place to lay down, and Homer relates him to an ember that does not die out. Odysseus goes through many

Read More

Figurative Language In The Odyssey

680 Words | 3 Pages

Socrates once said, “All men's souls are immortal, but the souls of the righteous are immortal and divine.” These words by Socrates highlight the terrifying voyage that Odysseus takes over the span of twenty years and how through the souls of the dead, virtue, pride and passion allowed Odysseus, the main character, to grow into an epic hero. In The Odyssey, the author Homer, takes the reader on a thought-provoking journey with the use of figurative language and literary devices wherein Odysseus becomes a hero in both the physical and the spiritual sense. Odysseus is undoubtedly a flawed man, a mortal man, as evidenced by the language of the novel, but it is in his journey, through the obstacles he faces that he grows into a heroic man by utilizing his ingenuity, and comes away from the journey with pride and passion. Odysseus is

Read More

Percy Jackson In The Lightning Thief

1131 Words | 5 Pages

In the Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan, Percy Jackson is the protagonist. Percy Jackson, a twelve year old boy, lives with his mom and stepfather, Sally Jackson and Gabe Ugliano. Percy finds out that the Greek gods are real, and that he is a half blood, half human and half god. He also finds out that there is a camp called Camp Half Blood, that his best friend, Grover is a satyr, and that his dad is Poseidon, god of the sea. The camp director, Chiron, sent Percy on a mission with Grover and Annabeth, daughter of Athena, to retrieve a lightning bolt from the lightning thief who is believed to be Hades, god of the underworld.

Read More

The Heroic Traits Of Odysseus In Homer's Odyssey

401 Words | 2 Pages

Odysseus is a leader that portrays both non-heroic and heroic traits throughout the story. These traits reflect his way of thinking and what actions he takes. These traits fluctuate from bravery to overconfidence. Nonetheless, the traits all contribute to the hero and as a result, they contribute to the story. As a hero, there are many admirable stereotypical character traits Odysseus possesses.

Read More

Theme Of Carelessness In The Odyssey

2113 Words | 9 Pages

Odysseus’s crewmate, Elpenor, dies tragically, and when visiting the Underworld, Elpenor implores that Odysseus “do not abandon me unwept, unburied, to tempt the gods’ wrath, while you sail home”(XI.81-XI.82), which is what Odysseus exactly intended to do, a violation of ancient Greek ritual. According to Greek culture, the dead are to be given a proper burial, and if they are not, they will never be able to reach the Underworld; the ultimate disrespect to the Greeks is leaving the dead dishonored by leaving them unburied. Odysseus is a Greek warrior who nearly violated his own customs; to elaborate, this gesture by Odysseus confirms his complete disregard for people's wellbeing. Elpenor’s soul could wander eternally without ever reaching the afterlife, but Odysseus nearly leaves him unburied; he is inconsiderate of what happens to even the closest of friends, revealing the true extent of Odysseus’s disregard.

Read More

Odysseus Tribulations In Homer's The Odyssey

557 Words | 3 Pages

Eventually, the men escaped the cave by tying themselves to the underside of the Cyclops's sheep. Despite his immense intellect, Ulysses falls short on occasion. After escaping the cave, the men made their way back to the ship. Feeling emboldened by his wonderful scheme, Ulysses began to taunt the giant. Despite his men’s pleas, Ulysses would not yield.

Read More

Frederick Douglass As A Hero

768 Words | 4 Pages

Hercules finished each and every of the 12 deadly tasks given to him including taking Cerberus, the three-headed dog owned by Hades, God of the Underworld, and bringing him to the real world. Although, that is fictional, the escape of Frederick Douglass from the throes of slavery was very real. From the major accomplishment of learning to read and write to the seemingly minor task of planning to escape, everything Douglass did was leading up to the grand scheme. When discussing his schematics with John and Henry, Douglass

Read More

Hel And Hades Similarities

1414 Words | 6 Pages

Whether it be Hel’s and Hades’ similar terrible upcoming, strange pattern of abducting, or their usage of servants and fellow canines, it is clear that these cultures and gods, although far apart, weren’t all that different. Their difference in dealing with the dead and variability with the features of their homeland also solidifies that these societies and gods were in their ways, unique to each other. By using these detailed comparisons you have opened up the door into a whole new world of

Read More

Examples Of Heroism In The Odyssey

1195 Words | 5 Pages

These acts of brutality interpret Odysseus’s weakened morals and how he does not represent the honorable values of Ithaca. The first glimpse of Odysseus is introduced through his son Telemachus, who has only heard of his father through courageous stories. The longing for Odysseus at home has become stronger through his loved ones, although Odysseus’s brutal behavior is changing his inner representation. Ithaca’s citizens unknowingly still have a broad idea of Odysseus’s heroic ways and pass down great deals of tales that praise Odysseus immensely. Through this quote “If only that Odysseus sported with these suitors, a blood wedding, a quick death would take the lot” (Homer 1. 308)

Read More

Figurative Language In Homer's The Odyssey

1124 Words | 5 Pages

This makes an interesting image in the minds of readers that will create a detailed description of the scene. Soon after this occurred, the Cyclops goes to sleep. The Odyssey says, “But Cyclops went on filling up his great belly… then lay down like a mast among his sheep.” (p.820 197, 199) This is a simile that compares the way the Cyclops lies down to go to sleep to a ship.

Read More

Flush Carl Hiaasen Summary

1674 Words | 7 Pages

The book Flush, by Carl Hiaasen, is one of the best books that I have read in awhile. It presents a serious environmental issue, that everyone should be aware of by now. The book is about a father and his son, primary; with the help of others, to stop a boat from dumping its waste into the ocean of the Florida Keys. This issue is an interest to me because I love the environment and being outdoors, so I try to take care of the environment and have other people around me to take care of the environment as well.

Read More

Monologue From The Odyssey

716 Words | 3 Pages

I looked out the window, expecting to see the runaway crew member but instead I saw a different man who I immediately recognized as Odysseus. My spirits rose because I knew he was smarter than the others. Once again I lured him into my palace and offered him food and wine, which he refused. He only wanted to get his men returned to their original forms and to continue his journey to Ithaca with them by his side. When I finally convinced him to drink my wine, he was not affected by it.

Read More

The Consequences Of Poseidon In Homer's The Odyssey

1190 Words | 5 Pages

Homer’s The Odyssey follows Odysseus and his journey home from the Trojan War. Although he anticipates a short journey, Odysseus is cursed by Poseidon to suffer ten additional years at sea. On the way home, Odysseus and his crew stop at the Cyclops’s island and encounter Polyphemus, Poseidon’s son, who kills crew members by tempting them with food, and then crushing them. Odysseus tricks the Cyclops by using the pseudonym of Nobody and stabs him in the eye; however he reveals his true name at the last second, thus giving Poseidon someone to blame.

Read More

Comparing Odysseus And Ulysses In The Odyssey

863 Words | 4 Pages

In the entire poem, it mentioned Ulysses longing to go away and adventure. His longing occurred because he was curious about the world and to satisfy that curiosity, he desired to travel to answer his questions. His curiosity about the things around him and the world allowed for him to adventure and his will to continue wondering. Differently, Odysseus’s curiosity sometimes caused trouble for him. Odysseus was curious about various things going on around him at his obstacles, which lead to trouble for him sometimes.

Read More

More about The Heroic Death Of Ulysses In Homer's Odyssey

Related Topics

Open Document