ipl-logo

The Role Of Natural Phenomenon In Homer's Odyssey

1459 Words6 Pages

Natural phenomenons is a science, but centuries ago the Greeks believed a deity was responsible for the natural causes that were created. In Homer’s epic poem, The Odyssey, Odysseus was separated from his wife and son to fight in the Trojan war for 10 years. In addition, spends 11 more years struggling to get back to his family due to these supernaturals caused by the gods. The Greeks portray the gods to be powerful and merciful. They played a huge role in Odysseus’s heroic journey as a savior and tormentor. The Odyssey interprets the science behind natural phenomenons and portrays it as an act from the gods.

As Odysseus is trying to make his way back home, he combats these dilemmas in the ocean that interfere and end up delaying his journey. It seems as if every time Odysseus steps a foot into a body of water, there is always an occurrence that almost kills him. Poseidon, god of the sea, who has vowed retribution on Odysseus and will try everything he can to make him suffer. “Waves transmit energy, not water, and are commonly caused by the wind as it blows across the ocean, lakes, and rivers” ( Megan Forbes, 1). Odysseus has obtained Poseidon’s wrath, and number one rule is to not …show more content…

At the time the Greeks didn’t have the technology we have to explain these occurrences the earth was making so they had to explain it through corresponding with the gods. Each natural phenomenon that occurred was an act from a deity, it was either to show their eager to help or to just make him suffer even. Our perspective on natural phenomenons is much different compared to the Greeks religion and culture, how they explain a storm is by an action describing Poseidon’s anger contrast to how scientists would explain it as a disturbance in the atmosphere with strong winds and rain. The Odyssey took us back in time to see through the eyes of Greeks of how they explained natural

Show More
Related
361 Words | 2 Pages

Odysseus the Brave Hero In Homer's “The Odyssey”, the protagonist, Odysseus is fighting in the 10 year war against Troy. They win the war and now he and his men are trying to get back to their home, Ithaca. He angers the god of the sea, Poseidon, and now he has a god as an enemy. Poseidon sends waves after waves blowing him and his crew to islands, each having a conflict like monsters and goddesses.

Read More
209 Words | 1 Pages

After setting sail we see a case of Odysseus 's enemy the god of the sea Poseidon return and disrupt the journey by producing a storm that nearly kills him. However, we see two allies come to aid one being goddess Ino who gives Odysseus a veil that will keep him safe as well Athena who rescues him from the jagged rocks. In conclusion this book five of the Oddessy we see a prime example of a hero who in the special world, encounters tests, allies, and enemies.

Read More
444 Words | 2 Pages

Poseidon is one God against him. Poseidon does everything he can to keep him away from home till Odysseus learns a lesson that Poseidon was trying to get to him. Many Gods also try to help Odysseus, one very helpful one being the god of the wind, Aeolus. Aeolus gives him a sack of wind which helps Odysseus get home but the problem with that. You only get one use out of it so if you open it when you don’t have good timing.

Read More
1116 Words | 5 Pages

Since the inception of literature, heroes have been created to embody the most important traits of a culture. In The Odyssey, an epic poem composed by Homer in Ancient Greece, Odysseus is an epic hero, representing the classic values of Greek rulers and warriors through his long journey back from the Trojan War. Including his time in Troy, Odysseus was absent from his estate in Ithica for twenty years, during which his son Telemachus grows up in a home where arrogant suitors abuse his hospitality, consume all of his resources, and attempt to court Penelope, believing that she will lose hope that her husband Odysseus will ever come home. Odysseus' nostos, or return trip, has been prolonged by Poseidon, the Greek sea god who begrudges him for

Read More
520 Words | 3 Pages

In the epic poem, The Odyssey, Homer displays vulnerability and human mortality during Odysseus’ journey back home to Ithica. Figurative language is used to do so in the story, among other reasons such as using visualization and helping the audience understand the key points of the story. In The Odyssey, Homer used figurative language to show the audience that humans are vulnerable and completely mortal. In the scene of Polythemus and his cave, figurative language is used to help the audience understand that Odysseus and his men are mortal and vulnerable to the immense cyclopes.

Read More
641 Words | 3 Pages

In the Odyssey, a work of Greek mythology written by Homer, Odysseus, who is the hero, embarks on an extensive journey to get back to his homeland. This journey is not painless, though. Odysseus encounters sea monsters, cyclopes, and even intervention from gods that are working against him. All of these obstacles can be related to our life’s journey. We encounter hindrances that may momentarily shift our gaze off of the end goal.

Read More
1045 Words | 5 Pages

The third time Odysseus shows that he had supernatural conflict is in the cyclops adventure, and it was caused by Odysseus and his crew, who tricked the cyclops many times. In the Odyssey, it states that Odysseus taunts at Polyphemus, and reveals his real name after Odysseus injured Polyphemus, and tricked him, which enraged him. After Polyphemus about Odysseus, he requested from his father, Poseidon, the god of sea, to curse Odysseus, and ask for revenge on Odysseus and his crew. As the results, Poseidon alternated the ocean’s courses during the journey

Read More
1431 Words | 6 Pages

The journal The Adventures of Odysseus by Ernst Abrahamson demonstrates a similar idea and is exactly about what the title suggests: Odysseus’s journey, travels, and adventures. One specific paragraph of this journal states, “The Wrath of Poseidon means in Homeric language nothing but a hostile sea,” (Abrahamson 316). “The Wrath of Poseidon” alludes to the god of the sea’s rage over the stabbing of Polyphemus's eye and his stopping at nothing to make sure Odysseus pays the price for his actions. In addition, “nothing but a hostile sea” refers to the fact that Poseidon’s revenge will be carried out while Odysseus and his men are still at sea. Both quotations from the novel and the journal manifest corresponding ideas: Poseidon’s outrage and fury from the stabbing of his son’s eye is

Read More
437 Words | 2 Pages

Another natural phenomena that occurs in The Odyssey is when lightning rains down from the sky and kills every man, except Odysseus. Greeks would say that Odysseus’ men had angered Zeus, causing him, god of lightning, to kill all the shipmates with lightning. “Oh for shame, how the mortals put the blame on us gods, for they say evils come from us, but it is they, rather, who by their own recklessness win sorrow beyond what is given …” (Homer 12). A Greek would say this to be true.

Read More
1390 Words | 6 Pages

While many would argue that the human species officially embarked on the journey to “conquer” nature at the inception of the Industrial Revolution, with men bending nature to suit their purposes on an unprecedented scale, the seeds of such sentiments to surpass nature with created culture had been planted hundreds of thousands of years ago. With a casual overview of human history, one can see that the idea of bending elements of nature to human will rose as early as hundreds of thousands of years ago, perhaps when homo erectus first started cooking food with fire. The idea of the cultural death, the burning of one’s body to prevent one from being consumed by the elements of nature that occupies a most illustrious position in the Homeric world, can be dated back to roughly 20,000 years ago (Lake Mungo remains), the currently earliest recorded act of cremating the dead. Homer frequently juxtaposes aspects of nature and culture in his work. In the Odyssey, Homer juxtaposes the society of Cyclops with the civilized human society, demonstrating the stark differences between a naturalistic and a cultural society.

Read More
1197 Words | 5 Pages

Divine intervention, or the role of the gods, plays a predominant role in the development of the eventual fate of the main characters; Odysseus, his son, Telemachus and his wife, Penelope. Homer is able to effectively incorporate the employment of divine forces as facilitators in destiny, as well as efficiently engage the readers through his vivid description of the various predicaments faced by Odysseus. Divine intervention is a phenomenon widely used in mythological epics. The gods play protagonistic and antagonistic roles; they essentially toy with the character until his fate is evident. Homer utilizes this right from the very beginning; we see Athena coming to the aid of Odysseus when Zeus refuses to have sympathy for him due to the fact that most heroes blame the Gods for their doom;

Read More
1056 Words | 5 Pages

The Odyssey is an epic poem written by the blind, illiterate poet Homer. It takes place in ancient Greece and tells of a man’s journey home from war. The topic, intervention of the gods, is seen throughout the book numerous times as the gods who are in favor of Odysseus lend a helping hand. It is well-known that the gods are very important to the Greeks. In this epic poem, The Odyssey, Homer demonstrates the importance of the positive and encouraging intervention of the gods in Greek culture; the brave actions, encouraging words, and cunning strategies of Athena as she assists and guides Odysseus on his journey back home.

Read More
1204 Words | 5 Pages

In Homer’s Odyssey, gods and other supernatural beings dominated every aspect of mortal life. All living things and phenomena that occur in the world can be traced back to the gods. Seeing as how gods are responsible for the lives of mortals and the state of the natural world, performing deeds that anger the gods would prove to be disastrous while performing deeds that please the gods would prove to be beneficial. Odysseus’ journey back to Ithaca after the Trojan War was took ten years due to angering gods like Poseidon and Helios. However, it was through Athena’s aid that he was able to make it back home.

Read More
610 Words | 3 Pages

The relationships between the Greek gods and mortals have always been complicated. The gods can be generous and supportive, but also harsh and destructive towards the humans. They claim to be all powerful beings with unlimited power and influence, but in truth, they are far more human than they are perceived. They meddle with human lives, not because they are wise, but because of their own selfish reasons. In Homer’s

Read More
384 Words | 2 Pages

Should destiny intend that he shall see his roof again among his family in his father land, far be that day, and dark the years between. Let him lose all companions, and return under strange sail to bitter days at home. " The theme of divine intervention is shown as Poseidon hinders Odysseus on his way to Ithaca by the curse, which made it years before Odysseus returns home whereas he would have returned in a matter of days, had Aeolus helped Odysseus again, but he didn't because he believed "their voyage has been cursed by the gods" (Homer 16). Homer demonstrates Athena's divine intervention through her providence towards Odysseus. Athena aids Odysseus multiple times throughout The Odyssey, an example of this is when she disguises Odysseus as a beggar in book 17 of The Odyssey to protect him from the suitors.

Read More

More about The Role Of Natural Phenomenon In Homer's Odyssey

Related Topics

Open Document