Theme Of Glory In The Odyssey

Glory and fame are what people in our society want today, this way we can feel special and popular. Ancient Greeks want this more than us and are even seeking glory when they are dead, glory not for themselves, but also throughout their families and generations. This way like us they can also feel special. In Homer's epic poem The Odyssey, in book 11 on lines 562-596, Odysseus travels to the underworld to hear about his prophecy, while also meeting the ghost of Akhilleus. Homer then characterize Akhilleus as strong by using diction and flashback to further emphasize how much glory means to Ancient Greeks. In the next paragraphs, I will describe how the conservation between the two men characterize Akhilleus by describing literary techniques

First, he said ‘Akhilleus, Peleus' son, strongest of all among the Akhaians" (11.563-564), the diction usage of strongest can definably characterize Akhilleus as strong because the word strongest means to be the most powerful, and Odysseus describe Akhilleus to be the strongest among the Akhaians, thus indicating that Akhilleus is a strong person. Odysseus then said, "We ranked you with immortals in your lifetime," (11.569), the diction of immortals further indicates Akhilleus as strong because when we think of immortals, we think people are unable to kill them and they live forever and Ancient Greeks always look up to immortal and worship them. By saying that Akhilleus is like an immortal, it indicates that people worship Akhilleus because he was strong and people look up to his strength. Finally, he said "and here your power is royal" (11.570), the word royal makes me think of kings and queens and they rule a certain kingdom. By saying Akhilleus power is like a royal, it can characterize Akhilleus as strong because he is very powerful that he can rule over this

Achilles was also curious about his son and responded by "Tell me, what news of the prince my son: did he come after me to make a name in battle" (11.581-582), the word name means to be a famous person that they will be in history. By asking that if his son also make a name in battle like him and it indicates that he is a strong person to become famous in battle and make a name for himself. This also further indicates how much glory means to Ancient Greeks because even when Akhilleus is dead, he is still worried about if his family still has glory. Then Akhilleus had a flashback "in those day when I made a bastion for the Argives and put an army's best men in the dust" (11.589-591). This flashback characterizes Akhilleus as strong because when he was alive he could kill a lot of army's best men by himself, and be strong means to perform powerful tasks with success such as this task. Akhilleus then said, "my hands no man could hold hateful to any who shoulder him aside." (11.595-596). This further indicates how strong Akhilleus is because since he is powerful that no men can say no to his help, and everybody would want him to help them because he is such a powerful