Question: Consider The Question Of Whether Telemachus Undergoes A Kind Of ‘rites Of Passage’ Transition Within The Course Of The Odyssey. How Does This Role Enhance The Poem?

But I shall make my way to Ithaca, so that I may stir up

his son a little, and put some confidence in him

This journey takes Telemachus to Pylos and Sparta where Nestor and Menelaus teach Telemachus how to act as a mature man, including learning how act around elders, how to construct appropriate speech, knowing when and when not to speak, and he learns about the Gods. This journey is Telemachus’ ‘rites of passage’ where after completing it he has learnt how to act as a man. The stories of Telemachus enhance the poem because they incorporate the flattering mentions of Odysseus from Athena, Nestor and Menelaus, adding to the greatness of Odysseus. We are able to see just how much Odysseus’ absence affects his family. The story of Telemachus’ coming of age also celebrates Odysseus’ life because it completes the picture of his unparalleled success by giving him a worthy successor, whose success he can observe while still alive

Telemachus demonstrates his intuitive and deceptive skills when learning of the suitor’s plans to ambush him on his return to Ithaca. Instead of confronting the Suitors, Telemachus takes an alternative path back home to Ithaca to avoid such a confrontation. His concern for his possessions is also representative of a mature adult. The suitors plan to kill Telemachus because they know that when Telemachus returns he will be a man and not the boy they knew before. He would undoubtedly rid his house of the suitors as he would be able to make his words effect outcomes.

He opened the doors of the close-compacted bedchamber,

and of all those gifts that lie stored away in my house I will give you

women, and wept for Odysseus, her beloved husband, until

When the Poem begins, Telemachus is around twenty years old. He is considered mature in age however due to his fathers absence and the chaotic life he has led over the past three years due to the suitors invading his household, his growth into a mature man has been held back. He has not developed the skills of a man and as a result is seen by others as a boy and treated as such. Homer makes this apparent when; at the end of book I Telemachus is going to bed. The language is representative of Telemachus’ softness at this stage in his life.

Some topics in this essay:
Nestor Menelaus, Book I436, Book XVI476-477, Achilles Agamemnon, XV503-506 Telemachus’, II358 Telemachus’, IV31-32 Telemachus, , Gods Menelaus, Il I255-256, ‘rites passage’, telemachus’ ‘rites passage’, inside house, odysseus poem, telemachus journey, telemachus’ ‘rites, telemachus learns, nestor menelaus, teach telemachus, keeping silent, mature adult, ‘rites passage’ training,