The Odyssey and Fate When we look at Greek Mythology we often run into the gods of that era. Sometimes they are merely backdrops to the human element of the story but in stories such as The Odyssey the gods play a prominent if not vital role to the central themes of the story. ... (Sparknotes) In The Odyssey the gods are responsible for controlling many aspects of where the story goes, but the people still have to choose to go. The gods in The Odyssey are who held Odysseus captive for over eight years. ... Here again is a prime example of the god's important role in the development of...

• Word Count: 895
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• Grade Level: High School

Hospitality in the Odyssey Hospitality has played a large role in ancient Mycenaen society and is even evident in the writings of the time, as witnessed in Homer's Odyssey. ... One instance of the role of hospitality in the Odyssey occurs early on in the epic when Telemachus secretly set off to find Nestor. ... In the Odyssey, the good offered hospitality, and the bad fed off of the hospitality of others. Hospitality seemed to play a major role in ancient Greek societies. ... Giving good hospitality was the best thing ancient Greeks could do to please the gods. ...

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The Odyssey vs. ... First off, women play major roles in both epics. ... This shows how the women play a major role in both epics. ... A difference in this theme though is, that in Beowulf they only have one God but in The Odyssey, there are many Gods. ... And sometimes they sacrificed to the old stone gods." ...

• Word Count: 790
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• Grade Level: High School

Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom, played a major role in the Greeks" lives. Teiresias, a blind prophet, also played a major role to fate. In The Odyssey by Homer, Odysseus's fate was largely controlled by Athena, Teiresias, Circe, Aeolus, Poseidon, and Zeus. ... Although the aforementioned gods were very influential, several other gods also dictated the course of Odysseus's struggle. ... In The Odyssey, Odysseus's fate was dictated by Athena, Teiresias, Circe, Poseidon, Zeus, and Aeolus. ...

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The Odyssey mentions many gods and goddesses, all of whom are involved with Odysseus" journey. The Odyssey begins with a meeting of the gods and goddesses who are trying to decide upon the fate of Odysseus. ... "Hard-hearted you are, you gods! ... She plays the mother role as well, but in this case she is doing it fairly selflessly. ... Without the goddesses in The Odyssey, there would be no odyssey. ...

• Word Count: 1294
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• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

In reading Homer's Odyssey, it is interesting to compare the roles of women as opposed to men, and to discover the differences between the two. By drawing conclusions from the text about the views of women held by the author, a bigger picture of the role of women in ancient Greek culture can be drawn. ... Like Arete, who is said to look like a god, many other beautiful and high-born women are compared to the gods. ... This adds to the glorification of women in The Odyssey. ... In The Odyssey, women do not even have jurisdiction over their own lives. ...

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• Grade Level: High School

The Odyssey mentions many gods and goddesses, all of whom are involved with Odysseus" journey. The Odyssey begins with a meeting of the gods and goddesses who are trying to decide upon the fate of Odysseus. ... "Hard-hearted you are, you gods! ... She plays the mother role as well, but in this case she is doing it fairly selflessly. ... Without the goddesses in The Odyssey, there would be no odyssey. ...

• Word Count: 1304
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• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

From the Bronze Age to present day, the role of women continues to evolve on many different levels. This continuing evolution is evident in Homer's prolific poems the Illiad and the Odyssey, Whether mortal or immortal, caregiver or monster, the women in each tale played various important roles as each story is set within the timeframe of the Trojan War. We first look at Hera, Zeus" wife and Queen of the Gods. ... Like her mother, Athena held key roles in their roles as Goddesses-they served as catalysts in partially determining several key functions, including death and peace. .....

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• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

., Homer wrote an extremely complex piece of literature called The Odyssey. ... Gods and monsters, such as Zeus, Calypso, and the evil Cyclops are also crucial to this work of Greek mythology. ... Odysseus was a man who could overcome the challenges of these gods, bringing the gods down to a plane the common man could relate to. There are three main themes in The Odyssey. ... When it comes to the understanding the culture of a people, mythology plays a strong role. ...

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• Grade Level: High School

According to The Odyssey how significant is the role that the gods play in the fate of the mortals? How much of a role do we play? ... In the epic The Odyssey, they bend their lives to the rule of fate. ... I believe that through the epic story of the Odyssey, it is clear that men do have a significant role in their fate. ... The role the Gods play is simply to watch over these fates, and ensure they are reached. ...

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• Grade Level: High School

In the epic, The Odyssey written by Homer, Odysseus experiences several instances of which the gods are by his side throughout his adventures on his journey back home to Ithaca, but also the Gods are sometimes against him for some instances represented as punishments. ... At many times, though, many of the gods in The Odyssey would work to help Odysseus, but Athena seemed to be the most influential and helpful throughout his journey. ... Odyssey proves to be prepared and have his identity regained after all the punishments and incidents he was involved in throughout his journey that ultimatel...

• Word Count: 1422
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• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

In The Odyssey gods and goddesses play a major role during Odysseus" journey. He had some gods on his side and others against him. ... For good or for evil, Athena, Poseidon, and Zeus all played major roles in Odysseus" journey home to Ithaka. ... Zeus, the supreme of all gods and goddess, was always watching over Odysseus as he traveled home, but at times had to do things that hurt Odysseus. ... Without any one of the gods or goddesses in Odysseus" journey the story would have turned out very differently. ...

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• Grade Level: High School

In Homer's epic story The Odyssey, there were many major themes. ... The editors of The Norton Anthology of World Masterpieces states that "The Odyssey was not successful in resolving the problem of violence." ... All the violence and death that occurred in The Odyssey was under full control by the gods of Olympus. ... The gods will made the violence totally justified, and their could not be any alternatives to the violence, or else the people would have disobeyed the gods will. ... The gods in the story definitely play the biggest role in the resolution of all the violence, and ...

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These deities, portrayed in both Gilgamesh and The Odyssey, play an integral role in the journey of these heroes. ... As a blessing, the deities aide the heroes during their times of tribulation, such was the case with Athena in The Odyssey. ... Ironically, some of the same gods who seek to destroy the heroes ultimately ended up their best ally. ... Whatever their position, the deities in both Gilgamesh and The Odyssey play an important role in the narrative. ... Therefore, the deities in both Gilgamesh and The Odyssey are both a curse and a blessing to the heroes....

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• Grade Level: High School

The Odyssey and the Iliad are two of Homer's most famous works. ... The audience of the Odyssey would have known this context. They would also have known of Odysseus' great role in the war, especially his role in the creation and exploitation of the Trojan Horse. ... The Odyssey is one of the most beloved epics of all time. ... Battle monsters, witches, and gods. ...

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Aware of this, Homer highlights this fact through her actions in the Odyssey. ... Later, Athena discloses her role to Odysseus. " I who made the Phaiakians befriend you I planned it so." (368) Homer uses Athena's tactics such as this to prove that the gods were on Odysseus" side. ... Odysseus truly lives up to his nickname in the Odyssey. ... Using situations such as these, Homer exhibits even Penelope herself as an excellent tactician in the Odyssey. The characters of Athena, Odysseus, and Penelope utilize brilliant tactics in Homer's Odyssey. ...

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• Grade Level: High School

Far removed from today's individualistic society, is the ancient Greece portrayed in Homer's The Odyssey, where hospitality and good-will were customary. In the epic, Zeus decrees that those who seek clemency from the gods must welcome travelers with hospitality. ... To acknowledge the importance of a major principle in ancient Greek culture, the purpose of this essay is to examine the role that hospitality plays in The Odyssey. ... Giving good hospitality was the best thing ancient Greeks could do to please the gods, because they could never know when they were in the presence of th...

• Word Count: 841
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• Grade Level: Undergraduate

The ancient gods and goddesses played a key role in the lives of heroes and ensured justice; this confirmed through Athena's role in Odysseus' journey home in The Odyssey. Athena's fundamental role in The Odyssey was to assist and ensure the success of Odysseus' homecoming, and guarantee that Ithaca remained peaceful and stable (24.584-585). ... The Olympian gods were derived from Chaos. ... In conclusion, the role of the gods and goddesses greatly impacted the live of mortals, to the extent that the Ancient Greek religion was centered around the gods, paying refuge toward...

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In The Odyssey, Homer elucidates how abiding to the demands of Ancient Greek sacrificial rituals may grant approval by those gods, often engendering their assistance or support in life's excursions. ... Furthermore, gods make it evident of their consent, sometimes rewarding the donor in addition to providing safety for them. ... Moreover, participating in sacrificial rituals may save one's life, as the gods regularly determine the how long that person may survive. ... Accordingly, this is one reason why the Ancient Greeks find it essential to regularly practice these acts, as it co...

• Word Count: 792
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• Grade Level: Graduate

While the role of women in society is still unclear, the role of women in epic poems is evident. ... Homer happened to include women in his epics; one being The Odyssey. The Odyssey includes many prominent female characters that Homer uses to represent different aspects of emotion. ... The common idea of the distant, indifferent, and malicious gods is rejected with Homer's portrayal of a kind, caring, and sensitive goddess. ... In this passage, Athena abandons the motherly role and acts as a motivational speaker. ...

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Homer's "The Odyssey" is no different. In "The Odyssey" there are six main deities that are portrayed and have relatively major roles. ... The first in the series of goddesses that played a role in the Odyssey was Athena. ... Next on the list of deities that had a major role in the Odyssey epic was Calypso. ... Basically throughout the entire journey of The Odyssey, the gods and goddess play the role of giving Odysseus different obstacles to overcome. ...

• Word Count: 1018
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• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

In, "The Odyssey," Homer includes many female characters, which orchestrate key roles in the epic poem. ... Female figures play an important role in The Odyssey and reflect a complex, broad view of womanhood on Homer's part. ... When the gods intervene and tell Calypso that Odysseus must leave, she attempts to lure and distract him by offering him marriage to her and immortality, "If you could see it all, before you go-all the adversity you face at sea-you would stay here, and guard this house, and be immortal-though you wanted her forever, that bride for whom you pine each day. ......

• Word Count: 830
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Odysseus's adventure in Homer's epic, "The Odyssey," follows him on a journey where he meets an array of new people while traveling to new land. ... Homer uses Xenia, the Greek practice of hospitality to strangers, to characterize mortals, gods, and monsters as "good" or "bad" according to Greek values. ... Xenia, the practice of kindness to guests, which was expected of good Greeks, played an important role in "The Odyssey." This value was so important that it was actually a way of classifying mortals and even gods as good or bad; those who practice good Xenia be...

• Word Count: 609
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• Grade Level: High School

In reading Homer's The Odyssey, in order to answer the question of how Homer portrays the women in this epic, we must first determine exactly what the roles of women were and discover Homer's portrayal of them. ... "Unlike men in the Homeric world, women have no public role or duty. ... In The Odyssey, women do not have jurisdiction over their own lives. ... It appears that women do not have much power in The Odyssey. ... Like men, the gods are at the top of the pyramid, the son of a god is in the middle, and a regular man is at the bottom. ...

• Word Count: 1272
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• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School