... seek, to find, and not to yield." In order to fully understand how Tennyson arrived at ideas for his poem, one must understand the Odysseus of Homer, and the Ulysses of Dante. The hero of Homer's Odyssey contributed in the destruction of Troy by developing the strategy of the Trojan Horse. During his long trip home, he had many dangerous adventures, encountering ghosts, sirens, monsters, gods, ... driven by "the longing I had to gain experience of the world." Since Ulysses re-emerges so often in western history, he becomes a medium to express the beliefs each culture, what with Odysseu...

• Word Count: 1975
• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: High School

... which the power balance is virtually equal. Odysseus" initial encounter with the Nymph Calypso, following the destruction of his ship and death of his crew at Zeus" hand, is not explored by Homer. When we come across the relationship in the poem, we see Odysseus trapped by her powers. He is unhappy ... on her island, and longs for home; He is "looking out across the barren sea with streaming eyes" (Od. 5: 84). Despite these feelings, or perhaps as a result of Calypso's power over him, he ... compared with yours... Nevertheless I long to reach my home." (Od. 5: 216-220). Unlike Circe, we...

• Word Count: 1060
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School