... his hospitality towards Athena when he, "took her right hand" and brought her into his home (I. 28). By doing this he illustrated the second step of Xenia which is to bring the stranger into ones home. Telemachus, not knowing at the time the stranger was Athena, shows how much he respects others and does not discriminate against strangers. Even though he didn't know ... and hosts benefited from being kind and generous when the visitor turned out to be a God. Those who practiced bad Xenia were often punished. Two characters who represent the "good" and "bad" Xenia are Telemachus and Cyclo...

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• Grade Level: High School

As the day begins, Chelsea walks into school knowing that she looks absolutely terrible: her hair is a mess, she still has dirt on her face, and she did not have time to do her makeup. However, when her friends get first view of her, they complement ... to be a young girl. She asks directions from Odysseus and gives him much advice. ""Here, Sir stranger, is the house which you did ask me show to you, and you will find the kings, fostered of Zeus feasting at the banquet. Go you within, and let your heart fear nothing; for a bold man is better in all ... things, though he be a stranger from ano...

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... her son and those loyal to Odysseus in seeking revenge against the barbaric suitors. In another account, Odysseus" men sacrificed animals to Zeus after they feasted on the sacred cattle of Helios. The crew knew they had disobeyed Odysseus, and more importantly the gods. The Odyssey displays the importance of the gods in Greek culture. They believed the gods had divine power, and being disloyal to them could ... easily result in a miserable death. Showing respect and gratitude towards the gods is a reoccurring concept displayed throughout the epic. Another important theme ... no detainin...

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... . It also has a few small differences. One of the differences is the scenes in which the suitors compete for Penelope. In the Dream Weaver it begins with the stranger (Ulysses) suggesting to Penelope that the suitors compete for her love in an archery contest. This is revealed on page 154: "Penelope: In order to avoid quarrels, my father organized an archery contest for my suitors. Oh yes, Nurse ... [Eurclea], I had suitors then too."" Ulysses knew that not one of the suitors ... would be able to successfully complete the tasks because of the special ... ...

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... his back, the dog died. The suitors, thinking that the beggar (Odysseus) will compete with them, teased and mocked him. Penelope summoned the beggar and spoke with him. Odysseus told her a fake story that he had met her husband in Troy; Penelope wept. She asked Eurycleia, Odysseus maid since childhood, to wash the stranger's feet. Eurycleia instantly knew that the stranger was Odysseus because of a scar on his foot ... . At last, Penelope proposed a contest for the suitors. Whoever will be able to string Odysseus" bow and pass an arrow through 12 rings wins her hand in marriage ... - whi...

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• Grade Level: High School

Books 1-5 Book 1- In book one we find out that Odysseus is being held by Calypso on the island Ogygia. Odysseus wants to come home to his homeland and see his wife Penelope and his son Telemachus. Zeus and Athena ... Athena then drugs them all to make them forget about their pain and sorrow and they all fall asleep. Book 5- Athena tells Zeus about the suffering of Odysseus on Ogygia. The suitors plan to kill Telemachus. Hermes is send to Ogygia to have a talk with Calypso. He demands that she release Odysseus and have his ... . That night they make love together. At dawn, he leaves on his ra...

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... eyes"(Book 19:645). Another example of a good hostess would be Nausicaa. She is the daughter of generous King Alcinous. She tells her maids "here's an unlucky wanderer strayed our way and we must tend him well. Every stranger and beggar comes from Zeus, and whatever scrap we give him he"ll be glad ... to get.. Give our guest some food and drink and take him into the river, wherever you find some shelter from the wind"(Book 6:218). Nausicaa befriended Odysseus while he was ... by Zeus to order Calypso from imprisoning him. She helps him build a raft to set sail in. It took four days to bu...

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... come, a guest unbidden to your banquet. All day long he will tear to rags your body, feasting in fury on the blackened liver" (Mythology 75). One last example is the punishment given to King Sisyphus. Sisyphus had his wife throw his body in the square before he died, so he would not get a proper burial, so he persuaded Persephone to let him return ... 't intentionally do certain killings such as his wife and kids, they were seen as accepted and he received no punishment other than from the God's. No matter how violent a guest was, the hospitality act forbade anyone from acting out on the...

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... gods human characteristics, creating a deeper connection with their gods. The gods were displayed acting out and feeling human emotion, often toward mortals. Going along with this custom, in both The Iliad and The Odyssey Homer creates images of the gods exhibiting emotions. Although the gods are depicted carrying out vengeful acts on their mortal subjects, many times they are shown in complete opposite ... , acting out on feelings of compassion to mortal man. Homer begins both epics with a mortal's anguish ... " (Book 14: Lines 50-53; Fagles 303). Although Odysseus looks disgusting, Eum...

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... are very smart. In book XIX of The Odyssey, the main characters are Odysseus, Telemachus, Penelope, Euricleia, the suitors, and the maids. In book XIX of The Odyssey, Athena inspires Odysseus, Telemachus, Penelope, and Euricleia to plot just revenge on the suitors for abusing hospitality and offendingf the gods. Telemachus cleverly devises a way for Odysseus to move the weapons out of the hall without being seen. " 'Nurse, ... come now, keep the women in their rooms until I've laid away my father's arms within the storeroom, out of reach of soot. For many years these weapons were neglec...

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... from our lips, And once he hears to his heart's content sails on, a wiser man. We know all the pains that the Greeks and Trojans once endured On the spreading plain of Troy when the gods willed it so- All that comes to pass on the fertile earth, we know it all," (Homer 12.200-207). The Sirens are using what they know wisely to tempt Odysseus. In ... and holding power, but in her own ways, she does. For 20 years she stayed faithful to Odysseus and ten of those years she also put up with the suitors. She additionally raised Telemachus on her own. Perhaps one could contemplate whether that...

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... speak of what he learned on his journey. Telemakhos was vague in his response and then proceeded to change the subject on two different occasions that his mother asked him. He told her to bathe and go pray to the Gods and he was going to go retrieve the stranger. After he told her this ... it seemed that she had to fight replying negatively to the avoidance when it says, "She caught back the ... swift words upon her tongue- (Bk. 17:40-68). I believe the ... still holds to his father's wishes to keep his disguise a secret and he keeps his lips sealed. Penelope's solution to the problem ...

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... as his protector. In one of his numerous journeys Odysseus meets the Phaiakians who receive him with warm hospitality without having to ask for his name first. "This is not the better way, nor is it fitting that the stranger should sit on the ground beside the hearth, in the ashes But come, raise the stranger up and seat him on a silver studded chair and tell your heralds to mix in ... more wine for us And let the house keeper from her stores give the stranger a supper." (Book IV P.115 Lines 159-166) From ... this we can assume that the Phaiakians didn't know that they ... ...

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... becomes tense as the years go on without Odysseus's return. Penelope is pressured by the overwhelming requests of marriage from the 200 suitors chasing after her in pursuit of becoming the next king of Ithaca. The tension is clear from the start of the epic poem. Penelope is lured down into the main area of the house to where the bard was singing, to the suitors, a song of the Achaeans and the disasters that ... she is weaving a shroud for Laertes, Odysseus's father, and once it is finished she will pick a suitor to marry. Working on the shroud during the day, and then unweaving it at n...

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... might be. As Tiresias is predicting Odysseus" future he says, "At home you shall find trouble, -bold men devouring your living, wooing your matchless wife, and offering bridal gifts. Nevertheless, on your return, you surely shall avenge their crimes"(104). This shows that Odysseus can be guided both in! sunlight and in darkness. He was able to talk to everyone that ... feel happy when Eumaeus tells him, "You would be much surprised to see his speed and strength. For nothing could escape him in the forest-depths, no creature that he started-(167). Here is where Argos symbolizes Odysseus....

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• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... protector, stands up and says, "It is Poseidon who is so implacable towards him on account of the Cyclops whom Odysseus blinded. Poseidon has kept Odysseus in exile" (Homer 27). In The Odyssey, one of the antagonists, Poseidon, ruler of the sea, kept Odysseus suffering throughout his trip home by sending storms to wreck his ship. ... Poseidon wanted to seek revenge on the honorable Odysseus for blinding his son, so he made his voyage complicated. And for that reason, he didn't return home ... with new people. It was an obligation for all the Greeks to obey the laws of the Gods during t...

• Word Count: 1247
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... . Throughout this journey Odysseus experiences a lot of inconsistent emotions. A lot of this is attributed to the physical and mental hell he goes through on this remarkable journey. With the help of the Gods he finally does return to Ithaca. Odysseus arrives on the shore of Phaecia, in Book VI of the Odyssey. His most helpful and favorable goddess has sent Nausicaa a dream compelling her to wash clothes ... as Athena even gives Odysseus advice, "A cheerful man does best in every enterprise, even a stranger" (Book 7). The interference by Athena shows how much she likes Odysseus and how m...

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• Has Bibliography
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... he was just a baby, he never got to know him but was only able to hear about him from the stories that he had been told by his mother, the servants and the towns people. For example, at the beginning of the book, he notices a stranger outside the manor that had traveled in and begins talking to him. Although Telemakhos was unaware that it was really Athena ... she bring herself to choose among them. Meanwhile they eat their way though all we have, And when they will, the can demolish me. (9. 288-98) He also addresses the issue that he is not able to take on the suitors when he addresses...

• Word Count: 1860
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• Grade Level: High School

... he was just a baby, he never got to know him but was only able to hear about him from the stories that he had been told by his mother, the servants and the towns people. For example, at the beginning of the book, he notices a stranger outside the manor that had traveled in and begins talking to him. Although Telemakhos was unaware that it was really Athena ... she bring herself to choose among them. Meanwhile they eat their way though all we have, And when they will, the can demolish me. (9. 288-98) He also addresses the issue that he is not able to take on the suitors when he addresses...

• Word Count: 1860
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School