... fact that she not cared for Odysseus as a child, but also his son, Telemachus. Her dedication and care for that family was well-appreciated as Penelope even said, "I have an ancient woman of an understanding heart, that diligently nursed and tended that hapless man my lord, she took him in her arms in the hour when his mother bare him." (Book XIX) It ... well as being a loving mother to Telemachus are just a few the attributes that depict her as a good woman in this epic poem as well as the ideal Greek women of this time period. Calypso is one of the two female figures whose love become...

• Word Count: 1295
• Approx Pages: 5

... leader, whereas, Herodotus describes Leonidas as a great warrior and leader without making any reference to god-like characteristics. However, while the two writings differ in the characteristic description of both leaders, Achilles and Leonidas, Homer and Herodotus depict both leaders to be heroes and deserving of honor and glory. Here there are comparisons and contrasts to be found for Greek soldiers and leaders ... both are considered to be heroes in their stories, and are alike in that way, the poet differs in a more exaggerated tone to emphasize characteristics that go beyond just ...

• Word Count: 1462
• Approx Pages: 6
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Homer's epic poem The Odyssey was written after his Iliad which told the tales of the Trojan War. This Odyssey told of the wanderings of a prominent warrior and ruler, Odysseus. Odysseus fought in the Trojan War and, after the Greeks claimed their victory at Troy, began his ... Mount Olympus to warn him saying "Foolhardy man! Still bent on war and struggle! Will you not even yield to immortal gods? This is no mortal being, but an immortal woe, -dire, hard, and fierce, and not to be fought down. Courage is nothing; flight is best" (116). Odysseus didn't know when to run ... with you, is poor ...

• Word Count: 1639
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School

... a hero he is still a mortal man who acts upon human judgement, so that all who read the epic become involved in the plot and the psychological and physical journey of each character. The first word of The Odyssey is andra, "the man", which tells us directly that this epic journey of time, travel, and heroics is based simply upon the courage, strength, wisdom and honour ... ; Penelope shows herself worthy of Odysseus (Book 23). Odysseus" heroic characteristics are constantly made aware of throughout the poem, and yet Homer stills renders the reader to the reality that Odysseus is still ju...

• Word Count: 1884
• Approx Pages: 8
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... 2000, the inventive and provocative filmmakers Joel and Ethan Coen reworked the Odyssey in a liberal way, changing scenes, settings and characters. The writer compares the original epic and the original screenplay and discusses dozens of small but meaningful comparisons. For instance, Odysseus and his men descend into Hades where they encounter several ghosts from Odysseus's past; in the film the boys meet ... Odysseus uses to return to Ithaca. Even though the poem and the film do not mirror each other completely. They do have two things in common; both of the protagonist's are looking ...

• Word Count: 1578
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

The Odyssey by Homer is an epic of enormous proportions. The themes, ideas and messages in the poem are timeless and appeal to every generation of readers. The Odyssey's protagonist is Odysseus, the ruler of Ithaca and a Greek hero of the Trojan War. The poem chronicles Odysseus" journey home from the Trojan War, which is fraught with disaster and hardship and the obstacles he continues to face upon his ... those wily tales that warm the cockles of your heart! " This part of the text exemplifies Odysseus" shrewd and calculating characteristics which are so amazing they are recognized and appr...

• Word Count: 1451
• Approx Pages: 6