... a coward a hero (not saying Odysseus was a coward). Almost everything is done to help Odysseus and so he is fortunate to have the support of the gods especially in this book. "But Athena poured a sea of fog around him as he went her loves expedient, that no jeering sailor should halt the man or exchange him for luck." (Book 7). Here Odysseus speaks to Athena indirectly as she ... is a great gesture by Athena because it doesn't seem to pose any great benefit to her. Another token of Odysseus greatness comes from an old dog. Argos who was only a pup when Odysseus left was now an old dog w...

• Word Count: 1563
• Approx Pages: 6
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... valor, intellect, and determination. Incorporated into The Odyssey are many current-day characteristics of man including a constant dependence on others, the presence of a greater vision, or lack there of, and the essence of a sensitive side behind courage and pride. At times throughout The Odyssey Odysseus didn't think about the consequences of his actions and depended on guidance from the gods to help lead him in the right direction. ... he returned, Odysseus realized that he had been neglected, and was sick and dying. Argos recognized Odysseus when no one else could, and his loyalty ...

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

... Minor, across the Aegean Sea from modern-day Greece) and its shores in the Aegean Sea to the island of the Lotus-eaters; Polyphemus, a Cyclops; to the island of King Aeolus, God of the Wind; island of the beautiful sorceress, Circe; to the island of Persephone- Erebus- an earthly doorway to the underworld; to the island of the Sun; the place of the nymph Calypso; and the Kingdom of the Phaeacians. Some parts of the epic also took ... curious whether it contained gold or treasures. When they opened the bag, hell broke loose and brought their ship to a far place, again. This time, they lan...

• Word Count: 2482
• Approx Pages: 10
• Grade Level: High School

... sweeps into the palace and the Chorus take no interest in what she says and turn their attention onto Menelaus. The Herald gradually reveals the darker, more painful news of the Greek Armarda being hit by a freak storm and Menelaus being lost at sea: "He's gone from the fleets, He and his ship, its true" Tragedy has hit the ships and vessels have been wrecked. The storm took place at night and when the men wake ... of gold: "glory light as gold wounds the heart with love" Love hurts, Its as though the whole of Troy fell in love with Helen and like the lion cub she changes over night. Co...

• Word Count: 2409
• Approx Pages: 10
• Grade Level: High School

... implacable towards him on account of the Cyclops, godlike Polyphemus, the most powerful of the Cyclopes, whom Odysseus blinded. His mother was the Nymph Thoosa, daughter of Phorcys, Lord of the Salt Sea Waves; and it was Poseidon who gave her this child when he slept with her in her cavern hollowed by the sea. That is why, ever since Polyphemus was blinded, Poseidon the Earth-shaker has kept Odysseus ... questions for those who aid in his salvation. For Odysseus to reach his homeland of Ithaca, he needs to travel not just land, but sea, and Poseidon makes that all the more difficult by ...

• Word Count: 1447
• Approx Pages: 6

... 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. He opened the doors of the close-compacted bedchamber, and sat down on the bed and took off his soft tunic and put it into the hands of the sagacious old woman, and ... . Telemachus at this stage of his life spent most of his time inside the house fulfilling more of a feminine role. Athena's task is to take Telemachus out of the female world and into the male...

• Word Count: 1835
• Approx Pages: 7
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... ." With this new information Polyphemus prayed to his father Poseidon to have Odysseus and his men punished. Having angered Poseidon, Odysseus and his men are forced to wander throughout the sea as his men taste death one by one. Odysseus learns that bragging can have ill effects and uses this knowledge on the island of the Phaecians and Ithaca when he does not openly boast of his deeds ... and his journeys. Odysseus also learns to pay close attention to the instructions of the gods, or he might ... Circes advice by using wax in the ears of his crew to pass the Sirens. Odysseus becomes ...

• Word Count: 1740
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School

... characteristic of his hero status. Some would describe him as, "a man whose mind was as wise as the gods..." (150). Odysseus suffered for many long years on land and sea, yet was wise enough to overcome everything he faced, using his brain to solve problems, having the capacity of thinking equal to that of the gods. He came up with great plans to help him on ... . With only his son to help, he killed all the intruders, despite the fact that he was greatly outnumbered. While intelligence and strength were the main defining qualities of a heroic Odysseus, he had other important characteris...

• Word Count: 2068
• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: High School

... 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 of man. Odysseus left Troy a great hero. But as his travels go on he loses ... his treasure and his companions. To escape the Cyclopes he even toys with losing his name. As part of his plot to escape he gives his name as "Nobody" (9. 365). Once at sea Odyss...

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

... fondness for my son nor pity/for my old father nor the love I owed/Penelope, which would have gladdened her, /was able to defeat in the longing/I had to gain experience of the world/and of the vices and the worth of men" (ll. 90-95, translated by Allen Mandelbaum). Dante portrays Ulysses as a prideful, devious and angry man who was placed in hell for his dishonesty ... and the last is about the obvious: "To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield." The rhythms are long and almost wavy like the waters that he speaks of. Many words in the poem are full of long Os and As (ie. "dole" an...

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

... him what dangers lied ahead on his journey. She told him that there were two paths to take, each with its own difficulties and consequences. When Odysseus said that he might take the harder one, Circe said "Foolhardy man! Still bent on war and struggle! Will you not yield even to immortal gods? This is no mortal being, but an immortal woe, -dire, hard ... ). Here is where Argos symbolizes Odysseus. The stranger, Odysseus was old, just like the dog. Argos was covered with fleas while Odysseus was covered with old rags. Also, Odysseus was loyal to the truth and honored destiny. Odysseus no...

• Word Count: 1804
• Approx Pages: 7
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... wife and family. The film takes the story out of the ancient world and sets in old Mississippi during the Great Depression era. Many of the characters were adapted from The Odyssey; Sirens, a one-eyed man, Penelope, and Lotus-eaters to name a few. The main characters in the stories have the same name. The Odyssey the main character's name is Odysseus and in the film it is Ulysses. Ulysses is the translation of the Greek name Odysseus the hero of the odyseey. The ... this island found a cave to rest in. They begin to eat it and then a Cyclops comes in. As the Cyclops attacked Odysseus an...

• Word Count: 1423
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

... with his enemies, which only hurts him in the long run. For instance, as Odysseus escapes the Kyklopes island on his boat, he turns and yells his real name to Polyphemos, the one eyed giant only to taunt him. This only outrages the giant as he tries to crush the boat by launching rocks into the sea. "Kyklops, if ever mortal man inquire how you were put to shame ... a sign of wisdom from Eumaois. The hut in Smith4 which they are housed in was built by Eumaois himself, which relates because he built it with his own hands and this tells us he has relation to the great tactician, Odysseus h...

• Word Count: 1743
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School

... eagle. She stays behind in Pylos guarding the ships. SECTION 4 - They arrive to Sparta, were the king and queen Menelaus and Helen were celebrating the marriages of their son and daughter. - They greet Telemachus and Pisitratus - They have a feast in which they talk about the war and the Trojan horse. - The next day Menelaus tells the story on how he came back from the war. - Proteus another man there in Sparta told Telemachus. That ... returned. Athena - Daughter of Zeus and goddess of wisdom, battle, and the womanly arts. Athena assists Odysseus and Telemachus helping them and she spe...

• Word Count: 1452
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

... mother says I am his son: I know not surely. Who has know his own engendering: I wish at least I had some happy man as father, growing old in his own house - but unknown death and silence are the fate of him that, since you ask, the call my father. (8. 258-264) In a way I believe that he almost is unsure about whether or not he is his son ... courage to overtake the suitors. While off the shore of Pylos town, Athena assists in giving Telemakhos the courage to speak to people about the news of his father. She says, Not the least of shyness, now, Telemakhos. You came across the open sea f...

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

... mother says I am his son: I know not surely. Who has know his own engendering: I wish at least I had some happy man as father, growing old in his own house - but unknown death and silence are the fate of him that, since you ask, the call my father. (8. 258-264) In a way I believe that he almost is unsure about whether or not he is his son ... courage to overtake the suitors. While off the shore of Pylos town, Athena assists in giving Telemakhos the courage to speak to people about the news of his father. She says, Not the least of shyness, now, Telemakhos. You came across the open sea f...

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