... the role women play in ancient Greek society. Odysseus' and Penelope's marriage increasingly 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 ... are and perhaps why they remain so faithful to one another despite temptations that seem to lure them to a better life. Odysseus throu...

• Word Count: 1806
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School

... killing his mother and Aegisthus. The story is actually told to Telemachus from Menelaus when he visits while searching for any news or whereabouts of his father Odysseus. The reason why I chose this example or episode was because it has a premise that involves a tragic hero or protagonist as well ... story that is only told verbally to Telemachus, it resonates powerfully to the overall theme of the poem, The Odyssey, about fate, betrayal and loyalty. The moral of the story is also a great contrast to that of Odysseus and his own situation with his own wife Penelope. Because the story ...

• Word Count: 1403
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

... demonstrating favoritism for their preferred mortals " attributes not typically attributed to gods. The poem portrays the tenth and final year of the war, which started when Paris of Troy fell in love with Helen of Sparta and stole her away from her husband, Menelaus. A standoff ensued that brought the allies of each side to a head when Paris refused to give Helen back. On the ... one's self-interests aside and doing what is best for the greater good of the community. Agamemnon does not always set his own interests aside in favor of his community. His leadership is at times unsteady, a ...

• Word Count: 2432
• Approx Pages: 10
• Grade Level: High School

... . Even though the Iliad presents possessions both as a way to identify characters as well as a source of glory, it is a war poem that makes it easier to see possessions as a source of honor; whereas, in the Odyssey it is simpler to view the possessions as a source of identity. Although some material goods are valued for their own sake, more often than not they are ... granted as forms of honor, such as spoils of war. When men enter battle they meet their own deaths ... latter because his possessions are so important to him. After he makes this crucial decision, he arrives home. The ensu...

• Word Count: 1235
• Approx Pages: 5

... peace with Agamemnon. The next day the fighting resumes, and the Achaians fight bravely. However, over the span of the day, most of the best men are injured and taken out of the fight. These include Agamemnon, Diomedes, Odysseus, Eurypylos, and Machaon. The only remaining champion of the Achaians is Aias. Hector then leads a strong attack by the Trojans, and they manage to break through ... on the old man, and returns the body. The Trojans then bury Hector. The story of Homer's Iliad actually centers on the rage of Achilles. At the first thought or reading, the main theme of this epic p...

• Word Count: 2208
• Approx Pages: 9
• Grade Level: High School

Achilles and Hector are the two main characters of the Iliad written by Homer. It has been told more often than not that our hero in this epic poem is Achilles the great Achaean and the fierce Trojan Hector as the enemy. They were very renowned fighters for their armies; these ... two warriors were similar in a few ways, but mostly very different. According to the definition of a modern day hero that I present, ... Briseis if he returns to fight in this war. Achilles stubbornly turns down the apology and the many other things. Odysseus and Aias bring up the point he owes it to the rest of th...

• Word Count: 1297
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... problems were created for the Trojans, like their being attacked by Odysseus from the broken wall in the Trojan Horse; death of their king Agamemnon in the tower on the burning roof of Troy. Yeats specifies the allusions to Troy, because the rape of Leda by Zeus produced Clytemnestra - Agamemnon's wife and Helen of Troy. William Butler Yeats sonnet is filled with many descriptive words ... show the difference between Gods and Humans, besides their setting up the tone for the play. When referring to Zeus Yeats uses words like "beating", "burning", "mastered" and "staggering". All of thes...

• Word Count: 416
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

... qualities, great personal power, and loyalty, they both share the same tragic flaw: overweening pride and immaturity. As Gilgamesh and Achilles take on this journey of life, they learn a lesson from their pride and mature heroically. When we first meet Gilgamesh, the epic's title character, he possesses beauty, strength, ... selfishness in thinking that the gods should castigate an entire army just for his self-esteem. Achilles then goes and tries to convince the rest of the Greek army to sail home and abandon the war with him. He no longer is crying like a child, but being rebellious a...

• Word Count: 1028
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... to help him, Diomedes continues his murderous rampage, unchecked by the Trojans. Aias, Odysseus, Agamemnon, and other Greek leaders have similar successes. As a result, the Trojans are forced into retreat. Hector, concerned about the well being of his troops, leaves the battlefield to go into Troy and make arrangements for offerings ... Helen, he is furious and chastises his brother for starting the war and then refusing to fight in it. He further accuses him of causing the deaths of thousands of Trojans. Once again, Homer masterfully points out the great differences that exist between H...

• Word Count: 1928
• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: High School