, Homer wrote an extremely complex piece of literature called The Odyssey. The Odyssey is an epic story of the challenges, tests, and choices of a Greek man named Odysseus. This work of mythology reflects the atmosphere of ancient Greece. It does this by focusing on the morality and lessons which apply to a culture that is deeply rooted in both art and war. Myths range from short tales with obvious lessons, to giant works of art with many hidden layers like The Odyssey. .
Strong characters are very important in the lessons of The Odyssey. Odysseus is the main character of the story. He is a Greek man on a journey home from fighting in the Trojan War when he encounters many tests of his character. The other main human characters include Odysseus" loyal and faithful wife Penelope who waits twenty long years for the return of her husband. Their son Telemachus exemplifies how a good son will fight for his families honor by defending his father, a man who hasn't been there for him. In Odysseus, the people of Greece found a hero that they could identify with and look up to. .
Gods and monsters, such as Zeus, Calypso, and the evil Cyclops are also crucial to this work of Greek mythology. The ancient Greeks were taught lessons by these superhuman beings. They were respected and at times feared for their power. Odysseus was a man who could overcome the challenges of these gods, bringing the gods down to a plane the common man could relate to.
There are three main themes in The Odyssey. The first of them is the "Wandering of Odysseus," which has the most emphasis placed upon it and the largest volume of literature. Odysseus encounters many hardships and difficulties during his journey, including loosing part of his crew in both the land of the Lotus-eaters and even more men in the land of the Cyclops. In his wandering, Odysseus also faces the dangerous and tempting sirens and the six headed monster Scylla.
The Odyssey and Fate When we look at Greek Mythology we often run into the gods of that era. ... Fate as far as Greek mythology goes is not just fate. ... (Munro) However, in the world of Greek Mythology fate does not just happen. ... The Odyssey, along with other Greek Mythology, gives us guidance in our lives today. ... (teacher) 2001 Odyssey Class Discussion Odyssey Plot Summation. ...
The Odyssey The Odyssey is an epic tale of bravery and triumph. Odysseus the main character, upon the birth of his son, Telemachus, must leave his wife, Penelope, and his son to fight the Trojans. He sails to Troy and uses a giant wooden horse to get within the walls of Troy and then defeats the T...
In the myth the Odyssey, Odysseus and his army had just won the Trojan war and "The Greeks went mad with victory the night they entered the city; they forgot what was due to the gods; and on their voyage home they were terribly punished" (Mythology 211). ... All day long he will tear to rags your body, feasting in fury on the blackened liver" (Mythology 75). ... But he swore he was a stranger" (Mythology 177). ... Another example of hospitality within mythology is the story of the Trojan war and Helen. ... Stories such as Hercules, the Odyssey, Trojan War, and so many othe...
PART I: Mythology: Man's Shelter From the Unknown Since the start of time nature's song has resounded throughout creation. ... In addition, the more direct relationship between man and god allowed mythology to serve as a source of entertainment. While there is no doubt whether some stories were created as distractions from life's troubles, the close man-god relationship created a larger amount and better understanding of pleasurable mythology. ... What Homer achieved for the Greeks with the Iliad and the Odyssey, so Virgil would do the same? ... Influenced by Homer's w...
Interest in mythology has grown steadily throughout the last hundred years. ... One reason for taking mythology seriously is that a society cannot be understood in isolation from its myths. ... If mythology is a way of thinking common to human beings in general, then a study of it is as study of ourselves. There are many types of mythology. ... As Homer describes in the Odyssey, several Greek fleets incurred the wrath of the gods on their triumphant return voyage. ...
I- Title: The Odyssey II- Historical Background: -Myths are traditional stories, usually of unknown origin, that were handed down from the earliest times. The Odyssey is a Greek epic myth supposedly written by Homer, a famed blind poet, who also wrote the Iliad. ... The Odyssey is said to contain 24 books as the Iliad. Both Iliad and the Odyssey were once considered as answers to questions of early history and religious doctrine. ... Mercury in Roman Mythology • Poseidon- God of the Sea IV- Plot - The epic Odyssey begins (as shown in the movie) when Odysseus bid Pene...
In Greek mythology, women were commonly looked down upon and viewed as weak and unintelligent. For this reason, it is unusual that Homer's The Odyssey demonstrates many interactions Odysseus has with females. ... Through female characters in The Odyssey, Homer suggests that women are intelligent and strong, and uses many of their facets to help or delay Odysseus' journey to his home, Ithaca. ... In contrast to the Greek mythology, The Odyssey does demonstrate that women are intelligent. ... Female characters play an important role in our world today and as well as in the Odyssey....
"THE ODYSSEY" AS A HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL REPRESENTATION OF RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THE PEOPLE AND THE GODS AND GODDESSES OF MT. ... I believe that more than anything, Homer's "The Odyssey" is an exercise in the meaning of story telling through song and other aspects in "The Odyssey," including lying and the lore, as I shall explain. ... In the very first line of "The Odyssey," Odysseus is described as "the man of many ways." ... There is also much importance given to pastoral scenes while "The Odyssey" is full of travel and adventure. "The Odyssey" is full of monsters as we...
Odysseus's adventure in Homer's epic, "The Odyssey," follows him on a journey where he meets an array of new people while traveling to new land. ... The theme of the voyager traveling in far-off land was very common in Greek mythology. Xenia, the practice of kindness to guests, which was expected of good Greeks, played an important role in "The Odyssey." ... The importance of Xenia in Greek culture is clearly demonstrated in Homer's, "The Odyssey," because the entire story is based on the behaviors of hosts Odysseus encounters in his travels....
