Essays On Odysseus

Odysseus faces numerous challenges throughout the Odyssey, with the most significant being his arrogance that he needs to overcome in order to return home. In Book 9, starting from line 113, Odysseus and his men embark on a journey in the land of the Kyklops. This segment of Odysseus’ journey illustrates the battle between his […]

The Odyssey and The Aeneid are two of the most celebrated and read classical epics. The Odyssey which is centered on a land called Greece, takes the fall of the city of Troy as its starting point and crafts a new epic around the struggle of one of those Greek warriors, the hero Odysseus.

The Importance of Xenia in The Odyssey and it’s Consequences One of the most important themes in The Odyssey is the concept of xenia, which is the old Greek word for hospitality. In modern times, hospitality is something we rarely think of, and the first thing that comes to mind is the hotel industry, but […]

When one thinks of the afterlife, they can’t help but think of Dante’s Divine Comedy. In his book, The Inferno, Dante ventures into hell, both as a poet and an epic hero. His story is obviously inspired by Book VI of Virgil’s The Aeneid, which depicts the epic journey, into the underworld, of Virgil’s hero […]

What is the definition of an epic hero? What makes somebody worthy of people following them? Not everybody has a hero-like character. A hero is a leader who is not only physical strength, but mental strength as well. Heroes tend to transcend their problems. Odysseus, a famous Greek epic hero, does not display all the […]

An epic is a long narrative poem that recounts the doings of a legendary hero whose action determines the fate of people or a nation surrounding them. The epic of Sundiata recapitulates the story of the foundation of the Mali Empire. The epic is told by the griot, an African oral storyteller who is responsible […]

In The Odyssey by Homer, like in most ancient Greek stories, curiosity is frowned upon. Homer displays many tragic consequences due to curiosity to convey his definition of curiosity. One example of how curiosity killed the cat would be when Odysseus and his shipmates head home after their visit to Aiolia Island, and homer explains, […]

Both Beowulf and Odysseus are initially presented as formidable figures. Beowulf is hailed as the mightiest man in Geatland, while Odysseus holds a similar reputation in Greece. Additionally, their respective quests involve significant undertakings – Beowulf seeks to vanquish Grendel, while Odysseus yearns for a triumphant homecoming and reunion with his wife, Penelope. Both Beowulf […]

Throughout the last few books of the Odyssey, Homer explains to the reader how Odysseus reestablishes his relationships with his family and friends of Ithaka. It’s possible the restoration of his relationship with his son, Telemachus, is the most significant event of all. This reconnection carries out three main purposes. First, it serves to characterize […]

Few characters in literature have ever ventured into the underworld and returned back to earth. Odysseus’ trip to the underworld offers the reader an insight into Ancient Greek society and religion. The advice and requests made by the people he encounters show us how the people of the time viewed the afterlife Circe directed Odysseus […]

Norman Mailer once stated, “What is the essence of heroism? It requires facing entities more powerful than oneself.” This implies that one can only be deemed a ‘hero’ if they have the capacity to withstand and triumph over forces stronger than themselves. This sentiment, as voiced by Norman Mailer, holds true and is validated by […]

Cyclops, giants, six-headed monsters, these are some of the attractions of the one of a kind Odysseyland, an amusement park based on the theme of Homer’s The Odyssey. The park has several rides and games to entertain and test the mettle of any aspiring hero. The Cyclone is a free-falling ride that attempts to recreate […]

Ulysses and Tithonus are narrated by two men, who are both very much unhappy. They both want different to change but want contrasting things. Inevitably though each wish they have is most likely to end up in death. Tithonus was a handsome man in his youth and this got him the love of a goddess […]

The theme of the two woman’s relationship with Odysseus is complex however they are both very different in what, to them justifies as a relationship. Penelope is very loyal to Odysseus right to the were end of the odyssey as she has lots of suitors and does not pick any or give in to the […]

Alfred Tennyson learnt about the sudden death of his dear friend Henry Hallam, in October 1833. Hallam’s death disturbed Tennyson, and he decided to write “Ulysses” in his memory. The poem is a tribute to his lifelong friend. In Homer’s Odysseys poem Odysseys travels from the Trojan War for a period of ten years to […]

“My heart longs to be home, my comrades’ hearts as well” (Homer 10. 533). With a strong desire to reach his homeland after twenty years away, Odysseus leads his crew through the difficulties and obstacles they encounter. Odysseus is not only a strong warrior, but he also perseveres in his journey and treats his guests […]

In what ways is the Telemachy important to the Odyssey as a whole? What would the poem lose if these first four books were removed? Homer’s the Odyssey is the epic tale of Odysseus’ return home from the battle of Troy, yet we do not truly get to the hero in action until after we […]

Circe On the Isle of Aeaea, known to the ancient Greeks as the Island of the Dawn, lived the goddess Circe. Circe is the daughter of Helios, the Sun god, and the sister of Aeetes and Pasiphae, the mother of Ariadne. Other people called her the daughter of Hekate and sister of Medea. Her legend […]

Epic Heroes: From the Past and Today In modern society, we have many individuals who are considered heroes. These people are not ordinary, and to honor them, we dedicate a national holiday annually. Our present-day heroes share similarities with the epic heroes portrayed in ancient epic poetry, while also possessing their own distinctive qualities. In […]

The Odyssey, Odysseus is a hero. In all myths and legends, a hero combats the “monsters. ” In the typical story a hero is unselfish and fights to protect his people while the monsters are greedy powerful things that antagonize the people. Yet despite this typical storyline, if we read closely, we may conclude that […]

When analyzing the movie “O Brother Where Art Thou”, it becomes obvious that there are many similarities between the characters in the movie and those in Homer’s Odyssey. One scene where this is exceptionally apparent is when Everett and company sit down to eat with Big Dan Teague outside of a restaurant. Describing himself as […]

The difference between a regular hero and an epic hero can be found in the adventures and actions they take on their journey back home. In Fagle’s translation of Homer’s The Odyssey, Odysseus (also referred to as Ulysses in Claybourne’s The Adventures of Ulysses) exemplifies the traits of an epic hero. He distinguishes himself from […]