Homer s Odyssey The King Of Ithaca And Glorious Hero Of...

In the Illiad, King Menelaus of Sparta and all of Greece waged a bloody and long war against the city of Troy. Among the Greek, there were many heroes: Achilles, Ajax, Agamemnon, and many more. The one who made it possible for the Greek to win in the end was Odysseus, the King of Ithaca. Homer’s Odyssey, in which the story of Odysseus continued on, described the tormenting years of his journey home. He set sailed from Troy, expecting to be home in a few months. Instead, his ships were blown all across the Mediterranean Sea, facing countless obstacles, and he finally reached his beloved home alone, after ten painstaking years. By the end of his journey, Odysseus the mighty King of Ithaca and glorious hero of the Trojan War, changed from a proud and reckless young man to a humble, travel-weary, wise man from all the hardships and troubles he underwent. At the beginning of his quest, Odysseus was still relatively young and proud, especially since he just won the Trojan War. Many a times on his journey, it was his own pride and curiosity that became his undoing. The most ample example would be his infamous encounter with the Cyclopes, Polyphemus. Odysseus and twelve of his men went to explore the land for its inhabitants, only to find a cave full of food. Not only did Odysseus’ men eat Polyphemus’ food without permission, Odysseus had ungratefully asked for a gift: â€Å"It was our luck to come here; here we stand / beholden for your help, or any gifts / you give – as custom is toShow MoreRelatedOdyssey Historical Background6500 Words   |  26 PagesThe Odyssey ~ Background Information * The novel covers a 10 year period. * The novel was written approximately in 720 B.C. * The novel takes place in 1230 B.C. ~ during the Bronze age. * The Iliad (written first) and The Odyssey are based on historical events that took place about 1230 B.C. * Both novels are considered epic poems * The Odyssey is defined as a journey. This is the story of Odysseus’ journey back home after the Trojan War. From The Odyssey, Homer chose theRead MoreKleos in The Odyssey by Homer938 Words   |  4 PagesTHE ODYSSEY Heroic glory occupies a very crucial place in the Indo-European epic tradition, because the Greek society is a shame culture, in which being honoured is one of the primary purposes of people s lives. Hence, the concept of kleos formed an essential part of the bardic tradition which helped the people to maintain the heroic stature of the mythical heroes from generation to generation. This is why, it has got an important place in the Greek epics also. In The Odyssey by Homer alsoRead MoreBeowulf : A Man Of Great Power Essay1567 Words   |  7 PagesLiterary epics tend to follow the basic path in their plotlines of a hero who undergoes a quest, and Beowulf is no different. Beowulf is unique in that his tale is split into two stories taking place decades apart, one when he is a young warrior and the other when he is an old and wise king. Both stories follow the basic structure for a literary epic, a talented hero is charged with a quest, proves himself with a smaller feat, is aided b y supplementary characters, enters a foreign and often supernaturalRead MoreThe Hero Of Homer s Epic Tale, The Odyssey1922 Words   |  8 Pagesheroes is most certainly Odysseus, the mythological Grecian subject of Homer s epic tale, The Odyssey. This legendary figure displays exemplary brains and muscle, appearing almost superhuman at times. He embodies the ideals Greeks heroes aspired to: manly valor, loyalty to both his family and friends, as well as keen intelligence. The popularity of Odysseus has proven timeless; to this day, he remains greatly admired as both a hero, and an ordinary man who must overcome hurdles and embark on epicRead MoreOdysseus Character Analysis2044 Words   |  9 PagesOdysseus is a man of many ways. He has seen numerous cities and has learned the minds of countless people (Book I: 1 – 4). He is glorious. Zeus calls him godlike, greatest among other men in mind (Book I: 65). Athena and Hephaestus taught him the arts of war and carpentry, resp ectively (Book IV: 233). He sacrificed more to the gods of heaven than any other mortal and thus, he is loved by all the gods. Additionally, he is a noble father and is as just and kind to his subjects as to his own kin. He