- Fate, the Gods, and Free Will. Three somewhat distinct forces shape the lives of men and women in The Odyssey: fate, the interventions of the gods, and the actions of the men and women themselves. ...
- Piety, Customs, and Justice. ...
- Cunning, Disguise, and Self-Restraint. ...
- Memory and Grief. ...
- Glory and Honor.
Hospitality
The Odyssey Themes. T he main themes in The Odyssey are hospitality, loyalty, and deception and dissimulation.. Hospitality: The importance of the code of hospitality in ancient Greek society is ...
Home, wandering, and fidelity
- Fate, the Gods, and Free Will. Three somewhat distinct forces shape the lives of men and women in The Odyssey: fate, the interventions of the gods, and the actions of ...
- Piety, Customs, and Justice. The world of The Odyssey is defined by rules that prescribe human interactions. ...
- Glory and Honor. ...
Cunning and disguise
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- Summary
- Chapter Summaries
- Themes
- Characters
- Analysis
- Quotes
- Critical Essays
- Teaching Guide
- Short-Answer Quizzes
Women as predatory
Epic similes are literary comparisons meant to distract the reader from the story. In The Odyssey, the author Homer uses epic similes to detract the reader from the brutality present in battle. These similes demonstrate the festal and barbaric qualities that men adopt when they are in battle and often compare warriors to majestic animals, like lions, attacking prey.
Odysseus' character flaws
What are some universal themes in the Odyssey?
What the Hell is the main theme of the Odyssey?
What is the theme present in the Odyssey?
What are three epic similes in the Odyssey?
What is the main theme of The Odyssey?
The most important theme in the Odyssey is that of hospitality or, as the Greeks called it, xenia. This translates to something akin to "guest-...
What is the story odyssey about?
The Odyssey follows the story of Odysseus, kind of Ithaca, as he tries to return home after the Trojan War. He is delayed for over twenty years d...
What odyssey means?
"Odyssey" eventually came to refer to a long and arduous journey. This reflects on the long and arduous journey undergone by Odysseus, the main cha...
What is the moral code of the Odyssey?
In other cases, The Odyssey shows unambiguously that the gods place their personal pride ahead of justice. The Odyssey is deeply concerned with the moral code binding hosts to treat strangers and travelers kindly. Throughout the poem, Zeus punishes anyone who violates this code.
What does Homer want from Odysseus?
Homer is fascinated with depicting his protagonist tormented by temptation: in general, Odysseus and his men want very desperately to complete their nostos, or homecoming, but this desire is constantly at odds with the other pleasures that the world offers.
Why does Odysseus blow his cover?
Odysseus even risks blowing his cover to warn Amphinomus about the danger to his life: “I say he’s right at hand—and may some power save you.”. Nevertheless, “Athena had bound him fast to death,” so Amphinomous is murdered along with the rest of the suitors.
Why does Odysseus tell the Cyclops his name is “Nobody”?
First, Odysseus tells the Cyclops his name is “Nobody,” so that the Cyclops is forced to say that “nobody” is hurting him. Second, Odysseus instructs his men to hide under the Cyclops’ sheep as they leave the cave, so that the now-blind Cyclops will only feel his sheep’s wool as they go out the cave door.
Why are Odysseus and Penelope reunited?
Odysseus and Penelope are reunited when Odysseus is able to describe their marriage bed, which is literally unshakeable because it is (again literally) rooted in the soil of Ithaca. Nestor suggests that Agamemnon is fortunate, even though he has been murdered by his wife, because his son has avenged him.
Why do the Phaecians help Odysseus?
The Phaecians help Odysseus because they are good hosts , not because they have any desire to thwart Poseidon. There is no way for them to know that by doing their duty and helping a guest they are offending Poseidon. Nevertheless, Zeus endorses Poseidon’s plan to prevent the Phaecians from ever helping travelers again.
What is Odysseus' mental agility?
Although The Odyssey begins with the Trojan Wars that separate Odysseus from Ithaca and touches on themes of warfare throughout, mental agility is as crucial as physical prowess to Odysseus’s homecoming. Athena praises Odysseus for being cunning, a trait she considers herself to have as well, and may be especially inclined to help him because she admires his mental ability. Even Odysseus’s epithet, the man “of twists and turns,” suggests a mind that works cleverly and not always in a straightforward, honest manner. Odysseus’s cunning is most clearly displayed in the episode with Polyphemus the Cyclops. Odysseus tricks Polyphemus twice. First, Odysseus tells the Cyclops his name is “Nobody,” so that the Cyclops is forced to say that “nobody” is hurting him. Second, Odysseus instructs his men to hide under the Cyclops’ sheep as they leave the cave, so that the now-blind Cyclops will only feel his sheep’s wool as they go out the cave door. Odysseus also uses cunning at the end of the poem when he disguises himself as a beggar, to discover who on Ithaca remains loyal to him after his long absence.
What are the three things that are important to the Odyssey?
Piety, Customs, and Justice . The world of The Odyssey is defined by rules that prescribe human interactions. Important customs include hospitable behavior to strangers and guests, respect for family and marriage, and punishment of those who have violated these customs.
What is the motivation behind Odysseus?
Odysseus and other characters are motivated by pursuit of glory and honor. In the course of the story, the two terms acquire distinct meanings. Glory is attained mainly by victory in battle and by feats of strength and cunning, while honor is attained by just, lawful behavior. Sometimes the two pursuits conflict with one another, since striving for glory can lead to reckless, proud behavior that violates customs and angers the gods. For example, Odysseus…
Why does Odysseus disguise his identity?
As part of his cunning, Odysseus often disguises his identity – sometimes in order to survive a dangerous trial, as when he claims to be called… . read analysis of Cunning, Disguise, and Self-Restraint. Get the entire The Odyssey LitChart as a printable PDF.
What are the three forces that shape the lives of men and women in The Odyssey?
Three somewhat distinct forces shape the lives of men and women in The Odyssey: fate, the interventions of the gods, and the actions of the men and women themselves. Fate is the force of death in the midst of life, the destination each man or woman will ultimately reach.
Why does Odysseus cry in grief?
Grief and tears are proper ways to honor the memory of absent or departed friends, but grief as a mere expression of selfish sadness or fear is somewhat shameful – Odysseus often chides his crew for wailing in grief for fear of death.
What is the Significance of the Theme of the Odyssey?
The Odyssey is a strangely modern-seeming story, complete with a complicating, novelistic character and many different branching themes. Because the Odyssey differs so dramatically from its predecessor the Iliad, understanding the thematic emphases will lead to a more holistic understanding of both the epic and its central character.
Hospitality in the Odyssey
Out of all of the themes in the Odyssey, hospitality takes center stage. Hospitality was considered an important virtue—particularly inhospitable individuals, or individuals who took advantage of another's hospitality, could expect to be punished by the gods.
Loyalty in the Odyssey
Loyalty is another theme that permeates the Odyssey. It most commonly occurs in relation to loyalty to Odysseus—Penelope steadfastly waiting for him, for example. Similarly, Odysseus' servants Eumaeus and Eurycleia have maintained loyalty to Odysseus throughout the years even though it caused them a good deal of grief from the suitors.
Vengeance in the Odyssey
If hospitality and loyalty flavor the story and grant it meaning, vengeance drives it. Odysseus finds himself in such dire straights due to attracting the wrath of Poseidon, whose heavy-handed ire drives him to misfortune after misfortune.
Wandering in the Odyssey
While not nearly as central a theme as hospitality, loyalty, or vengeance, wandering and journeying take a large amount of space. This is epitomized by Odysseus' various challenges and trials. Odysseus wanders outside of the civilized world, and as such, he finds himself encountering monsters.
What is the theme of the Odyssey?
Theme: Loyalty. Loyalty, as in devotion to helping those close to you, is also a major theme in The Odyssey. Perhaps the most well-known example of loyalty is Penelope and her devotion to her husband Odysseus.
How does Odysseus demonstrate hospitality?
Regardless of her feelings toward them and her belief that Odysseus will return to her, she demonstrates hospitality by allowing the suitors to stay in her home and do whatever they want. To do anything less, even to the worst house guests, would be against her moral code.
Why does Odysseus offer his servants food?
His own servants, when he appears as a strange beggar at the end of the story, offer Odysseus food and comfort because those who are hospitable and kind to guests receive great rewards from the gods. Others, however, are not so helpful. In the end, the suitors are punished for being terrible guests and awful people.
Why does Eumaeus help Odysseus?
Eumaeus also helps Odysseus slaughter the suitors. It can also be argued that Odysseus himself shows great loyalty because he perseveres for ten years to make it home. Theme: Vengeance. There's plenty of vengeance, or acts of revenge, in The Odyssey.
What is Odysseus' revenge?
When Odysseus returns home to Ithaca to find his house overrun by suitors, his revenge is swift and bloody. He kills all the suitors, as well as some disloyal servants. Another example of Odysseus' vengeance comes earlier in the work. The cyclops Polyphemus eats some of Odysseus' men and holds the rest captive.
What is the story of Odysseus?
'The Odyssey' tells the story of Odysseus as he tries to get home after the Trojan War has ended. In this lesson, learn about the themes of this famous Greek work.
What are some examples of loyalty?
Other examples of great loyalty come from Odysseus' household and family. Telemachus, Odysseus' son who was only a baby when his father left for the war, goes on an expedition to try and learn any information he can on his wayward dad.
What are Odysseus' most important characteristics?
Odysseus' most prominent characteristic is his cunning; Homer's Greek audience generally admired the trait but occasionally disdained it for its dishonest connotations. Odysseus' skill at improvising false stories or devising plans is nearly incomparable in Western literature. His Trojan horse scheme (recounted here) and his multiple tricks against Polyphemus are shining examples of his ingenuity, especially when getting out of jams.
What is the central emotion of Odysseus?
The title of The Odyssey has given us a word to describe a journey of epic proportions. Throughout his travels, Odysseus ' central emotion is loneliness. We first encounter him as he pines away for home, alone on Calypso's beach, and he is not above weeping when thinking of home at other points. He also endures great loss through the deaths ...
Why does Odysseus tie up his crew?
After his errors with Polyphemus , Odysseus has his crew tie him up so he can hear -- but not follow -- the dangerously seductive song of the Sirens. Disguised as a beggar in Ithaca, he is even more active in resisting temptation, allowing the suitors to abuse him as he bides his time.
What is Odysseus afraid of?
It is little wonder Odysseus fears Penelope's lapse into infidelity: women are usually depicted, if anything, as sexual aggressors in The Odyssey. Circe exemplifies this characteristic among the goddesses, turning the foolish men she so easily seduces into the pigs she believes them to be, while Calypso imprisons Odysseus as her virtual sex-slave. The Sirens, too, try to destroy passing sailors with their beautiful voices. The suitors even accuse Penelope of teasing them, a debatable point. But no woman receives as negative a portrait as Agamemnon's wife Kyltaimnestra; the story of her cuckoldry and murder of her husband frequently recurs as a parallel to Odysseus' anxieties about Penelope.
What are Odysseus' biggest mistakes?
Though he is usually a smart, decisive leader, Odysseus is prone to errors, and his deepest flaw is falling prey to temptation. His biggest mistakes come in the episode with Polyphemus as he first foolishly investigates the Cyclops' lair (and ends up getting trapped there), and then cannot resist shouting his name to Polyphemus after escaping (thus incurring Poseidon 's wrath). If Odysseus' character changes over the course of The Odyssey, though, it pivots around temptation. After his errors with Polyphemus, Odysseus has his crew tie him up so he can hear -- but not follow -- the dangerously seductive song of the Sirens. Disguised as a beggar in Ithaca, he is even more active in resisting temptation, allowing the suitors to abuse him as he bides his time. Temptation hurts his crew, as well, in their encounters with Circe, the bag of winds from Aiolos, and the oxen of Helios.
Why does Odysseus spend the last third of the poem as a beggar?
Odysseus spends the last third of the poem disguised as a beggar, both to escape from harm until he can overthrow the suitors, as well as to test others for loyalty . In addition, Athena appears frequently throughout the poem, often as the character Mentor, to provide aid to Odysseus or Telemachus.
What is the climax of the Odyssey?
Though it sweeps across many themes and aspects of human nature, The Odyssey is broadly framed as a revenge story: the climax is the slaughtering of suitors who have been vying to take over Odysseus' estate in his absence.
What is the theme of the Odyssey?
Main Themes of The Odyssey – Introduction. The events of this epic poem occur along the Mediterranean Coast during the Bronze Age, which took place in the late 11th century into the 12th century. It is clear from the language used in the poem that Homer sees this age as a time of great innovation in which kings possessed great wealth ...
What makes Odysseus a hero?
What makes Odysseus such a hero is not just his outstanding physical strength and his triumphs over impressive monsters, but his ability to withstand mental trials as well and to look forward with cunning to help him get out of certain situations that can’t be fixed with sheer manpower.
Why does Odysseus return home?
While he’s away from home, the main guiding light for Odysseus to return home is to be reunited with his family and to protect their honor. Although he meets with many interesting and even challenging forces on his way home, he never loses the hope that he will make it back home.
Why is Odysseus plagued by temptation?
In fact, the very reason that his journey back home turned into such an ordeal is due to the rape of the Trojan princess Cassandra while the Greeks plundered the city.
What is Odysseus' journey?
In the case of Odysseus, his journey helps him to reaffirm what is important to him—his family and his family’s honor back home. He learns a lot of lessons about triumphs, retribution, overcoming obstacles, and withstanding temptations. This all translates to his increased maturity.
Does Odysseus know his abilities?
There are many times throughout the story in which Odysseus knows that his physical abilities alone won’t get him out of a dire situation. However, he is able to plan, to think ahead, and to make calculated moves to outwit his opponents.
Is Odysseus a human?
Many heroes are heroes from the start of their story. This is true of Odysseus as well, but he is also still only human. Humans and their weaknesses are contrasted with the purity and mightiness of the gods and goddesses who interfere on their behalf.
The Power of Cunning over Strength
If the Iliad is about strength, the Odyssey is about cunning, a difference that becomes apparent in the very first lines of the epics. Whereas the Iliad tells the story of the rage of Achilles, the strongest hero in the Greek army, the Odyssey focuses on a “man of twists and turns” ( 1. 1 ).
The Pitfalls of Temptation
The initial act that frustrated so many Achaeans’ homecoming was the work of an Achaean himself: Ajax (the “Lesser” Ajax, a relatively unimportant figure not to be confused with the “Greater” Ajax, whom Odysseus meets in Hades) raped the Trojan priestess Cassandra in a temple while the Greeks were plundering the fallen city.
Divine Justice
Early in The Odyssey, Zeus explains his vision of justice.
Hospitality in Ithaca
There are plenty of examples of hospitality in The Odyssey. Early on, Telemachus is both an exceptional host and guest. He is the only one to give the deserved respect to Athena, disguised as Mentes, when she visits him in Book I. Telemachus provides the stranger with dinner before asking for a name.
Family
We cannot talk about loyalty in The Odyssey without immediately bringing up Odysseus’ wife, Penelope. After all, she waits for her husband’s return for twenty long years, never losing hope. She refuses to marry one of the suitors despite their insistence. She even devises a cunning plan to trick them.
Friends
The Odyssey celebrates faithfulness in all respects. The suitors, members of the aristocracy, are seen as the ultimate traitors both to Odysseus and Ithaca. They are the villains for wishing to betray the king, and their slaughter is just a punishment.
Gods
The relationship between the characters and the gods is very reciprocal in Homer’s world. Those who stay devoted to their gods will receive the same devotion in return. This is particularly notable between Odysseus and Athena, who stay loyal to each other.
Achilles and Kleos
To outline the significance of homecoming and glory in war, we have to refer to The Iliad. Odysseus plays a significant part in the events of the Trojan War, but this story is not about him. Instead, it is about Achilles and his dilemma in choosing between nostos and kleos. The hero wants to go home but eventually succumbs to death in battle.
Odysseus and Nostos
While The Iliad is about strength, The Odyssey is about intelligence and cunning. Unlike the hero Achilles with his kleos, Odysseus uses his wit to solve his problems. His perseverance and quick thinking stem directly from nostos, the desire to return home. From the very beginning of the epic, he is described as a “ man of twists and turns.
Cunning Penelope
Odysseus isn’t the only one to display cunning. His wife, Penelope, is just as crafty as her husband and the goddess Athena.
What are the themes of the Odyssey?
Loyalty and perseverance are the key themes of The Odyssey. Being multifaceted notions, they are represented in the epic from different perspectives. There is loyalty to family, friends, and gods.
What are some examples of hospitality in The Odyssey?
One of the brightest examples of hospitality in The Odyssey is Odysseus’ household. While the King of Ithaca is absent, Penelope’s suitors fill out the house. They act immorally, destroy Odysseus’ property. These people don’t hesitate to eat and drink all the food and beverages.
What is the role of Circe in Odysseus?
Moreover, she is a great assistant to the traveler. Circe helps Odysseus to overcome the obstacles of the Sirens, Scylla and Charybdis.
What is the symbolism of Argos in The Odyssey?
It was the first one who recognizes Odysseus disguised as a beggar. Unfortunately, the loyal dog dies. Therefore, Argos in The Odyssey is a symbol of danger that hangs upon Ithaca. Odysseus’ two decades of absence caused many troubles at home that lead to disastrous consequences.
What is the relationship between Homer and Odysseus?
Loyalty to friends is another point covered in The Odyssey. Homer provides a considerable number of examples when friends’ faithfulness determines the fate of Odysseus. For instance, the old nurse, Eurycleia, remains faithful to Penelope and her absent master. Also, Odysseus’ crew never leave him during their journey home. All of these factors significantly contribute to the main character’s success.
What is Odysseus' loyalty to the Greek gods?
Thus, he is loyal to the Greek gods. The hero has an unusually profound connection with the goddess of wisdom, Athena. Being faithful to her, he receives Athena’s loyalty in return.
What are the beautiful nymphs in The Odyssey?
The beautiful nymphs from the greek myths, Sirens, behave similarly. They pretend to be lovely ladies singing their limpid song. They attract travelers to kill them, not to provide a shelter for the night. Overall, the ancient Greek traditions of hospitality take an essential place in The Odyssey.
