Testing Odysseus in the Epic Poem - 681 Words

Although out the epic poem The Odyssey the greek gods constantly challenged and tested a war hero named Odysseus; who is trying to get home to his wife and child. The gods are angry at Odysseus for taking all the credit for winning the Trojan war, now they want him to suffer. Odysseus is determined to get home no matter the challenge or obstacle. The Gods also test his will to go home, his faith, and his strengths. Odysseus’s will to go home is diminished by distracting beautiful women. During his journey he comes across many beautiful women. Odysseus spends years with a nymph named Calypso only leaving the comfort of the island because Hermes tells that Calypso must let Odysseus go home. â€Å"Son of Laerte; versatile Odysseus after these years with me you still desire your old home?† (lines 101-104) Odysseus said yes, even with her beauty Odysseus’s mind was still set on getting home to his family. Even though his mind was set to go home his some of his men’s weren’t; some ate lotus flowers and lost all desire to go home. Once Odysseus got home he was not discouraged by Penelopes doubt that an old beggar is Odysseus. He let Penelope test him. â€Å"Peace; let your mother test me at her leisure before long she will see and know me best.†(lines 1331-1332) Odysseus is not just going to give up at the end of his journey. Odysseus is confident that he will pass any test Penelope throws his way. No matter the challenge or distraction Odysseus’s will to go home is strong and eventuallyShow MoreRelatedThe Suitors In The Odyssey974 Words   |  4 Pagesspeak, and act. In Homer’s, The Odyssey, the mortal queen Penelope, is distracting the suitors while waiting for her long, lost husband, Odysseus, to come home from the Trojan War and twenty years at sea. Penelope worked to outsmart the powerful, self-entitled suitors, and proved that women could be just as, if not more, cunning than a man. Throughout the poem, there has been a common theme of Penelope’s emotions being disregarded by the suitors. As the story goes on, the reader can see Penelope’sRead MoreOedipus through Journey of the Hero891 Words   |  4 Pagesancient Greek epic poem written by Homer. It is about the journey of Odysseus home after the war in Troy. It takes Odysseus ten years to return to Ithaca, and in his absence, the people of Ithaca assumes that Odysseus is dead. The role of women in Odysseus voyage is also very important. It is because of the women that the whole story turned out the way it really did, and without them, the story would not be complete.The reason the Trojan war began was because of the goddess Helen. Odysseus needed toRead MoreOdysseus As A Hero Essay1813 Words   |  8 PagesAn epic is defined as a long narrative poem describing the noble and courageous deeds of a hero. 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Odysseus, though not developing as a character inRead MoreThe Effects Of Cultural And Religious Diversity On The World1701 Words   |  7 Pagesexample of relationships between the human and the Divinity. Investigation of the Ancient Greek religion and the religion of the Hebrews provides evidence about the different and similar patterns in human-Divinity interrelationships, as exemplified by Odysseus and Athena as well as Job and God. The research of two ancient texts, Odyssey and Bible, show that the power and influence of the Hebrews’ God is more significant than the p ower and influence of any particular god in the Ancient Greek Olympus, whichRead MoreAnalysis Of The Odyssey 1311 Words   |  6 Pagesquote he captures the very essence of heroism. Homer’s epic poem â€Å"The Odyssey† follows one man, Odysseus on his hero’s journaey home from the Trojan War. There is no question as to whether or not his quest follows the steps of the hero’s journey monomyth. The hero’s journey monomyth is the universal link in all tales of adventure. It contends that every hero follows a three-stage journey consisting of a departure, fulfillment, and return. Odysseus’ story fits perfectly into these three stages. He departsRead MoreWomen Of The Odyssey And Lysistrata Essay1328 Words   |  6 Pageswoman. Their role is very critical in the ongoing adventure in this epic poem. Homer represents women as strong roles and real life characters such as them being strong, tough, and diligent. In the story there are three major t ypes of women, which are the goddess, the good hostess/wife, and seducers. With each one of these female characters they are a vital importance and add a different type of factor to the story. As Odysseus returns home to his wife Penelope and his son Telemachus from fightingRead MoreThe Odyssey : Positive And Negative Roles2124 Words   |  9 Pagesplay a substantial role in the epic poem; in the story women play both positive and negative roles, sometimes a little of both, some the women in the book also play a role of seductresses. Since the epic poem is mainly about Odysseus’s ten year journey home to Ithaca and his wife and the obstacles he encounters and has to overcome on the way many of those involving women, women that are positive in the Odyssey are Penelope, Athena, Nausicaa and Helen who help Odysseus during his journey, and TelemachusRead MoreAnalysis Of Am I A Good Man 1641 Words   |  7 PagesFagles, the main character— Odysseus— does lack this trait. After voyaging home from war as a hero, he and his crew face countless trials, and ultimately, after 4 years, all of the crew except Odysseus dies. Odysseus is then captured and forced to remain on an island for another 8 years with a nymph named Calypso. Finally, after the gods save him, he makes his way home to discover that his house has been overrun by suitors trying to court his wife. After careful strategy, testing, and reuniting with hisRead MoreOdysseus, An Unconventional Hero Depicted in The Odyssey Essay1935 Words   |  8 Pagesmythology, a hero is one who values glory above life itself and honorably dies in the battle during his prime period of his life. After the gods and demi-god of Greece, heroes probably are the most admirable figures in society. However, Odysseus seems to defy the conventional definition of a hero. He is overwhelmed with tremendous obstacles and difficulty, often beyond that a normal man could endure but he determines to stay alive rather than die young. Achilles states in Book 11