On mount olympus, athena meets with the other godsall except poseidonto make another appeal on behalf of odysseus. Ending to a conclusion paragraph about the odyssey. Athenas grove, where odysseus prays for to athena for hospitality from the phaeacians. Odysseus learns many important lessons while sailing home to ithaca from troy. Homers epic poem the odyssey tells the story of odysseus, greek hero of the trojan war, and his adventures at sea during his travel home. As he meets these new characters, he experiences the different forms of lack of hospitality. Circe is helpful once more, providing supplies and warnings about the journey to begin the next dawn. The essay is about the major themes that homer expressed through the odyssey. Nov 27, 2012 the guesthost relationship, powered by the observance of xenia, as a social institution was probably something familiar in the life of the contemporary audience of the odyssey and its poet.
In return for their hospitality, odysseus tells them and us everything thats happened to him since the end of the trojan war, which is this. How is xenia shown in the first four books of the odyssey. Mar 20, 2011 the essay is about the major themes that homer expressed through the odyssey. If things are worth discussing, as i always feel strongly that the odyssey is, then i will definitely do just that. This epic tells the story of one mans voyage home despite a series of antagonists that make the journey incredibly long and grueling for the hero, odysseus. Three times and four times happy those danaans were who died then in wide troy land, bringing favor to the sons of atreus, as i wish i too had died at that time and met my destiny on the day when the greatest number of trojans threw their bronzeheaded weapons upon me, over the body of perished achilleus, and i. Considering that the odyssey is one of the earliest examples of western literature. Despite its incredible length, the iliad is really just about two things. Usually, when mythic heroes undertake the dangerous voyage to the underworld, its for the. The poet invokes the muse to help him tell the story of odysseus. Odysseus sets out for the palace with a prayer to athena for hospitality from the. If you could just outline a couple on point it would be much appreciated.
In being mortified that a guest might still be standing at the doors, he shows his humility and servitude towards his guest. He asks odysseus at last to tell him who he is, where he is from, and where he is going. Book one the poem begins with an invocation, or prayer, to the muse. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. With a prayer to athena for hospitality from the phaeacians, odysseus sets out for the palace. While the phenomenon of xenia had religious features and explanation, it was a rule that guaranteed safety to both parties at times when physical aggression between people was an everyday norm. Books 24 tell how odysseus returns to ithaca and is finally reunited with his wife.
Really long answer coming through in some ways unnecessarily, in others incredibly necessarily. They show such disrespect for their host that any decent man would be disgusted at the sight such disgraceful behaviour and this abuse. The odyssey guided questions used for class discussions. Ten years have passed since the fall of troy, and the greek hero odysseus still has not returned to his kingdom in ithaca. Odysseus sailed forth to the river ocean, which encircles the earth, and offered the proper sacrifice on the shore. When the suitors retire for the night, telemachus and odysseus remove the arms as planned. Check out our revolutionary sidebyside summary and analysis. Calypso helps odysseus get ready as a friend book 6. True to his word, odysseus returns to aeaea for elpenors funeral rites. Character analysis in the odyssey characters in the odyssey are defined by the qualities that they represent for greek society. What is a lesson odysseus learns while sailing from troy. Xenia is presented in books 14 of the odyssey through the hospitality telemachus gives and receives, and the response to their hospitality. In book 1, telemachus shows examples of good xenia.
The poem is the story of odysseus, king of ithaca, who wanders for 10 years although the action of the poem covers only the final six weeks trying to get home after the trojan war. Epics begin in medias res in the middle of things and explore a vast world or universe, generally that involves mythological landscapes such as the home of the. Though the hero himself is still offstage in book one, we find. Ulysses in the country goes to the retirement of his. Book 1 book 2 book 3 book 4 book 5 book 6 book 7 book 8 book 9 book 10 book 11 book 12 book book 14 book 15 book 16 book 17 book 18 book 19 book 20 book 21 book 22 book 23 book 24 themes all themes fate, the gods, and free will piety, customs, and justice cunning, disguise, and selfrestraint memory and grief glory and honor. Eager to move on, odysseus receives an oxskin pouch from aeolus. Here begins the tale of the odyssey, as sung by the blind minstrel homer. Apr 01, 2011 one of the most important themes in the odyssey is the concept of xenia, which is the old greek word for hospitality. This type of hospitality was very unique and it played an important role in the ancient greek society. Throughout the odyssey there are many ongoing themes, but one of the most important themes of this story is the tradition of greek hospitality or xenia. Likewise, the hosts were expected to, well, be good hosts provide food and shelter. Click to copy the odyssey is divided into 24 books.
At pylos, telemachus and mentor athena in disguise witness an impressive religious ceremony in which dozens of bulls are sacrificed to. The most significant lesson teaches odysseus the dangers of hubris, or excessive pride in oneself odysseus. He does not stay with calypso talks to her about how much he loves penelope and. About the odyssey the odyssey summary character list glossary themes quotes and analysis books 14 books 5 8 books 912 books 16 books 1720 books 2124 symbols, allegory and motifs metaphors and similes irony imagery the fractal structure of epics literary elements related links essay questions quiz 1 quiz 2 quiz 3 quiz 4 citations. Books 512 describe the adventures the hero encounters on his way home. Oct 10, 20 xenia is presented in books 14 of the odyssey through the hospitality telemachus gives and receives, and the response to their hospitality. The odyssey guided questions used for class discussions book 1 discussion questions. The development of xenia and its role in the odyssey a. It relates historical stories with fantastical elements of myth, legend, and divine intervention.
Sing to me of the man, muse, the man of twists and turns driven time and again off course, once he had plundered the. Homer uses xenia, the greek practice of hospitality to strange. Jul 18, 2017 the odyssey book summary in under five minutes. Ive finished the other 4 paragraphs, but i cant figure out how to tie off the conclusion.
Emily r wilson a lean, fleetfooted translation that recaptures homers nimble gallop and brings an ancient epic to new life. He does not stay with calypso talks to her about how much he loves penelope and also does not get bathed in front of the girls. The odyssey essay example argumentative essays on homer. Rather than creating unique characters with believable human characteristics, homer constructs the ultimate hero in odysseus, the archetypal faithful wife in penelope, and the portraits of temperamental gods as they. Some of these antagonists include greek gods, mythical creatures, and even a slothful. Throughout odysseus absence the suitors are treated well, in response to this the suitors abuse xenia and refuse to leave when asked in book one. Summary and analysis book 10 the bewitching queen of aeaea. Significance and consequences of xenia in the odyssey the. Indeed, it is worked into the odyssey as a major theme, and comes to influence the plot in significant ways. Summary and analysis book 12 the cattle of the sun. Written in iambic pentameter verse, wilsons odyssey is a lean, fleetfooted translation that recaptures homers nimble gallop and brings an ancient epic to new life. First the greeks must get past the sirens whose irresistible songs lure sailors into their islands coastal reefs. The first four describe the difficulties faced by telemachus, the son of odysseus. The guesthost relationship, powered by the observance of xenia, as a social institution was probably something familiar in the life of the.
What are some of the most common examples of metaphors in. Good and bad xenia in the odyssey by homer 892 words. Hospitality called xeniawas a big deal in the ancient world. Home english literature classic books the odyssey book xxi navigate here introduction book i book ii book iii book iv book v book vi book vii book viii book ix book x book xi book xii book xiii book xiv book xv book xvi book xvii book xviii book xix book xx book xxi book xxii book xxiii book xxiv. Jul 24, 2017 telemachus and pisistratus arrive in sparta to seek news of odysseus.
First, the greek concept of xenia, or hospitality to strangers. Odysseus finally reveals his identity to alkinoos and the phaiakians. Xenia from homers iliad and odysseus write my essay i. Odysseuss adventure in homers epic, the odyssey, follows him on a journey where he meets an array of new people while traveling to new land. May 19, 2012 in the odyssey xenia represents a civilised society. What is a lesson odysseus learns while sailing from. Homers epic poem the odyssey tells the story of odysseus, greek hero of the trojan war. Indeed there are many valid themes in the odyssey, but the three most compelling are xenia, piety, and loyalty. Telemachus and pisistratus arrive in sparta to seek news of odysseus. Telemachus, the focus of the first four books of the odyssey, provides an early example of good hospitality as both a host and a guest. In the odyssey xenia represents a civilised society. Home english literature classic books the odyssey book xxiv navigate here introduction book i book ii book iii book iv book v book vi book vii book viii book ix book x book xi book xii book xiii book xiv book xv book xvi book xvii book xviii book xix book xx book xxi book xxii book xxiii book xxiv. The odyssey books 14 summary and analysis gradesaver. We learn that poseidon, god of the sea, holds a grudge though we dont know exactly why against odysseus and is making the guys voyage home a pretty difficult one.
Emily wilson this translation will change the way the poem is read in english. Xenia, the greek concept of hospitality and the guesthost relationship, was, according to m. Hmm well the odyssey was certainly filled with many metaphors and similes that homer liked to dabble with in order to really portray emotion to his audience. For one thing, it maintains the comic and domestic flavor that many critics find characteristic of the odyssey. The odyssey by homer book 5 summary and analysis youtube. In modern times, hospitality is something we rarely think of, and the first thing that comes to mind is the hotel industry, but in ancient greece, xenia was not about hotels, or just about etiquette, it was a way of life with many benefits in a world that was still mostly savage. Here is this stranger, i do not know who he is, come wandering suppliant here to my house from the eastern or western people. It is a practice extended to all strangers who appeared at the door and is of great importance violation is a crime. Epics begin in medias res in the middle of things and explore a vast world or universe, generally that involves mythological landscapes such as the home of the gods. The notion of hospitality is so strong in the world of the odyssey that guests can even be considered part of ones family. The fighting of book 22 is the only pitched battle in the odyssey, and while it cannot help but recall the iliad, which abounds in bloodshed, the description remains thoroughly odyssean. First elpenor spoke, requesting cremation and burial.
Norton published emily wilsons translation of the odyssey. The odyssey is an epic poem that served an educational purpose for those who heard it. Zeus finally dispatches hermes to inform calypso that she must release odysseus from her island. In it, odysseus tells his king alcinous all about his fantastic and unusual trip to the underworld in which he did just that. Odyssey, epic poem in 24 books traditionally attributed to the ancient greek poet homer.
Good and bad xenia in the odyssey by homer 892 words 4 pages more than a cup of tea offering a hot beverage, food, the safety of your home, or entertainment are all examples of presenting good xenia to guests. Then teiresias, who predicted the homeward voyage, the battle with the suitors, and a strange journey to men who know no sea. The odyssey books 58 summary and analysis gradesaver. In book 9 of homers the odyssey, we learn more about his travels after the trojan war ended and why he still has not made. Essay on the odyssey the odyssey begins in medias res in the middle of things. Penelope, to put an end to the solicitation of the suitors. About the odyssey the odyssey summary character list glossary themes quotes and analysis books 14 books 58 books 912 books 16 books 1720 books 2124 symbols, allegory and motifs metaphors and similes irony imagery the fractal structure of epics literary elements related links essay questions quiz 1 quiz 2 quiz 3 quiz 4 citations. Good and bad xenia in the odyssey by homer 892 words bartleby. What is the significance of the earlier narrative drift on orestes.
The odyssey is one of two major ancient greek epic poems attributed to homer. In it are captured all the winds that might drive the ships off. Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans. Book ix of the odyssey is called nekuia, which is an ancient greek rite used to summon and question ghosts. Oct 21, 2009 xenia in books 1 5 of the odyssey by homer. Finley in the world of odysseus, a powerful institution in ancient greek times which solidified relationships between peoples and created alliances 100. Though the hero himself is still offstage in book one, we find out about his situation by listening in on a conversation that takes place on mount olympus. When guests showed up, they were expected to be good guests bring gifts and behave themselves. The concept of xenia, described in homers odyssey as the guesthost.