Odyssey Essay

OOdysseus is considered one of the greatest mythological heroes of all time. Play "devil's advocate." Prove that Odysseus isn't the hero many believe him to be. PPossible Topics: HHis lack of loyalty to his family MMaking decisions based on his ego IInability to control his men WWithout divine intervention wouldn’t have succeeded

AAlthough having a flaw is part of being an epic hero, Odysseus places other people in peril because of the decisions he makes as a result of his ego. EExamples that I could use to prove this: YYelling at the Cyclops BBag of wind (would have to get quote online) DDestroys Troy and does not thank the gods

 Possible quotes:  “Cyclops if ever mortal man inquire / how you were put to shame and blinded, tell him / Odysseus, raider of cities, took your eye” (Homer ).  “I would not heed them in my glorying spirit, / but let my anger flare and yelled” (Homer ).  “Grant that Odysseus, raider of cities /... Lose all companions, and return /under strange sail to bitter days at home” (Homer )  Which quote would end up being repetitive?

 “I would not heed them in my glorying spirit, / but let my anger flare and yelled” (Homer ).  For this quote one could cite the diction “glorying spirit” but the context preceding the quote must state their ability to get away without the Cyclops knowing, and the explanation would also have to explain the curse.  “Grant that Odysseus, raider of cities /... Lose all companions, and return /under strange sail to bitter days at home” (Homer ).  For this quote one would need context showing Odysseus’ role in receiving this curse and the explanation would address how Odysseus did return to Ithaca as the Cyclops said he would.  For both one must show how others are placed in peril.

 Choose three minor characters in the epic and prove their importance to the understanding of the epic as a whole. You must relate each character's role to a specific theme or moral presented in the epic.  Possible themes:  An individual can overcome great odds if he or she uses intelligence  Dangers can be avoided if one does not fall victim to temptation  Loyalty is rewarded but disloyalty can lead to disaster

 Possible morals (can also show lack of in order to show what happens to those who don’t follow them):  Loyalty to home and family  Respect for the gods  Hospitality For the purpose of this exercise, we’re choosing a theme: Dangers can be avoided if one does not fall victim to temptation

TTheme: Dangers can be avoided if one does not fall victim to temptation PPossible topics – in this case minor characters: LLotus-eaters CCicones SScylla SSirens EEurylochus CCirce

TThe Lotus-eaters help to prove dangers can be avoided if one does not fall victim to temptation, illustrating their importance in the epic. EExamples: OOdysseus and his men avoid the temptation because the men listen to Odysseus TThe temptation is to lose hope of home TThe Lotus-eaters are only harmful if one takes and eats the flower OOdysseus refuses to leave any man behind Which example is more about Odysseus’ character than about avoiding the temptation?

PPossible quotes: ““Then I sent out two picked men and a runner / to learn what race of men that land sustained” ““...those who ate this honeyed plant, the Lotus, / never cared to report,nor to return: they longed to stay forever browsing on / that native bloom” ““... my oarsmen dipped their long oars in the surf, / and we moved out again on our seafaring” Which quote offers material you couldn’t more easily state yourself and provides material for you to analyze?

 It provides the danger that must be avoided, but also provides material to analyze: the use of the colon as a definition as well as the diction “browsing” which suggests carelessness and indolence.  The other two are plot only and will lead to repetition. How many ways can one mention Odysseus sent out three men?

CChoose three female characters from the epic and prove the significance of their roles in the epic. In other words, prove that without these females, the outcome of the epic would drastically change. PPossible topics: CCalypso PPenelope CCirce SScylla SSirens

 Circe, a powerful enchantress, had a significant impact on the epic because of her positive and negative roles.  Possible examples:  Circe turns the men into pigs  Circe keeps Odysseus and his men for many seasons  Circe requests Odysseus stay with her for a night  Circe warns Odysseus about the dangers he will face  Circe advises Odysseus to go to the Underworld  Which affects Odysseus and his men the least in the long run?

 This is one example and should not encompass an entire paragraph because one has to show how she positively and negatively affected the epic.  So one has to choose a quote that encompasses all the warnings or the results of the warnings; however, there isn’t one – this doesn’t cut it: “Listen to this, now, and a god will arm your mind” Or “Circe foresaw for us and shared with me”

 Circe warns Odysseus of the Sirens where “there are bones/of dead men rotting in a pile beside them” (Homer ), Charybdis “who lurks below/to swallow down the dark sea tide” (Homer ), and Scylla whose heads have “triple serried rows of fangs and deep gullets of black death” (Homer ).  Each quote offers possibilities for analysis, which can show the danger she wishes them to avoid.

 Choose your examples wisely to avoid simply retelling the plot.  Do not transition with plot; transition with ideas.  Relate back to what you are trying to prove after each example – don’t save that effort for the end of the paragraph.