Essays on Poems

818

Coming Together in The Odyssey

2 pages / 1098 words

Near the beginning of Book 23 in The Odyssey, the reader is struck with a scene so subtle in its beauty that it seems unreal, especially following the brutal slaughter of the suitors and serving women. In the complex and tender passage describing the reunion...

The Odyssey The Reunion

819

From Greeks to The Outside World: The Experience of Odysseus's Journey

2 pages / 1023 words

The nature of a civilized society or person, rather than an uncivilized one, depends on perspective. Mores that one culture holds dear potentially offend others. Wise travelers remain aware of location before flashing a casual thumbs up or blowing their noses in public–although commonplace in...

Odysseus The Odyssey

820

A Clash of Cultures in The Odyssey

3 pages / 1621 words

Generalizations and associations seem to permeate the culture of every human society. If this were not the case, there would be no need for the sociological study of ethnocentricity. The Odyssey of Homer strongly exhibits this quality of judging cultures and other peoples based on...

The Odyssey

821

The Immortality of Death: a Study of The Theme of Death in Homer's Literature

4 pages / 1722 words

The idea of glory is an inseparable cloud surrounding every epic story. All characters and actions are geared towards achieving unending honor and glory. To Homer and his works, the one action that best captures everlasting glory is a heroic death. Though the ideas of...

The Odyssey

822

Resembling Human: The Impracticability of The Odyssean Ideal

3 pages / 1334 words

The name “Odysseus” resonates in the creak of opening doors in the city of Troy, the murmur of waves, and the song of the Sirens. Over the course of the epic tale, Odysseus’ heroism proves far more nuanced than the simple feats of his success...

The Odyssey

823

The Revelation of Odysseus Weakness in The Odyssey

3 pages / 1356 words

In lines 23.183-204 of the Odyssey Odysseus is trying to prove to his wife that he really is himself, and that he is not a manifestation of a trick being played on her by the gods. Penelope has tricked Odysseus into betraying himself to her...

The Odyssey

824

Odysseus' Journey Across Time from Dante and Tennyson's Perspective

6 pages / 2998 words

“Sing in me, Muse, and through me tell the story Made-to-order essay as fast as you need it Each essay is customized to cater to your unique preferences + experts online Get my essay Of that man skilled in all ways of contending, The wanderer,...

Odysseus The Odyssey

825

A Study of How Human is Limited in The Odyssey

4 pages / 1963 words

When reading the works of Homer, we find that an ever-present theme in his poetry is the relative insignificance of mortals and their creations. Relative, that is, to the much grander scale of the natural world. Yet in Homeric terms the natural world is much...

The Odyssey

826

A Study of The Friendship Between Odysseus and Athena

3 pages / 1471 words

The characters in Homer’s The Odyssey are forever at the mercy of the Gods, those immortals who live in the heights of Mount Olympus, and who, on occasion, walk the lands of earth. Throughout the epic poem the main characters are visited quite often at...

Odysseus The Odyssey

827

Analysis of Odysseus' Storytelling in The Odyssey

2 pages / 1157 words

One of the most valued skills one can possess is the art of storytelling. Man can express himself through means of song, art, dance, and poetry—but he must have a story to express himself. After the Trojan War ended, Odysseus journeys home facing various obstacles...

Odysseus The Odyssey

828

The Theme of Sleep and Death as Depicted in The Odyssey by Homer

2 pages / 1036 words

In the Odyssey, Homer uses the idea of sleep to represent the idea of death, which makes the struggle to remain conscious and the struggle to remain alive one in the same struggle. Odysseus is constantly fighting to remain alert, to avoid monotony. It is...

The Odyssey

829

A Study of The Birds of Prey as Presented in The Odyssey

2 pages / 1043 words

The eagle’s eyes roam the landscape from its perch, searching for its quarry from above. Suddenly a rustle of movement captures its full attention: a dove, perching lightly on the branch of an olive tree. Immediately, the eagle rises from its own branch and dives...

The Odyssey

830

Analysis of The Epic Style in The Odyssey

4 pages / 2065 words

Previous tradition held that Homer, the ancient, blind poet who sang of a heroic age that was long past even in his own day, composed this magnificent poem. Contemporary literary theory disputes not only Homer’s claim to complete authority over the poems, but even the...

The Odyssey

831

Female Characters Subverted by Men in The Odyssey

2 pages / 1101 words

The portrayal of women in classical Greek literature is varied but points towards underlying attitudes regarding their status. Within The Odyssey there are countless representations of women with different motives and personalities, but these female characters are always subverted by men. Perhaps the most vivid...

Odysseus The Odyssey

832

The Origin of Heroism: Telemachus's Character Transformation in The Odyssey

2 pages / 844 words

The first four books of Homer’s The Odyssey depict Telemachus’ transformation from an immature, frightened child into an intelligent adult as he comes to encompass qualities that the ancient Greeks sought in heroes: an adherence to the rules of xenia, a loyalty to one’s family,...

Heroism The Odyssey

833

Cunning as a Defining Trait in The Characters of The Odyssey

3 pages / 1540 words

At its core, The Odyssey is a story that centers around the cunning of its main characters. Throughout the epic poem, both Odysseus and his wife, Penelope, are known for their mental capabilities. Odysseus is constantly referred to as “godlike,” and Penelope is called “circumspect.”...

The Odyssey

834

A Study of The Key Themes in Book 111 of The Odyssey

1 page / 780 words

THE ODYSSEY BOOK III: THE LORD OF THE WESTERN APPROACHES Made-to-order essay as fast as you need it Each essay is customized to cater to your unique preferences + experts online Get my essay Book Three illustrates a number of important ongoing themes of The...

The Odyssey

835

How Homer's Odyssey Emphasizes The Importance of Xenia in Greek Society

2 pages / 989 words

Living in a major American city, we have no trouble identifying that those in need are all around us. People ask for spare change on the subway so that they can get a meal; people hold cardboard signs that read, “Anything helps.” Throughout history, the...

The Odyssey

836

Different Morals in The Odyssey, The Epic of Gilgamesh, and Orpheus and Eurydice

4 pages / 2076 words

The moral message of a piece of literature reflects the culture which the author belongs to. The three pieces of work here progress in chronological order. The Epic of Gilgamesh is from the early days of human civilization, by the ancient Mesopotamian city-state Uruk. Homer’s...

Epic of Gilgamesh The Odyssey