The odyssey study guide contains a biography of homer, literature essays, a complete etext, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. Students familiar with some of the legends of the odyssey but new to the epic itself might be surprised to see that the section on the lotuseaters is only about twentyfive lines long 9. Jan 28, 2014 i need to find 10 examples of literary devices in book 3 of the odyssey and 10 more in book 4 of the odyssey. In book 15 of homers odyssey, we return to the story of telemachus, who has been searching for his long lost father, odysseus. Athena leaves behind a disguised odysseus, finally returning to ithaca, and goes to bring telemachus home in book 15 of homers the odyssey.
In an oral literary culture, mnemonic devices become important shortcuts to aid the poets memory. Buy the odyssey penguin classics rev ed by homer, rieu, dominic, jones, peter, rieu, e. 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. In that same verse, athena is referred to brighteyes pallas and the brighteyed goddess. Whereas the iliad tells the story of the rage of achilles, the strongest hero in the greek army, the odyssey focuses on a man. Themes of the odyssey research papers themes of the odyssey research papers delve into literature project with format requirements and a specific edition of the text required. The prince sets sail for home discussion questions 1. The odyssey, homers epic poem about the decadeslong journey of trojan war hero odysseus, includes themes such as cunning vs. Athena the chapter begins with telemachus reaching eumaeuss hut. Among the most noteworthy elements of the text are its nonlinear plot, and the influence on events of choices made by women and slaves, besides the actions. The theme of love in the odyssey and odysseus 727 words. Learn odyssey literary terms books 11 with free interactive flashcards. Cliffsnotes on homers the odyssey cliffsnotes literature. These themes are conveyed with the use of a few key literary devices, including poemswithinapoem and flashback narration.
Hartwig the odyssey literary analysis is a good leader classified as one who personally gains a lot or one who benefits his or her community at large. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of the odyssey and what it means. Many characters in the odyssey display hubris, the arrogance of overweening pride. These conventions include focus on a hero of cultural or national importance who has many adventures, a wide geographic scope with many settings, battles requiring heroic deeds, possibly an extended journey, and the involvement of supernatural beings such as gods. Though it sweeps across many themes and aspects of human nature, the odyssey is broadly framed as a revenge story. In this lesson, learn about the themes of this famous greek work. If you were odysseus, would you have revealed yourself to the people or followed athenas orders and stayed hidden. Homer has touched on a universal theme, the lure of oblivion through drugs. The odyssey and its themes homers great literary classic, the odyssey, represents and illustrates many emotional and mental values. The odyssey was written in a poetic dialect of greeka literary amalgam of aeolic greek, ionic greek, and other ancient greek dialects and comprises 12,110 lines of dactylic hexameter. Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans. She tells telemachus he must hurry home to ithaca before the suitors succeed in winning his mothers hand. In the opening of that book, the goddess athene goes to lacedaemon. The iliad is confined geographically in ways that the odyssey is not.
Consider a representative example, from when odysseus praises alcinous bard. The poet invokes the muse to help him tell the story of odysseus. The basic form of narrative in the odyssey is very strongly oriented towards imagery. The odyssey is an epic poem and can be understood through the lens of archetypal criticism which explores themes that are based on heroism and the protagonist odysseus is an epic hero who undergoes a tenyear journey to return to ithaca. The odyssey, on the other hand, covers much of the known and some of the unknown world of the time. Cliffsnotes on homers the odyssey cliffsnotes literature guides baldwin, stanley p on. Athena travels to sparta, where she finds telemachus and pisistratus, nestors son. A term, used to chracterize a person or a thing, usually repeated frequently. Then write another epic simile that conveys the threat she poses to them. Themes of the odyssey research papers paper masters. Themes are the fundamental and often universal ideas explored in a literary work. The more complicated a character is, the more he or she engages these major themes.
The odyssey tells the story of odysseus as he tries to get home after the trojan war has ended. The major themes in the odyssey are especially significant because they serve to form the moral and ethical constitution of most of the characters. Epithet apostrophe alliteration assonance consonance simile metaphor imagery hyperbole verbal irony dramatic irony character foil parallel structure repetition personification foreshadowing flashback allusion end rhyme any help you could give me would be great. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Years after the end of the trojan war, the greek hero odysseus still hasnt come home to ithaka. Athena flies to lacedaemon and tells telemachus to come back to ithaca. Choose from 500 different sets of literary terms odyssey book 4 literature flashcards on quizlet. Northrop frye explains the value of archetypal literary criticism in helping modern readers appreciate the. So today were taking a look at some of the most popular themes explored in the world of books, through some specific literary theme examples. An epithet is a descriptive phrase that presents a particular trait of a person or thing.
World literature research papers on the themes within homers the odyssey can be written on a number of very interesting topics. The grace of the witch page 916 literary analysis skillbuilder epithets and epic similes. Choose from 500 different sets of odyssey literary terms books 11 flashcards on quizlet. The odyssey and its themes essay 709 words bartleby. Homer lets us know right away that odysseus is being held as a willing sex captive on the island of the goddess kalypso. One of the questions often asked about a work of literature is whether the principal characters grow or develop as the story progresses. I ended her book wanting to be a student in her class. Cliffsnotes on homers the odyssey cliffsnotes literature guides. Theres nothing better than when deep joy holds sway throughout the realm and banqueters up and down the palace sit in ranks, enthralled to hear the bard, and before them all, the tables heaped with bread and meats, and drawing wine. In both the iliad and odyssey, homer repeatedly uses some mnemonic devices, words and phrases designed to be easier to remember, and this line is one of the most often repeated. Learn literary terms odyssey book 4 literature with free interactive flashcards. If the iliad is about strength, the odyssey is about cunning, a difference that becomes apparent in the very first lines of the epics. All of these values can be classified under three different main themes that are constant throughout the epic tale. 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.
Composed around 700 bc, the odyssey is one of the earliest epics still in existence and, in many ways, sets the pattern for the genre, neatly fitting the definition of a primary epic that is, one that grows out of oral tradition. Litcharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in the odyssey, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work. Even odysseus, who is in the end reunited with the devoted penelope and his loving son, telemachus, and who is reconciled with father laertes, suffers for a decade before reaching that point. Should telemachus have left menelaus home when athena commanded him to or should.
Jul 18, 2017 the odyssey book summary in under five minutes. She warns him that some of the suitors will try to ambush and kill him on his way home. Literary devices of the odyssey book summaries, test. The odyssey by homer book 1 summary and analysis youtube.
In the odyssey, homer employs most of the literary and poetic devices associated with epics. The reader learns about the characters through the themes. The odyssey and the iliad helped establish several conventions of the epic. That night, as the suitors sleep, odysseus and telemachus lock up most of the weapons as part of their plan. She warns him that some of the suitors will try to ambush and kill him on his way home, and tells him to avoid all the islands.
Discussion of themes and motifs in homers the odyssey. In the very first line, an epithet is used to describe odysseus as stormtossed great odysseus. Tone the authors attitude towards his subject calypso p. She also warns him of the ambush that they have set and explains how to avoid it. The theme of spiritual growth is central to the odyssey, especially as it relates to telemachus and odysseus. From broad, sweeping concepts, like love or death, to more particular ideas, like coming of age or good vs.
This revenge is deeply cathartic and comes across as more wellearned because of the trials to which odysseus was subjected. After fighting in the brutal trojan war, odysseus travels the sea in hopes of returning to ithaca, his homeland, and his wife and son, penelope and telemachus. She also talks with students about creating book lists of books to investigate, challenges to read 20 books a semester she considers a book to be about 250 pages, which makes it more doable for students, and having students share their reading. Telemachus goes to sleep, and soon after penelope comes to question the strange visitor, and she and odysseus the.