Odysseus Reoccurring Themes In Homer's The Odyssey

Towards the end of the journeys it becomes evident that the kingdom will be in good hands once Odysseus dies. Telemachus shows strong potential to step into his fathers place and follow with his father’s leadership. He shows his desire to take his fathers place as he states “Antonio’s, you might not like my answer, but I would happily be king, if Zeus conferred the prize,” (432), “All I insist on is that I rule our house and rule the slave my father won for me,” (433). Telemachus is trying to follow in the footsteps of his father, showing that Ithaca will have another strong leader once his father passes away. He believes that his dad has made many sacrifices in order to build a strong community and Telemachus wants to maintain this after his dad passes away, carrying on the

      During the book it seems that even a goddess, such as Athene, does not know what to do with somebody as incompetent, and inexperienced as Telemachus.  Athene toys with some ideas and then finally decides to get Telemachus to go to Sparta.  Perhaps it is this journey that finally gives Telemachus a chance to mature and see the world.  Through this journey, Telemachus' first, he sees many new sights and encounters new situations. He is humbled when he sees the palace of Menelaos and his most beautiful

(2) Another outcome of Athena’s encouragement is Telemachus’ development of eloquence. At first, he is tentative and inexperienced at using his loquaciousness on the suitors and Ithacans, but he soon becomes an expert orator when speaking to Menelaus. After Athena’s inspiration, Telemachus finally confronts the courters and complains about their insolence. He delivers a scolding speech, which prompts them to be “amazed that [he] can speak with so much daring” (1. 439). His loquaciousness surprises the suitors, as they have never heard him audaciously advocate for his beliefs. However, his complaints do not leave a lasting effect on the courters, as they immediately begin to “dance and s[ing]” (1. 480). Telemachus then becomes tentative, and eventually succumbs and does not reprimand them again. Thus, his hesitation and amateurism prohibits him from completely inducing them to leave. Moreover, he is unsuccessful in rousing the Ithacans to retaliate against the suitors. Telemachus attempts to make an inspiring speech to persuade the Ithacans to fight against the courters, but instead, he provokes “pity [to] seize [the Ithacans]” (2. 88). The response is the opposite of what the young prince desired, and this failure proves Telemachus is still a neophyte at utilizing his eloquence. At Menelaus’ house, Telemachus matures and becomes an effective and influential speaker. Menelaus offers three magnificent stallions to Telemachus, but he

Throughout the course of The Odyssey, Athena provides Telemachus with the courage and strength necessary to become a man. Athena often gives Telemachus a limited amount of guidance, allowing him to exercise his free will. However, she frequently offers her wisdom, raising his bravery. Furthermore, once Telemachus proves himself as a man, she lends her support in battle. Through both assistance and advice, Athena guides Telemachus from boyhood to manhood.

Just as The Odyssey focuses on Odysseus as a mighty soldier it also progressively hints that Telemachus will

The suitors have come into his home and eaten, drunk, and used all of the things Odysseus’ payed for. Telemachus claims he will “cry out to the everlasting gods,” so that they may help him expel the suitors and regain control of his house (Homer 1.162). These men are abusing the Greek value of xenia and overstaying their welcome, which is causing Telemachus to become angry and lose patience. This will to ask the gods for guidance shows that the suitors have taken it far enough and their actions will not be tolerated any longer. The actions that Odysseus has displayed while he was gone at war have been honorable and courageous. These values transfer to his son Telemachus when the suitors invade their house. At the assembly of the suitors, Telemachus, like his father, is stern and to the point with the men about how he feels about their actions. Even though his father is “worlds away, dead or alive,” he still wants to act as if he is right by his side (Homer 1.144). Odysseus is respected by many people just like his son, this is because of his accomplishments and his legacy in war and back in Ithaca. Even still, Telemachus respects his mother and her actions, the greek value of xenia, and the values that his father has instilled in

But come, send us off to bed. It's time to rest, time to joy the sweet relief of sleep.””(133. 325-331) This quote is essential to the character of Telemachus as it helps to show how he grew mentally from a boy into a man. He was referred to as “clear-sighted,” which signifies how he evolved from a young boy with clouded judgement into a wise and clever prince with a clear mind. By the end of book four, Telemachus was well on his way to becoming a great leader and ruler like Odysseus, but he still had quite a way to

He is seeing how a leader should act for a successful kingdom. The first moment that Telemachus saw King Nestor, he showed that he could be a king just by the way he was talking. Telemachus greeted King Nestor by saying, “Nestor, son of Neleus, Achaea’s pride and glory-/ where are we from, you ask? I will tell you all” (3.110.87-88). This shows respect and shows that Telemachus can be respectful when talking to someone with such high social class.

The Odyssey is filled with emotion and adventure. Homer’s ability to show and give the reader a visual of each and every scene gives the story its unbelievable significance. To all the people who read his work there is something to be captured within every sentence, each one different in its own, unique way. Through tales of courage and defeat, friendship and love this book tells of all the values within the life of a single, solitary man, and his journey to attain what is true and dear to him. And this journey is known to all of us as The Odyssey. The Odyssey is a test of human devotion and trust through the gods, the mortals, and the obstacles through which they venture. No matter where they go or what they do, humans are tested for

Through his journey to Pylos and Sparta, Telemachus, who was born into a very privileged and high ranking family, learns how to use his inherited social status and connections for his own interests, which will help him mature into manhood. Telemachus was never old enough to remember what it was like when his father was around. Since Odysseus left, he has lived with his mom and nurse. However, for three years, he has been overwhelmed by suitors, who have taken over his house. Odysseus was never able to show Telemachus how to stand up for himself. Telemachus has been less than passive when going about doing things to get what he wants. When Athena comes and tells him that his father is going to come home, he realizes he has been ignoring what he knows is wrong, such as the suitors throwing parties every night, and that he needs to stop them. He doesn’t have any idea of how he is going to find his father when Athena comes, but he along his way finds that he has many resources and connections at hand that will allow him to find out what happened to his dad. Athena, disguised as Mentor, an old friend of Odysseus, encourages Telemachus to talk to Nestor. "Telemachus, no more shyness, this is not the time!/ We sailed the seas for this, for news of your father —// So go right up to Nestor...// Press him yourself to tell the whole truth:/ he'll never lie — the man is far too wise"(3.16-22) Here, Athena is encouraging Telemachus to be assertive, to get what the needs to know to find his father. Telemachus responds, "How can I greet him, Mentor, even approach the king?/ I'm hardly adept at subtle conversation./ Someone my age might feel shy, what's more,/ interrogating an older man."/ (3.23-27) He is intimidated. The irony is that he himself is of the higher class, and if Odysseus had been home, he would be accustomed to these interactions. This is Odysseus learning that he has high social status and can enjoy the privileges he was born with, such as being able to talk to the king. While there, Telemachus learns of the fate of the family of Agamemnon. Agamemnon came home to find his wife in love with Aegisthus, and together they kill him. Orestes, one of Agamemnon’s sons, avenges his father’s murder and kills

The twenty first century author Alexandra Iftodi Zamfir (1986- ) argues that “architecture and settings are more important in Gothic fiction than in any other type of literature…all architectural elements are closely connected with Gothic protagonists and the plot.” (Zamfir. 2011: 15). This critical essay will first consider and analyse this statement and investigate the style, language and form of the American author Edgar Allan Poe’s (1809-1849) macabre and Gothic fictional prose The Fall of the House of Usher (1839) (Poe. 1987: 1). I shall present and argue how the artistic effects deployed in the narrative structure create an atmosphere of tension and suspense, through the exploration of architectural space demonstrated in a close

These two actions show the beginning of Telemachus' maturity. When Athena came in disguise to help Telemachus, the name Mentor was appropriately fitting. Before Mentor approached Telemachus, no one was trying to control the suitors or make them leave. But, the advise Mentor gave Telemachus encouraged him to take action against the shameless suitors. He proves to be the man of the house by standing up to his mother so he could address the crowd. He is learning how to take control of a situation, which he does not stand for, and how to stand up for himself and his family.

In the Odyssey Telemachus has varying relationships with his mother, Penelope, the suitors, and his nurse, Eurycleia; a mother and son but also head of household and subordinate member of the household, a young boy and superior men, and a son and mother but also a master and servant. In the poem, Telemachus must find out what became of his father, Odysseus, who never returned home from the Trojan war. Meanwhile suitors from various places try to force his mother, Penelope, into marriage while they deplete all of Odysseus’ resources and destroy his house. With all of these complicated situations, Telemachus must take on a variety of different roles depending on who he’s interacting with. Based on the text, Telemachus has superior, strained, and complex relationships with his mother, the suitors, and Eurycleia.

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is a foundation that supports other organizations who share its guiding belief that every life has equal value. Located in Seattle, Washington, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation have an asset trust endowment of 36.2 billion dollars as of September 30, 2012. It supports grantees in all 50 states and 100 countries internationally in areas of global development, global health, United States program, and a smaller charitable support initiative sector. Bill Gates, Melinda Gates, and Warren Buffett give direction to CEO Jeff Raikes and co-chairmen William H. Gates Sr. regarding grant allocation and investments. (Gates Foundation)

Homer’s The Odyssey is home to many classics within its pages. From the Cyclops, Scylla and a myriad of other creatures, The Odyssey is a classic in every sense of the word and its influence on modern day culture is plain to see. However, it wasn’t just the monsters that drew people into Homer’s tale, it was also characters. Describing the tale of Odysseus, who after winning a ten-year long war thanks to his quick wits and high intelligence. The story delves into his journey on trying to get back to his wife, Penelope and child, Telemachus. For twenty years, Odysseus sailed, fought and outsmarted many obstacles, losing most of his men in the process. And when he finally reaches his home, suitors trying to court his sorrowful wife, who