Odyssey 5 Essay, Research Paper

In Homer s heroic poem, The Odyssey, assorted facets of the ancient Greeks are revealed through the actions, characters, secret plan, and give voicing. Homer uses his accomplishment as a dramatist, poet, and philosopher to inform the audience of the history, prides, and accomplishments of the ancient Greeks, and, besides, to state of the many values and the multi-faceted civilization of the ancient Grecian caste. The Greeks had legion values and imposts, of which the primary rules are the mental features of an person, the physical features of an person, the diversions and pastimes the Greeks enjoyed, the manner in which a host treats a invitee, the spiritual facets, and eventually, the Greeks position on life, revealed in The Odyssey which shows and defines their civilization

One of the most outstanding of the mental features the ancient Greeks valued was the inventiveness and the humor of an person. This can be discerned from The Odyssey because of many cases and events in which Odysseus uses his encephalon s humor and other fast ones to acquire himself out of a hazardous state of affairs. Examples of this are when he tells Polyphemos the Cyclopes that his name is Nobody, when he overcomes Circe s thaumaturgy with the aid of moly, when he fills his work forces s ears with wax and ties himself to a station so that he and his work forces can acquire by the Sirens safely, and when he disguises himself as a mendicant and uncover his true individuality to few. Odysseus is by far the best of mortal work forces for advocate and narratives ( Bk. XIII, 297 298 ) . Besides, Odysseus is said to be able to fit a God in marbless and hocus-pocus ( Bk. XIII, 291 295 ) . Penelope, Odysseus married woman besides uses her humor and hocus-pocus to acquire herself out of state of affairss. An illustration of this is when she pretends to be weaving a shroud for Laertes, but really undoes at dark every bit much as she had done in the forenoon. Athene, the goddess of wisdom, provides another illustration of the use of humor and fast ones. Athene disguises Odysseus as a mendicant and besides surrounds him with a mist legion times so that his former familiarities will non see or acknowledge him.

Other important mental features that the Greeks valued are faithfulness and trueness. There are many, many illustrations of trueness and fidelity in The Odyssey. The four most important illustrations are Penelope, Eumaios, Philoitois, and Argos. Penelope is Odysseus faithful married woman who ne’er slept with anyone else besides Odysseus, even though she was tempted. She besides keeps herself trusting that Odysseus is still alive and will someday come place. Eumaios is the loyal pigman who helps Odysseus overcome the suers. Philoitois is the loyal oxeherd who besides helps Odysseus overcome the suers. Argos is the patient-hearted Canis familiaris ( Bk. XVII, 292 ) of Odysseus. Odysseus tests these persons ( except the Canis familiaris ) to make up one’s mind whether he can swear them or non. He besides tests other persons, such as the retainers, to happen if they are loyal to him or non.

Physical features were merely every bit of import to the Greeks as mental features. Strength was one of the more dominantly looked apon of the physical features. Strength was a common trial and was used to estimate a adult male s topographic point in the existent universe. Penelope used strength as a trial for the competition for the suers. The competition was to be able to threading Odysseus bow and shoot it accurately, the award ( matrimony of Penelope ) traveling to the 1 who takes the bow in his custodies, strings it with greatest easiness, and sends an arrow clean through all 12 axes ( Bk. XXI, 75 76 ) . Strength was besides a portion of the Phaiakian s competition. Strength was needed for the discus throwing ( which Odysseus excelled in ) , wrestling, and pugilism. Besides, the Greeks loved competition, proven by the fact that they urged on Odysseus and Iros to contend. And when they eventually saw blood, they went loony, express joying and heartening like it was the most exciting thing in the universe.

The Greeks enjoyed many diversions and interests, of which dance, vocalizing, and storytelling were dominant. The Phaiakians were known for their terpsichorean accomplishments, and as Odysseus said, admiration and awe cane to him when he watched the dance ( Bk. VIII, 382 384 ) . Singing was besides a well-loved diversion. Singers were good known and loved by all. As Odysseus said to Demodokos, Demodokos, above all persons beside I prize you ( Bk. VIII, 487 ) . The lone subsister of those who had plotted against Odysseus was Phemios, the vocalist of the suers. He survives because Odysseus allows him to populate because of his gift of voice from the Gods. As Telemachus says about the suers, This is all they think about, the lyre and the vocalizing ( Bk. 1, 159 ) . Storytelling is yet another virtuousness and is prized by Greeks. Menelaos Tells of his escapades to Telemachus, Odysseus tells of his escapades to the Phaiakians, and Odysseus Tells of his false escapades to Eumaios. Another interest that the Greeks vitamin E

njoyed really much is banqueting, or in petroleum footings, feeding and imbibing. The suers ever eat and provide plentifulness, even though they eat Odysseus cowss and imbibe Odysseus vino. They have many imbibing competitions to see who can imbibe the most, and normally, at the terminal the contestants normally become bacchic. The suers ever have a desire for feeding and imbibing ( Bk. 1, 150 ) harmonizing to Telemachus.

The intervention of a invitee was really of import in the times of the ancient Greeks. It defined your societal category, and it besides helped you in favour with Zeus, who is the God of travellers and invitees. A broad scope of things can be classified as cordial reception, but the general thought is ever the same and can non alter. Hospitality was giving any alien nutrient, heat, shelter and comfort before inquiring inquiries such as their name, heritage, or agencies of transit. Hospitality besides meant an ear for every word and regard for every word as good. Besides, the host is responsible for being the auspices of the invitee while the guest resides at his place. Telemachus feels that he can non supply this for his male parent ( in pretense of a mendicant ) , and is hence ashamed. How can I take and entertain a alien invitee in my house? I myself am immature and have no religion in my custodies strength to support a adult male, if anyone else picks a wrangle with him ( Bk. XVI, 69 72 ) . Examples of good cordial reception are abundant throughout The Odyssey, such as when Athene goes to Telemachus in Ithaca, when Telemachus goes to Nestor, when Telemachus goes to Menelaos, when Odysseus goes to the Phaiakians, and when Odysseus goes to Eumaios. Presents at reaching are expected, but nowadayss at going are non ever present. However, in instance of a wealthy, generous, or friendly host, nowadayss, even those with incalculable and huge values can be exchanged.

The spiritual beliefs and facets of the ancient Grecian civilization are really defined and rigorous. The Greeks believed that the universe was watched over by Zeus and other Olympic Gods, and that these Gods decided their hereafter. They besides believed that the Gods volitions could be turned with forfeits. This is why Odysseus, Telemachus, and many, many other characters made so many forfeits to the Gods. These characters besides pray to the Gods so that the Gods can hear them and carry through their wants. The Greeks besides believed in life after decease in the underworld with Hades. Another spiritual facet of the Grecian civilization was prognostications. Prophecies and prophesiers were abundant, but the supply of accurate prognostications and Prophetss were much less abundant, and the demands for these were high, doing them scarce. The two chief Prophetss in The Odyssey were Teiresias and Theoklymenos. Teiresias was a dead prophesier who Odysseus went to confer with in the underworld. He prophesized most facets of Odysseus journey accurately and because of him, Odysseus was able to last his rovings. Theoklymenos was a prophesier from a household of Prophetss. He could prophesize rather accurately from bird signs, as shown when he prophesizes that Telemachus shall hold lordly power forever ( Bk. XV, 534 ) . Homer uses rather a few bird signs in The Odyssey, one in the beginning to warn the suers of Odysseus homecoming ( Bk. II, 146 154 ) , and two near the terminal, both to typify Odysseus victory over the suers.

The ancient Greeks had an optimistic position on life, a position that makes nice, happy terminations, but are unluckily non really realistic. The Greeks believed that in the terminal of any adversity or endurance, justness would emerge and demo its winning smiling to the victim. They believed that continuity and finding would come through in the terminal. The Greeks besides believed that in a conflict between good and evil, good will prevail in the terminal. The position that good victory versus immorality can be seen in the heroic poem when Odysseus ( good ) kills all of the suers ( bad ) against virtually impossible odds. The position that justness will emerge in the terminal is shown in The Odyssey when all unfaithful retainers and amahs are killed. The position of continuity and finding succeeding is proved by the fact that Odysseus who, after much agony, came at lest in the 20th twelvemonth back to his ain state ( Bk. XXIII, 101 102 ) survived all of his shipwrecks, onslaughts, and other hinderances and finally succeeds in coming back place.

Throughout The Odyssey, Greek values and the Grecian civilization are invariably shaped by the flow of the writer s pen, which narrates a narrative with an intricate secret plan. The heroic poem allows the contemporary populace know about the times when work forces fought with their custodies and their caputs, when the Gods dominated civilizations, and when love and fidelity meant something. The Odyssey is a great work of a great poet, Homer, who non merely captures the kernel of the ancient Greek spirit and civilization, but besides tells a narrative that can be passed down from coevals to coevals, without any fright of turning old.