StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...
Free

The Odyssey - Essay Example

Cite this document
Summary
The paper "The Odyssey" tells us about one of two major ancient Greek epic poems attributed to Homer. It is one of the oldest extant works of literature still widely read by modern audiences. As with the Iliad, the poem is divided into 24 books…
Download free paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER99% of users find it useful
The Odyssey
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "The Odyssey"

The Odyssey is a poetic piece written around the 8th BC and tells a story of a Greek soldier who fought in the ten-year Trojan War. The story is told in a poetic manner with more than 12,110 lines. The Song of Roland appears to be the first of the great French heroic poems. The patriotic ardor of the Song of Roland gives it a place as one of the earliest national poems of the contemporary world. Although, the two poems have different timelines and are written by different writers, the feudal social structure and heroism are major two facets that show similarities.  

Odyssey, who is the main protagonist is captured and held captive by Calypso; the daughter of Tethys seven years before he finally plans his escape by veiling himself and swimming across the sea naked. Calypso wanted to make him her immortal husband on the Ogygia, which was her private estate (5.223-232).  During that time, when Odyssey was in captivity, his kinsmen decide that he might have died during the war and several suitors began seducing his wife with the intention of marrying her. As a soldier in the Greek army, Odyssey was relatively wealthy, and many of the suitors to his wife had lived on his vast estate while consuming his wealth. Before his escape from captivity, Athena, who is Odyssey’s protector and the goddess discussed his fate with Zeus. Zeus was the king of the gods when his enemy god, Poseidon is absent from Mount Olympus.

The story of the Odyssey has some degree of relatedness to the Song of Roland, in terms of their literary composition. In the Song of Roland, the key protagonist is Roland, who is a French war hero. Roland leads the battle during the invasion of Spain during a war between the Christians and Muslims in the race to win over the Spaniards. Unlike Odyssey, the Muslims ambush Roland but he refuses to call for reinforcement from the Frankish army. His soldiers continue the fight; however, their number is smaller in comparison to the opponents. On sensing defeat, he blows the olifant to call for revenge from Charlemagne’s army. When the army arrives, they find Roland dead; apparently, he blew the olifant until his chest bursts. Interestingly, the story says that angels took his soul into paradise. Since Roland was fighting a Christian war, he is considered a martyr. On returning from the battle, Franks discovers that Ganelon, Roland’s uncle had come up with the plan to have him lead the charge if found guilty of treason. In a trial conducted by divine intervention; Thierry kills Pinabel fought for Ganelon. Galone responds bitterly when Ronald nominates him for a post: “I shall stir up such a feud with you” (20.289-291). Ganelon then faces the cruelest form of death, and thirty of his relatives are hanged according to the norms.

The two poems are richly constructed around key important aspects of society. One that stands out from both of them is the role of the divine deity. The gods wield much power in deciding the fate of the mortal men. In the Odyssey, his protector secures his release from captivity hence sets him up for a happy reunion with his wife. In the song of Roland, he is considered a martyr for having died fighting for the church of Christians. His soul is uplifted directly to heaven. The gods also intervene during the trial of his traitor and the people are convinced beyond any doubt that he had ill motives against Roland. It demonstrates how cruel betrayal had dire consequences in these ancient days. Loyalty, on the other hand, makes an individual get a reward, and Roland gets a promotion to martyrdom as a reward for him.

Thousands of years separate the two stories apart and the circumstances, which gave rise to them, are quite different. However, the treatment of mortality is strikingly similar. There seems to have been a common belief in life after death. By capturing Odyssey, Calypso hoped to transform him into a god and by that guaranteeing immortality. The promotion of Roland to martyrdom also depicts a form of belief in life after death.

Read More
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(“Literary Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1”, n.d.)
Retrieved from https://studentshare.org/literature/1677126-literary-analysis
(Literary Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 Words - 1)
https://studentshare.org/literature/1677126-literary-analysis.
“Literary Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 Words - 1”, n.d. https://studentshare.org/literature/1677126-literary-analysis.
  • Cited: 0 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF The Odyssey

Historic Relevance of the Odyssey

Name: Institution: Course: Tutor: Date: Historic Relevance of The Odyssey Knowledge is a dynamic field whose origin dates in antiquity.... It is against this background that this paper provides an in depth analysis of the historic relevance of Homer's The Odyssey.... The author also believes that the pleasurable incidences that Homer cites in The Odyssey are geared towards countering the sad mood that the persona experienced occasionally.... Seemingly, most of the evidence is drawn from the primary text, The Odyssey....
5 Pages (1250 words) Book Report/Review

The Odyssey by Homer

From the paper "The Odyssey by Homer" it is clear that the seductress's literally devices employed in developing the main theme of the book reveal that the book was written by a woman.... 'The Odyssey' was written by Homer in 1996.... The book has several chapters starting from the journey of The Odyssey up to the end when he returns home.... It reveals the life story of The Odyssey and the way he disappears for about 20 years from home....
3 Pages (750 words) Essay

Ovids Metamorphoses and the Odyssey

he Odyssey is another example of great ancient literature which reflects the story of Odysseus's adventures and his numerous connections with humans and gods Ovid's Metamorphoses and The Odyssey Ovid's Metamorphoses is one of the most significant examples of ancient mythology.... The Odyssey is another example of great ancient literature which reflects the story of Odysseus's adventures and his numerous connections with humans and gods, and the main character of the poem is Odysseus who tries to get home to Ithaca from the Trojan War and goes trough multiple adventures....
3 Pages (750 words) Essay

Art of the Odyssey

The paper "Art of The Odyssey" presents that while Macbeth's commitment to Duncan is obvious to the audience, it is acknowledged by Macbeth himself as he considers the idea of assassination: 'He's here in double trust: / First, as I am his kinsman and his subject, / Strong both against the deed".... The Art of The Odyssey.... The Odyssey.... Zeus makes this clear in the beginning of the play when he tells the other gods, “For shame, how the mortals put the blame upon us / gods [when] they … by their own recklessness win sorrow beyond what is given” (odyssey, 1....
8 Pages (2000 words) Literature review

The Iliad and the Odyssey

The author of this essay states that Both the Iliad and The Odyssey remain the oldest known literary works in Western Civilization.... The other major work attributed to Homer is The Odyssey which followed the Iliad and is considered to be its sequel.... The plot of odyssey is centered on Greek war hero Odysseus and his beautiful wife Penelope....
1 Pages (250 words) Essay

Analysis of the Odyssey

The paper "Analysis of The Odyssey" tells that the author has not got wind of any host approaching about which I would warn you, nor is there any matter of public moment on which I would speak.... Close Reading of The Odyssey by Homer Telemachus' speech in book two page 41-42 line 38 to 62 “‘Sir,' said he, ‘it is I, as you will shortly learn, who have convened you, for it is I who am the most aggrieved.... The Odyssey.... odyssey being a travel genre has several aspects of travel in it; this except marks the beginning of Telemachus' psychological journey from a naïve youth to a mature leader....
5 Pages (1250 words) Essay

The end of the Odyssey

However, the epic poem has been praised for its sophistication in structure, complexity in characterization and consistency in its The Odyssey Introduction The Odyssey is termed as one of the greatest literary works ever written on western civilizations.... There are various theories, criticisms, interpretations, and opinions on the ending of Homers epic poem, The Odyssey.... At the end of the chronicle of The Odyssey, the author, Homer refers to the occurrence of the total eclipse....
2 Pages (500 words) Essay

Relationships in the Odyssey

This essay "Relationships in The Odyssey" discusses the relationships in Homer's epic poem The Odyssey.... Relationships in Odyssey The connection between family and social order is unmistakable in ancient literature such as Homer's epic poem The Odyssey.... The Art of The Odyssey.... The Odyssey.... (The Telemacheia: Fathers and Sons in the Illiad and odyssey or a Contribution to Investigation of the manhood ideology in the Homerian World)....
10 Pages (2500 words) Essay
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us