how doe telemechas matures during the course of the odyssey

by Mr. Brannon Ziemann 8 min read

Telemachus Maturity In Odysseus In Homer's Odyssey
In Book Two of the Odyssey, Telemachus demonstrates his increasing maturity by confronting the suitors, gaining respect from the elders, and preparing to look for Odysseus. Telemachus demonstrates maturity in Book Two of the Odyssey by confronting the suitors face on.

How did Telemachus mature?

In The Odyssey, Homer shows the transition of Telemachus from a childish and passive young man to a Man worthy of being Odysseus' son. Through the help of Athena, he learns different character traits and qualities such as bravery that helps him to mature into a man worth the title of a prince of Ithaca.

What steps toward maturity does Telemachus take?

What steps toward maturity does Telemachus take in his meeting with Nestor? Telemachus's journey will allow him to find out what happened to Odysseus. In his meeting with Nestor, Telemachus became more mature by gaining the nerve to ask Nestor questions and becoming fluent in speech.

What does Telemachus gain from his journey?

430-431) Telemachus gained courage and kicked out the suitors from his house. This action is a major visual of how dramatically Telemachus' change has been so far. He is already taking charge and making things happen for himself.May 29, 2008

How does Telemachus grow as a character?

During his travels, Telemachus grows as a man. Athena, disguised as Mentor, guides and instructs him. He learns how to behave among Greek leaders. Nestor reinforces in the prince a respect for loyalty and devotion.

What happens to Telemachus in The Odyssey?

On his return, he found that Odysseus had reached home before him. Then father and son slew the suitors who had gathered around Penelope. According to later tradition, Telemachus married Circe (or Calypso) after Odysseus' death.May 1, 2022

What signs to we have of Telemachus maturity in the later books of the poem?

What signs to we have of Telemachus' maturity in the later books of the poem? He asserts himself more effectively with his mother and the suitors - and he participates in strategy with his father.

What does Telemachus learn about himself?

3-5) What does Telemachus learn about himself? about the meaning of being a son? about the treatment of guests? about sacrifices to the gods? He learns how to act as a leader. He learns how he should act. He learns of Xenia (hospitality).

Why is Telemachus journey important in The Odyssey?

Telemachus's journey—both a physical and metaphorical journey—is essential for him to become the true son of Odysseus because he learns how similar he is to Odysseus, gains confidence, and understands the importance of praying to the gods.

Why was Telemachus journey important?

His journey was necessary because Telemachus learns about how royalty should be treated, about respect to the gods, and that it is important to depend on others during your travel. The journey Telemachus went on was necessary for him to learn about how royalty should be treated.

How is Telemachus described in The Odyssey?

Telemachus. Odysseus's son. An infant when Odysseus left for Troy, Telemachus is about twenty at the beginning of the story. He is a natural obstacle to the suitors desperately courting his mother, but despite his courage and good heart, he initially lacks the poise and confidence to oppose them.

How is Telemachus a hero in The Odyssey?

A character that represents great courage in the Odyssey is Telemachus. Telemachus shows courage by setting out on a journey, unknowing of whether he'll find his father or not. It takes courage to abruptly abandon a life of constant familiarity, and security, to a life of constant uncertainty, and danger.Sep 4, 2016

What challenges does Telemachus face in The Odyssey?

Finally, like other great heroes, Telemachus has significant obstacles to overcome: the absence of his father, and the presence of the suitors who have taken over his house. In the poem, he successfully surmounts these obstacles: his father returns, and together they kill the suitors.

What is Telemachus' role in the Odyssey?

Just an infant when his father left for Troy, Telemachus is still maturing when The Odyssey begins. He is wholly devoted to his mother and to maintaining his father’s estate, but he does not know how to protect them from the suitors. After all, it has only been a few years since he first realized what the suitors’ intentions were. His meeting with Athena in Book 1 changes things. Aside from improving his stature and bearing, she teaches him the responsibilities of a young prince. He soon becomes more assertive. He confronts the suitors and denounces the abuse of his estate, and when Penelope and Eurycleia become anxious or upset, he does not shy away from taking control.

Does Telemachus match his father's talents?

He confronts the suitors and denounces the abuse of his estate, and when Penelope and Eurycleia become anxious or upset, he does not shy away from taking control. Telemachus never fully matches his father’s talents, at least not by The Odyssey ’s conclusion.

How does Telemachus transform?

However, over the course of the first four books, Telemachus transforms from a boy to a man when he defends his home and mother from the suitors, travels to Nestor’s house, and goes on journey of searching for his father. He demonstrates the awkward age of a teenager, where one is not a child anymore but too immature to be an adult. Telemachus tries hard to convey maturity to not only the suitors and everyone he meets on the journey, but also to himself. Telemachus proves that he has grown up when he stands up to all of his mother’s suitors, and begins to search for his long-lost father. After the Trojan War, people believed that whoever returned back home were the only living survivors.…

How does Athena convince Telemachus to take matters into his own hands?

With Odysseus’ absence and the palace being flooded by suitors, Athena persuades Telemachus to take matters into his own hands. Although Telemachus is already discouraged with the inappropriate manners of the suitors, Athena reinforces it by saying, “How obscenely the lounge and swagger here, look, / gorging in your house. Why, any man of sense / who chance among them would be outraged, / seeing such behavior.” (Homer 1.264 – 267). Athena allocates Telemachus’ maturity when his anger builds towards the suitors, causing him to take a stance against them. Also, Athena compares Telemachus to his father Odysseus claiming, “Oh how much you need Odysseus, gone so long / how he’d lay hands on all those brazen suitors!…

What does Telemachus say to the suitors?

In a fit of rage with the suitors he commands them to “See to your feasting elsewhere, devour your own possessions.” . This indignant outburst toward the many men in the house shows his immaturity. Telemachus lashes out at the suitors in a fit of rage, rather than calmly addressing them as someone more mature would. While he is trying to show his power over the house, his animosity is seen by the suitors as immaturity. After letting the suitors destroy the house and ravage the food, his sudden outburst his regarded like the outburst of a child. They do not leave or follow his commands to return to their own homes in any way, rather they do the opposite. The suitors regard his actions as a simple outburst of anger and continue on with their activities at the …show more content…

When was the Odyssey written?

The Odyssey by Homer is an epic poem, believed to have been written between 800 and 700 BCE. The book focuses on the hero Odysseus and his long journey home to Ithaca after the fall of Tory. During the epic, Telemachus shows a great deal of growth from acting like a boy into being a mature man. He starts his journey being regarded as a child in front of the suitors at his father’s house, and his outburst in front of them furthered this opinion. As the story progresses however his growth is seen in many ways. He first shows growth when he commands his mother to go to her chambers. His growth is seen again when he Journeys to find information regarding his father. Finally, he can be seen as a man when he returns with Odysseus and kill …show more content…

Who wrote the Odyssey?

The epic poem, The Odyssey, is written by Homer in 800 B.C.E., and is full of adventure, including ships lost at sea, terrible monsters and gods who take out their revenge on mortals, and even a hero named Odysseus who after twenty long years eventually makes it back home to Ithaca. But really, Odysseus’ homecoming is what The Odyssey is all about. Time and time again, Odysseus desires to return to Ithaca, the land of his heritage, and he longs to return to his wife, Penelope, and his son, Telemachus. Everything that happens in The Odyssey revolves around this desire, including his mistakes. His cunning, strength, and even divine intervention eventually bring Odysseus home again.…

What is the transformation of Telemachus in Homer's Odyssey?

In The Odyssey, Homer shows the transition of Telemachus from a childish and passive young man to a Man worthy of being Odysseus’ son. Through the help of Athena, he learns different character traits and qualities such as bravery that helps him to mature into a man worth the title ...

What is the journey of Odysseus and Telemachus?

Both Odysseus and Telemachus go through the journey of maturation, allowing for a successful purging of the palace in the conclusion of the epic. In Homer’s The Odyssey, Odysseus’ progression in calming pride and increasing rationality is paralleled in Telemachus’ growth from boy to man. Without the maturation of either, ...

How many men did Athena have to accompany Telemachus on his trip to Sparta and Pylos?

He askes for a ship and a crew of twenty men to accompany him on his passage to Sparta and Pylos. The old Telemachus would not have done things which proves that he is slowly maturing to make decisions. Again, Athena plays a huge role in the maturity of Telemachus, especially on the trip to Sparta and Pylos.

What is Athena's use of disguise in Homer's Odyssey?

Effective Use Of Disguise In Homer's Odyssey. Athena visits Telemachus in the form of Mentes, an old friend of Odysseus to awaken him from his boyhood and be prepared enough to support his father, Odysseus when he comes back to Ithaka. Furthermore, she continually helps Telemachus in the form of Mentor when he is visiting Pylos and Sparta.

Why is the trip important to Telemachus?

The trip plays an important role as Telemachus gains a lot of boldness and courage through his meeting with Nester, the kings of Pylos as they discuss the whereabouts of his father. The readers also notice a quality in Telemachus which is his ability for polite conversation.

What is Odysseus' cunning?

Odysseus shows the traits of being cunning when he is disguised a beggar in the palace. As Telemachus is being exposed to the brilliant cunning by his father, his knowledge is also increasing as he is learning about different strategies of war. The trait of cunning was seen at the beginning of the book when makes the decision not ...

How does Telemachus learn?

He learns how to be authoritative, assert maturity and acknowledge his wrongdoing. He is also influenced by the return of his father to be more like him. These events of maturation Telemachus goes through shows his transition from a young man to a man worthy to be Odysseus’s son. Throughout The Odyssey, Telemachus proves himself worthy ...

What is the secondary plot of Telemachus?

Telemachus. The secondary plot featuring Prince Telemachus, which scholars sometimes call the "Telemacheia," is an early example of a coming-of-age story.

Who is the mentor to Telemachus?

During his travels, Telemachus grows as a man. Athena, disguised as Mentor, guides and instructs him. He learns how to behave among Greek leaders. Nestor reinforces in the prince a respect for loyalty and devotion. Menelaus encourages him with news that Odysseus may be alive and held captive by a goddess-nymph named Calypso. Athena keeps the prince alive by helping him avoid an ambush set up by the suitors on his return trip to Ithaca.

Why does Telemachus call the assembly of Ithaca's leaders?

Telemachus initially asserts himself by calling an assembly of Ithaca's leaders in order to protest the suitors' activities. Although he speaks well at the meeting and impresses some of the elders, the leading suitors (Antinous and Eurymachus) show no respect for either Telemachus or his mother, Queen Penelope, and little is accomplished. Athena senses danger and manages for the prince to visit two foreign kings who are old comrades of his father: Nestor of Pylos and Menelaus of Sparta.

How does Athena keep the prince alive?

Athena keeps the prince alive by helping him avoid an ambush set up by the suitors on his return trip to Ithaca. After he joins his father and is made an important part of the king's plot to overcome the suitors, a good deal of Telemachus' motivation is based on faith.

What is the story of Telemachus in The Odyssey?

The Odyssey: Telemachus Telemachus recounts his confrontation with the Old man of the sea who could change his appearance in order to escape danger. Telemachus reveals the information which he obtained from the Old man of the sea to the reader. The Old man told Telemachus of the sorrowful tale of Agamemnon's Murder. The story tells of how Aegisthus paid a man to watch for Agamemnon's return from the sea. After a year of waiting, the King returned in what he thought to be secrecy. The lookout….

What are the characteristics of Telemachus?

Emergence of Telemachus’ Heroic Traits in the Telemecheia Joseph Campbell’s ten archetypal heroic traits appear in many literary protagonists. Physical strength, eloquence, leadership, and ties to supernatural forces are characteristics that are pervasive among heroes. King Gilgamesh, in the Epic of Gilgamesh, possesses the Campbellian traits of unmatched physical strength, confident leadership, and ties to gods. Whereas in the case of Telemachus in Homer’s Telemecheia, the young prince has not matured to Gilgamesh’s prominence, but several of Campbell’s attributes become apparent in the story. As Telemachus undergoes his journey, he begins to develop the heroic characteristics of having (1) connections with the gods, (2) eloquence, and (3) leadership.

Why is Telemachus so tough?

Telemachus also has to do this in the Odyssey and it is especially tough because he does not have a father to follow in the footsteps of for most of his life. Telemachus starts off shy and showing his emotions too much, wishing he could see his father. He then starts making decisions to put himself into a leadership role and is maturing. Then in the end he matured and grew and is ready to fight by his father’s side against the suitors to take back their home. Telemachus had….

Who is the son of Odysseus?

Telemachus, son of Odysseus is a main character in the book the Odyssey. Throughout books 1-4 Telemachus begins to discover who he is. Not having a father as a child severely affects Telemachus. He becomes a timid, shy boy who is pampered by his mother. Although Telemachus is the son of a world-famous father, it does not help him in anyway. In the beginning, when the suitors are eating away Telemachus' fortune, all he does is whine. It is not until Telemachus receives divine attention that he matures….

Who is the protagonist of Telechamy?

the ancient Greeks. Telemachus, the protagonist of Telechamy ( the first four books of The Odyssey by Homer), was introduced as a victim for the vultures and finished at the end of the fourth book as a confident youth. This was all because of the introduction of Athena, goddess of wisdom, into his sedentary life. Telemachus’ metamorphosis from an idle coward to an accomplishing hero was all due to the efforts of Athena’s encouragement. She was able to greatly change of Telemachus’ personality because….

Does Odysseus return to the Trojan War?

At the start of The Odyssey, Odysseus has yet to return from the Trojan War and his son Telemachus believes that he is dead. Suitors have occupied his home during this time and are pressuring Odysseus’ wife Penelope to marry one of them. Meanwhile, Telemachus is unable to do anything without his father. Athena, disguised as an old friend of Odysseus’ named Mentor, encourages Telemachus to seek news of his father. At the end of the conversation, Telemachus is aware that he was in the presence of a….

How did Telemachus progress?

He then progresses to being assertive in how he goes about finding his father. After figuring out his plans with Athena, Telemachus goes on his journey and meets different kings and Queens, who knew his father very well. The meetings with these people helped Telemachus progress into a confident and fearless man.

What does Telemachus do before Athena meets him?

Telemachus acts very distant before he meets Athena, for he does not know what to do with himself. As the suitors rummage through his home and eat all of his food and drink all of his wine, Telemachus does not stand up for himself, but just lets them destroy his house as he sits down and watches them.

Why is Telemachus so distant?

Telemachus is also very distant and aloof in a way because he does not know the truth about himself, or the past of his Father. As he talks to Athena, he is unsure of his own identity.

What does Athena give Telemachus?

In this conversation, Athena gives him the courage and knowledge of Telemachus’ father. As he listens, he starts to become proactive in his actions.

What is the transformation of Telemachus?

Telemachus' Transformation. Telemachus, Odysseus’ son, is on a mission to find his father. The change and progress Telemachus has made from the beginning of The Odyssey, written by Homer, is quite noticeable from being detached from everything to becoming one of the most honored son’s in the eyes of very powerful people.

Is Telemachus still the safe guy?

Telemachus is changing so much that he is even willing to take risks in his life now. He is no longer the safe guy, he is now making pacts about his father and is risking his life and mostly his mothers life over his journey. Now if I hear my Father’s alive and heading home,/.

Is Telemachus mature?

The confidence and poise of Telemachus at this time is much more visible and has shown a huge change over the past books. The maturity and growth of Telemachus is amazing in the fact that it happened in such a short period of time.

Why does Telemachus' mother ask Phemius to stop singing?

This line is Telemachus’ response when his mother asks the bard Phemius to stop singing about the Trojan War, because it upsets her. Telemachus’s harsh words for his mother show that he is no longer a boy, but they also reveal tension between mother and son.

What is Telemachus' mistake?

During the battle with the suitors, Telemachus makes a mistake and allows the suitors to get hold of weapons. The mistake shows his inexperience. At the same time, he is quick to step forward and accept the blame, which shows his maturity and sense of honor. Previous section Odysseus Next section Athena.

What does Odysseus' absence disrupt?

Odysseus’s long absence has disrupted the harmony of his family. if you decide the fare is better, richer here, destroying one man’s goods and going scot-free, all right then, carve away! Having demanded that the suitors leave his house, Telemachus is immediately forced to admit that he does not have the power to make them leave. ...

Is Telemachus still powerless?

Telemachus is growing into manhood, but without his father, he is still powerless. Telemachus, summoning up his newfound tact, replied, “Please, Menelaus, don’t keep me quite so long. By the end of his journey, Telemachus has learned how to speak well and get the most out of his hosts.