how does odysseus set a course

How does Odysseus develop throughout the Odyssey?

The Development Of Odysseus Story English Literature Essay. Different from the characters in the Iliad and characters in Homer’s other works; usually remaining flat or static, Odysseus in The Odyssey, is a dynamic or round character. Through the story he does evolve and develop as a character.

What element does Odysseus learn in the course of his adventures?

Expert Answers info I would say that the major element Odysseus learns in the course of his adventures that helps him when he returns to Ithaca is patience. Odysseus gets himself into trouble in Odyssey 9, when he reveals his true identity to the Cyclops after blinding him.

How does Odysseus’s quick thinking help him in the Odyssey?

Odysseus’s quick thinking helps him out of some very tough situations, as when he escapes from the cave of the Cyclops in Book 9, or when he hides his slaughter of the suitors by having his minstrel strike up a wedding tune in Book 23. He is also a convincing, articulate speaker and can win over or manipulate his audience with ease.

How does Odysseus break tradition in the Odyssey?

However, in The Odyssey the main character Odysseus breaks this tradition. Early on in his journey, Odysseus being head strong and wanting to be known and shown all of the glory: he waits too long in the cave of Polyphemus, enjoying the free milk and cheese he finds, and is trapped there when the Cyclops returns.

How did Odysseus change throughout his journey?

Through the story he does evolve and develop as a character; by the end of the story, he is more patient and is able to put his pride to the side, and becomes more cunning and even reduces his stature of King of Ithaca, and disguises himself as a beggar, and allowing abuse from the suitors.

Why is Odysseus stubborn?

This thought by Odysseus shows that he realized his decision to go to the mysterious island wasn't the most rational one and that his men's pleas to leave were the better option, but he decides to be stubborn and place his curiosity before his men's safety resulting in a non-heroic…show more content…

How does the king try to entertain Odysseus?

One of the young athletes taunts Odysseus for not participating in the games and he surprises the company by hurling the discus further than anyone had done before. How do the queen and king try to entertain Odysseus? Dancers pass a wooden ball back and forth.

How does Odysseus overcome his pride?

Eventually Odysseus is able to overcome his hubris when he realizes that the gods are ultimately on his side after all. At this point he comes to the realization that the gods control his life; “It is no hard thing for the gods of heaven to glorify a man or bring him low" (Book XVI, 250-251).

What is an example of Odysseus being stubborn?

His men try to calm him down and stop him, but Odysseus's stubbornness causes him to continue calling out his taunts to Polyphemus, putting his men in danger again because Polyphemus is hurling boulders towards the ship. During the adventure with Circe, when Circe turns Odysseus's men back into humans from pigs.

How does Odysseus show arrogance?

Following the visit to the Cyclops den in The Odyssey, Odysseus shows arrogance by declaring his escape from there to be a success despite having lost six men while trapped. He further proves his vanity by mocking the Cyclops while escaping, 448 Words.

Who blew Odysseus off course?

Coast of Thrace: Odysseus and his men destroy and plunder Ismarus, city of the Cicones, but are eventually driven away with losses. 3. Lotus-eaters: Blown off course, Odysseus' fleet lands on shores of North Africa or the island of Jerba, possible locations for the drugged natives. 4.

How did Odysseus try to avoid going to war?

The Trojan War. When the Trojan War began, Odysseus tried to avoid participating. An oracle had told him that if he went to war, he would be away for 20 years and would return a beggar. So Odysseus pretended to be mad and sowed his fields with salt instead of seeds.

Why do the gods punish Odysseus?

After the destruction of Troy, he and his men left for home without paying proper respect to Poseidon. For this, Poseidon punished Odysseus with what turned out to be a ten year journey home to Ithaca.

How does Odysseus become humble?

In The Odyssey, an epic poem by Homer, the central character Odysseus learns humility through his failures and growth in obedience making him a hero. Odysseus reaches a heroic status through the lessons learned on his journey, which ultimately taught him the value of obedience and the dangers of arrogance.

How does Odysseus learn from his mistakes?

From the many obstacles and misfortunes he endured he learned not to boast too much and to respect and listen to the gods. This new found wisdom allows him to finally regain his place in his homeland of Ithaca.

What was Odysseus biggest mistake?

Odysseus has made some mistakes. No one's saying otherwise. He blinded a Cyclops, he invoked the wrath of Poseidon, and remember that time he got distracted by a sexy sea-witch for an entire year? (Full disclosure, he also stole some cheese.) But by far his biggest mistake was hiring his crew.

How has Odysseus changed over the course of his adventure?

How has Odysseus changed over the course of his adventure, according to this excerpt? He has grown more humble and patient in battle, despite Poseidon’ s blows, gale winds, and tons of sea. He values home and family above personal glory.

What lessons did Odysseus learn from each place he visited in Homer's Odyssey?

What lessons did Odysseus learn from each place he visited in Homer’s Odyssey? In the Odyssey, Odysseus learns to avoid selfish pleasures like pride, drugged leisure, living with women other than his wife, and living in a dreamworld.

What drives Odysseus to dress as a beggar in The Odyssey?

What drives Odysseus to dress as a beggar in The Odyssey – Amphimedon? He wants vengeance on the suitors.

Why does Athena disguise Odysseus as an old beggar?

Athena meets Odysseus on Ithaca and disguises him as an old beggar so that he can gain information without being recognized.

How long does Penelope stall the suitors?

Penelope stalls the suitors for three years by promising to marry when she has finished weaving a shroud for Odysseus’s family, which she will never complete because she will weave during the day and undo her work at night.

What are the characteristics of Odysseus?

Strength, loyalty, courage, and intelligence are all characteristics of a typical epic hero, and Odysseus possesses all of these qualities and more; he also demonstrates his ability to speak clearly, and his poise aids him on his journey.

What to do if playback doesn't begin?

If playback doesn't begin shortly, try restarting your device.

What is Odysseus's cunning?

The book begins with Odysseus the warrior, however as stated earlier with all the valor and honor and gratitude given to Odysseus he is greatly known for being cunning. Throughout the book Odysseus uses deceptive speech or voices and disguise to trick and or confuse people. He often altered his appearance and changing the way he spoke and sounded. In Book I for example Odysseus tells the Cyclops Polyphemus, his name is “Nobody.” While beating Polyphemus he exclaims “Nobody is beating you,” when the Cyclops asked who was doing so (Homer 7). He did so when others would ask Polyphemus, what was wrong and responded “Nobody is hurting me.” the others would assume that, “If alone as you are [Polyphemus] none uses violence on you, why, there is no avoiding the sickness sent by great Zeus; so you had better pray to your father, the lord Poseidon” (Homer 8). Also, in the poem when he first meets and addresses Nausicaa on the island of Scheria, his suave, comforting approach quickly wins her trust. He could win over and manipulate his audience, which he did all of the way through the book.

What are the characteristics of Odysseus?

Odysseus shares the character traits of a leader from the Homeric era: he was a very noble man , had enormous strength, very courageous, a thirst for glory and was very confident in his ability to rule and in his authority . Although all of these traits distinguished him, Odysseus has a very sharp intellect. When placed in some sticky situations throughout the epic, his quick thinking gets him out. For example in Book IX, his ability to think fast allows him to escape from the Cyclops’ cave. Even in Book XXIII, when he has a minstrel strike up a wedding sign in book to hide where he slaughtered the suitors.

What does Odysseus want to do?

Similar to other Homeric heroes, Odysseus wants to win the glory, so he does great deeds, and he hopes to complete homecoming. He enjoys his luxurious life with Calypso in an exotic land, but only to a point. As he grows and misses home, he is eager to return home. In Homeric Greece wives were only property, desirable as overseers of the female servants and as means of securing identifiable heirs and descendants. Men did not impose upon themselves the chastity necessarily required of the women, and were more angry than grieved if their wives showed a preference for other men (n.a. 115). He even admits that his wife Penelope could not compete with Calypso. He thinks of home throughout the time he spends with the Phaeacians and also while on Circe’s island (n.a. 115). Often times his glory seeking ways seem to get in the way of his vision of going home.

How many books are there in The Odyssey?

The story of The Odyssey was written by the great epic poet Homer. In twenty- four books, the author presents the trials and tribulations of the protagonist Odysseus, and his voyage back to his home state of Ithaca. It contains so many and such striking adventures, some have called it an adventure story (n.a. 115). Over the course of the story through the foreshadowing and flashbacks; the question is over the course of the epic does the character of Odysseus change, evolve, or does he remain the same? Different from the characters in the Iliad and characters in Homer’s other works; usually remaining flat or static, Odysseus in The Odyssey, is a dynamic or round character. Through the story he does evolve and develop as a character. Therefore this essay will explain whether or not Odysseus developed as a character at all over the course of the narrative. In saying that, who was Odysseus in The Odyssey?

What does Odysseus' smile mean?

Odysseus’ smiles express his confident superiority: while being abused, at the close of the annihilation of the suitors (Levine 2). He eventually makes it back home regardless of all the turmoil he went through over the course of his adventure.

Who is the main character in the book Odysseus?

Odysseus is the protagonist or main character and the hero of this epic poem. Odysseus was the king of Ithaca, was married Queen Penelope and was also the father of Prince Telemachus. Odysseus was portrayed as a great warrior, who sets off at the beginning of the poem to go fight amongst the toughest warriors in the battle of Troy. He was a man of a very wise and shrewd man; resourceful, but also eloquent, courageous, full of endurance, and lastly extremely cunning in some sort as cunning as Niccolò Machiavelli. Throughout the book Odysseus has a number of adventures and encounters with the gods, sea creatures, other humans, and also giants, all of which play dominate roles in his development as a character throughout the book (Levine 6).

Does Odysseus change his character?

Over the course of the story through the foreshadowing and flashbacks; the answer to the question yes, the character of Odysseus does in face change; he does not remain the same. Through the story he does evolve and develop as a character; by the end of the story, he is more patient and is able to put his pride to the side, and becomes more cunning and even reduces his stature of King of Ithaca, and disguises himself as a beggar, and allowing abuse from the suitors. Therefore Odysseus is a round character and does develop as a character in the epic of The Odyssey.

What is the major element that Odysseus learns in the course of his adventures that helps him when?

Expert Answers info I would say that the major element Odysseus learns in the course of his adventures that helps him when he returns to Ithaca is patience. Odysseus gets himself into trouble in Odyssey 9, when he reveals his true identity to the Cyclops after blinding him.

How does Odysseus change in the Odyssey?

Hereof, how does Odysseus character change in the Odyssey? Through the story he does evolve and develop as a character; by the end of the story, he is more patient and is able to put his pride to the side, and becomes more cunning and even reduces his stature of King of Ithaca, and disguises himself as a beggar, and allowing abuse from the suitors. ...

How does Odysseus grow?

Secondly, how does Odysseus grow? Certainly Odysseus does grow in wisdom and judgment throughout his ventures. His self-control while dealing with the suitors' insults is exemplary and contrasts, for example, with his earlier irresistible urge to announce his name to the Cyclops in Book 9. In other ways, however, he seems slow to learn.

What is the change in Odysseus?

He has changed for the better. The changing point for Odysseus was Calypso's Island. By the end of the story, he was more humble, patient and thought things through before rushing in head on. Hereof, how does Odysseus character change in the Odyssey? Through the story he does evolve and develop as a character; by the end of the story, ...

Where does Odysseus go on his journey?

Odysseus begins his journey back to his homeland along with his comrades. Tragically, after many adventures and losses, he is the only one who manages to return back to his homeland, Ithaca. During his long voyage, Odysseus ' bravery and intelligence is proven many times over.

Where did Odysseus and his men go?

During their journey the strong winds blowing north pushed the ships away, in Africa. And so, Odysseus and his men arrived in the land of the Lotus Eaters. Once ashore Odysseus sent three of his warriors to see what kind of people lived in this country.

What did Cyclops Polyphemus eat?

Inside, they found milk, cheese, lambs and goats to eat. But then Cyclops Polyphemus, son of Poseidon, who had only one eye, returned to his cave and discovered Odysseus and his men. He shut the door of the cave with a huge rock and ate some of the men, saving the rest for later. The next day Odysseus offered Polyphemus sweet wine (the famous red ...

Why did Odysseus refuse to leave?

But when Odysseus tells his men that it is time to leave, they refuse, as the food is too good and the wine too sweet. Shortly, all the Cicones gather and attack them together, killing many while the others quickly boarded the ships and left in a wild storm.

Where did Odysseus go when he left the island?

They stayed in the island of Circe for a long time. When they decided to leave, Circe advised Odysseus to go to underworld and meet prophet Tiresias who would tell him how to get to Ithaca safely.

How many ships did Odysseus have?

Starting from Troy, Odysseus had 12 ships at his disposal in which his comrades fought, and fell.

What did Odysseus do when he was sailing?

When Odysseus ’s ships were sailing in the Aegean, the gods sent wild winds to push them north into the land of the Cicones. There, Odysseus and his men attack and fight some of the native Cicones, snatching animals and wine, and sitting by the beach to eat and drink.

Does Odysseus change over the course of the epic?

Homeric characters are generally static. Though they may be very complex and realistic, they do not change over the course of the work as characters in modern novels and stories do. Odysseus and especially Telemachus break this rule.

Does Odysseus learn anything from his own odyssey?

As the sea god, he can and does make Odysseus’s journey home more lengthy and treacherous. Odysseus learns from this to keep his own counsel, advice which serves him well when he returns home. In Homer’s Odyssey, Odysseus’ first stop after leaving Troy is the land of the Cicones.

Why was Odysseus not a hero?

Odysseus is not a hero because, he is foolish, lacks faithfulness and is consumed by his Hubris and selfishness. Although he may be considered a war hero, Odysseus is not a hero in other respects. This is so because he is self-centered which is clear because he doesn’t value other people’s lives.

What is the moral lesson of the Odyssey?

The moral values in the story include loyalty, compassion, self-control and perseverance. Each one has a tale or two associated with it. Loyalty is an important moral value in The Odyssey because Odysseus is devoted to his family. He is determined to return home to his wife despite all of the obstacles in his way.

What is the main message of the Odyssey?

In this epic poem, there are three major themes: hospitality, loyalty, and vengeance.

What is the moral lesson of Iliad?

The Iliad, the story of the Trojan War, offers several moral lessons to its readers, including the importance of leaders treating their soldiers with respect, the importance of accepting apologies, and the need for respecting family bonds.

Is Odysseus a true hero?

Odysseus was a true hero, he showed this through courage and determination and in many other ways. In book one Odysseus shows a great amount of bravery. Combining with his extreme strength, bravery, and high level of intelligence shows how he has supernatural abilities.

How did Odysseus hide his face?

He began by singing of Achilles and Odysseus, and this brought tears to that hero's eyes. He managed to hide them by burying his face in his cloak, though the king heard his sobs.

Who suggested the theme of the Trojan Horse?

At table the minstrel was called upon once more, and this time it was Odysseus himself who suggested the theme. Demodocus began to sing of the Trojan Horse, how the men of Troy had brought it within their walls and then debated what to do. Should they smash it to pieces with axes, or push it over a cliff? Or should they preserve it as an offering to the gods? Fate, of course, made them choose the latter course.

What did the hero throw on the deck?

The hero's eyes went cold. He picked up a discus and threw it with such a rush of wind that the Phaeacians hit the deck. It landed far beyond their own best shots.

What did King Alcinous say to his people?

The next morning King Alcinous addressed an assembly of his people: "My guest's name is still unknown to me, but I have promised him passage home. Therefore prepare our fastest ship. When all is done, let the crew join me and my nobles for a banquet at the palace."