Feeling the Power of the Book, The Odyssey Essay - 544 Words

No one ever told me to read The Odyssey--and that was the greatest educational travesty of my life. I first read it after High School while working at Colonial Motors in West Concord. I didnt get it any more than the most confused among you, but what I did do is feel it: I felt its primordial power and emotional bareness; I felt another world, another age and another human journey come alive inside of me. It made me feel that I was a part of long and unbroken lineage of humanity searching for truth and purpose in a world--especially my world, a world not always blessed with clarity and opportunity. I had always been the kid in the back of the class staring out the window dreaming of a better world--and scheming a way to get there. I†¦show more content†¦You probably wonder why I feel it is worthwhile to read this book during your 8th grade year. Why dont we just watch Star Wars or24 or Wizard of Oz? Why? Because Star Wars, 24 and Wizard of Oz are archetypes; they are a varia tion on an experience infinitely more real; they are built on the backs of hundreds of books and movies that came before them. But The Odyssey was built on human experience; it was created out of our most primal need for the wisdom, hope and guidance that will get us through life. The Odyssey doesnt give us the tools we need to tackle the problems of life, it simply shows us the heroic nature required to deal and cope the setbacks, sorrows and tragedies of every life. Bright-eyed Athena might not be at our side helping us through the day, but The Odyssey shows us that Athena comes in many guises and seldom reveals her true self; and we, too, need to accept wisdom at the opportuen time in its many forms. As much as we are taught to stay away from strangers we still must turn our ears to the words they speak--for it might be the very truth we long and need to hear. We might not have a six headed monster on one side of the hallway and a deadly whirlpool on the other, but we do have to make tough decisions where the outcomes range from bad to worse. Dont despair or even allow for frustration; If you wonder what is going on, then you are doing theShow MoreRelatedAncient Greece : Book Review1583 Words   |  7 PagesAncient Greece Paired Book Review By Rohan Ahluwalia Core 2 What were the most memorable moments in the books for you? Why? The Odyssey and the Hatchet were both great books. The most memorable moment in the books were hard to choose as there were many interesting parts. In the book, The Odyssey, the most memorable moment for me was when the wife of Odysseus, Penelopeia, organizes an archery contest.The contest was to string the bow that belonged to Odysseus and fire it through the opening ofRead MoreMale Stereotypes In The Odyssey Of Homer701 Words   |  3 Pagesexpectations are still maintained in society today. In the book â€Å"The Odyssey of Homer† written by Richmond Lattimore, there are many of the male expectations that the ancient Greeks said to be true can be found in this book. According to the ancient Greeks, men were superior to women and held more power. This can be illustrated in â€Å"The Odyssey of Homer† when Athene gives Telemachos determination and courage to act as the role of the man in power of his household since Odysseus is gone. Therefore, TelemachosRead More Descent to the Underworld in the Aeneid by Virgil and the Odyssey by Homer1534 Words   |  7 Pages Descent to the Underworld in the Aeneid and the Odyssey I chose to compare the Odyssey written by the Greek poet Homer and the Aeneid by the Roman poet Virgil. I will focus my interest on Book 11 of the Odyssey and Book 6 of the Aeneid, since that is when both of the main characters make an educational visit to the underworld. The description of the underworld created by Homers wild imagination, inspired Virgil eight centuries later. Virgils masterpiece was plannedRead MoreFeminism and the Power Struggle of Women in Ancient Greece Essay1350 Words   |  6 PagesFeminism and the power struggle of women in Ancient Greece Women are a very prominent part of the Greek society. Their role has influenced and shaped the Greek society to a very large extent. Women have been shown in many different lights in the Greek works of Odyssey and Iliad which we have covered in our class. The works that I will be citing in this essay, namely Homer’s poems Odyssey and Iliad talk about many prominent women such as Helen of Troy, Penelope and also many other Goddesses. Homer’sRead More Essay on Women in Iliad, Odyssey, and the Bible1544 Words   |  7 PagesRole of Women in Iliad, Odyssey, and the Bible Much is known of men in ancient civilizations, from the famous philosophers and mathematicians of Greece to the patriarchs and subsequent kings of the nation of Israel. It would seem, however, that history has forgotten the women of these times. What of the famous female thinkers of Ancient Greece, the distinguished stateswomen of Rome? What power did they hold? What was their position in societies of the distant past? A glimpse into the roles andRead MoreThe Odyssey : The Role Of Women In Homers Odyssey966 Words   |  4 Pagesmonsters, and people, but it was a story that showed different kinds of human interactions. The Odyssey portrays what is right or wrong in relationships between god and mortal, father and son, and man and woman. In the epic poem, the role of women is a vital demonstration of Ancient Greece. The women in the epic are unique in their personality, motives, and relationships towards men. In Homers, The Odyssey, all women are different, but all of them help to rep resent the role of the ideal woman. HomersRead MoreThe Odyssey And The Symposium1620 Words   |  7 Pagesenvironments pour into us. Friends, family, media, books and experiences shape our way of thinking. Friends give opinions on what they think should be, family will tell you right from wrong; or at least what they consider right from wrong, media will paint an elaborate picture and give visuals of how to, when to and what to expect, and books open our minds to fairy tales, realities and possibilities. After indulging in some of the â€Å"great books† that include The Odyssey and The Symposium, I can say that theseRead More Elements of Homers Odyssey in the Coen Brothers Oh Brother Where Art Thou646 Words   |  3 PagesThe Coen Brothers’ â€Å"Oh Brother Where Art Thou?†, loosely based on Homer’s classic adventure The Odyssey, is a film amusingly filled with themes of symbolism similar to those found in Homer’s epic, while still maintaining a sense of originality and style that t hey have become so renowned for. An exciting and entertaining blend of high adventure, humour, and heartfelt emotion, at first glance, the film barely resembles Homer’s poem: only certain elements are obvious, such as the main character’s nameRead More herody The Imperfect Hero of Homers Odyssey Essay1434 Words   |  6 PagesThe Imperfect Hero of The Odyssey   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In literature, a bold character or hero is often the principle character. In the epic poem The Odyssey there are many immortals, but only one hero, Odysseus. The differences between the immortals and the hero are few. The god-like Odysseus is plagued with the human weaknesses of pettiness, self-doubt, and dependence on the pity of others. Odysseus reveals his pettiness when he amuses himself with humorous guile. Odysseus not only uses his cunning atRead More Growing Up With Greek Literature Essay1456 Words   |  6 PagesTheban Plays in particular, left me awestruck. I quickly began to realize that many of the new and inventive books and movies I had seen, had actually been written in one form or another, generations ago. I suppose my interest was first piqued when my father brought home the movie Hercules in the early 80’s. As a young boy, I was entranced by the idea of a god-like man, with superhuman powers, doing remarkable things on earth. Of course, my knowledge of Greek gods and goddesses was limited, but