The Heroic Interventions In Homer's Odyssey
EPIC CONVENTIONS IN THE EPIC ODYSSEY
1. Have an INVOCATION
“Tell me, O muse, of that ingenious hero who travelled far and wide”
. The Odyssey recounts the adventures of the Greek hero Odysseus during his ten-year voyage home after the Trojan War. Homer begins with a one-paragraph invocation requesting the Muses to inspire him in the telling of his tale. Such an invocation was a convention in classical literature, notably in epics, from the time of Homer onward. In the invocation, Homer alludes to the heroics of Odysseus during the Trojan War. There, Odysseus fought valiantly and conceived the idea of presenting the Trojans a gift of a great wooden horse—a gift that resulted in triumph for the Greeks and death and destruction …show more content…
Begins at the middle of the crisis known as MEDIAS RES
The Odyssey begins almost at the end of Odysseus wanderings, just before his arrival home.
4. Characteristics of heroes are of NOBLE BIRTH
Odysseus was the son of Laertes and was the ruler of the island kingdom of Ithaca.
5. Presence of an EPITHET
* "The great tactician" - Odysseus as being intelligent, and probably comes his being the initiator of the idea for the "Trojan horse." * "The clear eyed goddess" - Athena is alert, and wise - farseeing. * "The man of twists and turns" ( Odysseus) * "wine-dark sea " * "The bewitching nymph" (Calypso) * "Son of Cronos" (Zeus) * "Who marshals the thunderheads" (Zeus) * "Cool headed" (Telemachus) * "Lord of the war cry" (Menelaus)
6. Presence of ELABORATE SIMILES
* These things the famous singer sang. Odysseus was moved; beneath his eyelids, tears ran …show more content…
He is the son of Poseidon.
* POSEIDON - He is the younger brother of Zeus and god of the sea and earthquakes. Poseidon bears Odysseus a grudge because he blinded his son Polyphemus. Because Odysseus has to travel home by ship, he is at the mercy of this god’s wrath. Despite the obstacles he puts in Odysseus’ path, he overcomes all these challenges and in doing so, Odysseus becomes a favorite of the other gods, and therefore Poseidon’s hatred of Odysseus mellows.
* SCYLLA- This is a six-headed sea monster that lives in a cavern in the Strait of Messina where there is also a whirlpool that drives ships within reach of her lair. She was once a beautiful sea-nymph who was loved by Zeus and Poseidon, but was changed by the jealous Circe into a snapping monster. She manages to kill six of Odysseus’ crew as he passes through the Straits. * THE SIRENS- These were beautiful sea-nymphs who charmed sailors by their alluring songs. Odysseus has to sail past these temptresses, and he has his men stop their ears with wax. He is bound to the mast so that he can hear their magical song without being lured
1. Have an INVOCATION
“Tell me, O muse, of that ingenious hero who travelled far and wide”
. The Odyssey recounts the adventures of the Greek hero Odysseus during his ten-year voyage home after the Trojan War. Homer begins with a one-paragraph invocation requesting the Muses to inspire him in the telling of his tale. Such an invocation was a convention in classical literature, notably in epics, from the time of Homer onward. In the invocation, Homer alludes to the heroics of Odysseus during the Trojan War. There, Odysseus fought valiantly and conceived the idea of presenting the Trojans a gift of a great wooden horse—a gift that resulted in triumph for the Greeks and death and destruction …show more content…
Begins at the middle of the crisis known as MEDIAS RES
The Odyssey begins almost at the end of Odysseus wanderings, just before his arrival home.
4. Characteristics of heroes are of NOBLE BIRTH
Odysseus was the son of Laertes and was the ruler of the island kingdom of Ithaca.
5. Presence of an EPITHET
* "The great tactician" - Odysseus as being intelligent, and probably comes his being the initiator of the idea for the "Trojan horse." * "The clear eyed goddess" - Athena is alert, and wise - farseeing. * "The man of twists and turns" ( Odysseus) * "wine-dark sea " * "The bewitching nymph" (Calypso) * "Son of Cronos" (Zeus) * "Who marshals the thunderheads" (Zeus) * "Cool headed" (Telemachus) * "Lord of the war cry" (Menelaus)
6. Presence of ELABORATE SIMILES
* These things the famous singer sang. Odysseus was moved; beneath his eyelids, tears ran …show more content…
He is the son of Poseidon.
* POSEIDON - He is the younger brother of Zeus and god of the sea and earthquakes. Poseidon bears Odysseus a grudge because he blinded his son Polyphemus. Because Odysseus has to travel home by ship, he is at the mercy of this god’s wrath. Despite the obstacles he puts in Odysseus’ path, he overcomes all these challenges and in doing so, Odysseus becomes a favorite of the other gods, and therefore Poseidon’s hatred of Odysseus mellows.
* SCYLLA- This is a six-headed sea monster that lives in a cavern in the Strait of Messina where there is also a whirlpool that drives ships within reach of her lair. She was once a beautiful sea-nymph who was loved by Zeus and Poseidon, but was changed by the jealous Circe into a snapping monster. She manages to kill six of Odysseus’ crew as he passes through the Straits. * THE SIRENS- These were beautiful sea-nymphs who charmed sailors by their alluring songs. Odysseus has to sail past these temptresses, and he has his men stop their ears with wax. He is bound to the mast so that he can hear their magical song without being lured