In determining the role of the Gods in The Odyssey, by Homer, one must ponder where Odysseus would be if the Greek Gods did not exist. If it weren't for Athena, daughter of Zeus, would Odysseus still be able to overcome the challenges he faced from Poseidon (the God of the Sea), Helios (the sun god...

Clash of Ithaca The epic poem The Odyssey written by Homer is comprised of twenty-four books of adventurous stories. The story of DEATH IN THE GREAT HALL, book twenty-two, is the most interesting because it is action-packed from start to finish. This story is also very descriptive in describing th...

The traditional epic was an extravagant tale, revolving around the ideal and mighty hero and his quest, always extending beyond the ordinary confinements of society. Alexander Pope used the very structure of the formal and majestic epic in his The Rape of the Lock, to underscore the ridiculousness ...

July 7, 2000 Odysseus Unmasks In Robert Fitzgerald's translation of the Odyssey, many scenes exist that parallel, predict, and contrast each other in various ways. For example, the self-revelation scene in book IX from line 548 to line 592 where Odysseus announces his name to the Kyklopes, and...

The appearance of many goddesses in The Odyssey by Homer exemplifies the fact that they are essential to Odysseus' journey. They each play a different role, helping Odysseus in one way or the other, corresponding with his needs at that point in the voyage. Goddesses have been a constant in G...