Name: DJ Etang

The next masterpiece to filmview is Odyssey. The leaders were given instructions on viewing

details. Please watch intently and completely for you to be able to comprehensively understand

this Greek epic by Homer. Answer the following questions:

1. Why did the hero Odysseus venture on a journey to Troy?

At first, Menelaus informed Greece that Helen had been abducted, and he called upon all of

them to retrieve her. In the first rank, it was Odysseus who was included. Odysseus did not want

to leave his house and family to embark on a romantic adventure overseas for the sake of a

faithless woman. He was warned by an oracle that if he went to battle, he would be gone for

twenty years and return as a beggar. That is why he pretended to be insane. When officials

came to fetch him from the plow, they suspected a trick, so they used Telemachus to threaten

Odysseus that the infant would die if he did not join the venture. Odysseus stopped the plow to

avoid killing the child, something a madman would not have done. So, even though he didn't

want to join, he was reluctant that he had to join the army so the infant would survive.

2. Cite and explain 5 themes in the epic Odyssey.

 In Greek culture, hospitality toward visitors is highly valued. In the adventure of

Odysseus, hospitality can be shown when he enters Phaecian Island and the country of

Wind, where he is accepted hospitably. However, Telemachus and Penelope are unable

to expel the suitors from their home due to this expectation.

 Vengeance: It is acceptable to hurt or kill those who are disloyal. Before the 3 year

adventure, it happened that Athena was angered by the Greeks and sought vengeance,

which caused the entire crew to adventure in the sea. It also, at the end of the epic,
 shows what happens to those who defy Odysseus; they are killed.

 Loyalty: Penelope is required to wait for Odysseus, who has been gone for more than 20

years. Telemachus must stand for his father, whom he does not even remember, against

the suitors. However, there are characters who do not remain loyal to Odysseus, and

their fate is not satisfying.

 Spiritual Growth : Telemachus and Odysseus both experience struggles which cause

them to mature spiritually by the end of the epic.

 Appearance vs. Reality : Athena takes on many different characters’ identities and even

animals’ when helping Telemachus or Odysseus.

3. Hubris is a Greek term which means extreme pride/ haughtiness. Narrate how hubris

became evident in Odysseus's dealings with the gods.

The danger of hubris: hubris is excessive pride that leads to destruction. Odysseus is often

guilty of hubris, and Athena must rescue him. In The Odyssey, Odysseus shows hubris when he

is battling the Cyclopes; the Cyclopes show hubris when dealing with Odysseus. Its most blatant

example of Odysseus' hubris is when he and his troops attempt to flee from the Cyclops

Polyphemus. They dope the monster until it falls asleep, then stab him in his solitary eye with a

piece of wood. During the escape by sea, Odysseus taunts the Cyclops whom he blinded.

However, the boastful shouting gives away the position of the ships to the giant who hurls rocks

that nearly sink them. Finally, he reveals his real name to Polyphemus, who is then able to

invoke a curse and call on Poseidon to prevent Odysseus from getting home. He admits in

telling the tale that it would have been better if he had listened to his men, who seemed to have

more sense and less of a tendency to hubris in these circumstances.

 Also, the Suitors show it when Odysseus confronts them at his home. Not only are they

terrible guests by taking over the household and all its possessions, not only planning to murder

Telemachus, who was now technically the head of the household, but they mock and verbally

and physically assault the original master of the household, Odysseus, showing hubris towards

the gods by being arrogant and not complying with the principles of xenia. Athena wanted them

slaughtered from the very beginning. The Gods did, however, give the suitors numerous chances

for redemption, sending warning signs, but they all perished.