Odyssey Test- Blog This!


1. What have you learned about Greek culture, values, and religion? Address the roles of women and men, honor and virtues, gods and goddesses, etc. (250 words)

After reading the Odyssey I have become more aware of Geek culture and their values. It became apparent that the Greek culture is heavily influenced by the gods. They believe in many gods unlike Christians. Their gods range from the god of war to the god of the ocean or even the god of gods. It is believed that all of the Greek gods reside on mount Olympus. Often in the Odyssey humans, or mortals, were visited by gods. Time and time again the gods had to prove to the humans that they could not live without the gods. This happed to Odysseus when he was trapped in the ocean. We also learned that the gods principals were if Zeus was happy with a person then no other god could be angry at them. It did not matter if a mortal had killed a gods son, mother, father, daughter, or even wife as long as Zeus was happy with them. This setting is a lot like the mafia. It was also obvious that Greek culture believes strongly in hospitality. Greek culture was built on the building blocks of honor. All persons were to help their neighbors at all times. If a person were to appear at another person’s house they are expected to give the visitor a nice meal and a place to sleep. This is a tradition that is not seen much anymore in today’s society anywhere. People seem to be less hospitable in the society that we live in.

2. What resonated with you in reading about Odysseus’ adventures? Why? (150 words)

I think that the drive that Odysseus contained through the tale is what resonated with me the most. He never seemed to give up hope, at least not all of it. He knew that he would make it back to Ithaca eventually. Even when thing got really bad he kept his composure and poise and he found a way to make it home. This is a quality resonated with me the most because it shows passion. When he did not have an easy path to his destination he found a way to make it. I also think that this resonated with me because Odysseus used a quality that is still relevant today. People end up in crazy situations and like Odysseus they have to find a way to get out of them. Another reason this resonates with me is because this is a concept that my father pounds into me daily.

3. This epic poem is dated nearly 3000 years ago, why is it still relevant? (150 words)

The Odyssey contains several subtle messages that are still relevant today, but one of the main reasons that this is still relevant is the overall concept of the tale of the Odyssey happens in everyday life. This concept is, a man who over comes a lot of things but ends up having a happy ending. This is the same scenario that happens to a championship team every year. They all face a ton of adversity and problems but they end up overcoming and are victorious in the end. The events that Odysseus faces are very archaic but the big idea is still relevant. Adversity does happen you just have to be ready to overcome it at all times. It also shows the very important message that one should never ever give up no matter the circumstances. This is one of the most important messages still today people should never give up.

Short Answers-
Answer in complete sentences. Cut and paste each question and answer underneath the prompt.

4. How would you characterize the narrator, the fictive "Homer" whose voice we imagine as singing the verses of the Odyssey?

I would characterize Homer as a very smart person. Any one person who can envision and then make a masterpiece so detailed is a very smart person.

5. What kinds of behavior are treated as contemptible in the Odyssey?

A behavior that is contemptible is if a man tries to take another mans wife. This situation happened to Odysseus.

6. How does the poem represent mortal women? Since Penelope is the most important woman in the Odyssey, what qualities does she possess, and how does she respond to the troubles she faces? (Some of the other women are of note, too-Eurycleia the serving woman, the faithless maidservants, Nausicaa the Phaeacian princess, and Helen of Sparta, Menelaus' queen, whose elopement with Prince Paris sparked the Trojan War.)

Penelope is a very clever women but it is her faithfulness that serves her most in this tale. When she becomes pressured to remarry she is clever enough to stall the suitor.

7.How do Homer's gods think and behave? How do their actions and motivations differ from the conception of god in other religions of which you have knowledge? What role do the Homeric gods play in human affairs, and what is the responsibility of humans with respect to those gods?

Homer’s god behaves in a mild way compared to gods in other stories. Gods in other religions are supposed to be mighty and powerful but theses gods don’t seem to act this way. The role of the humans is to recognize that humans cannot live without the gods. The gods and humans often interact the gods always try to help the humans understand something.