Essay about Literary Analysis of The Odyssey - 784 Words

The Odyssey is a celebrated epic filled with many different themes, motifs, styles, and characters that could be examined in vast detail, but the theme of hospitality is a reoccurring one throughout the entire narrative. Homer writes about examples of both great hospitality and very inhospitable characters in his epic poem. Hospitality in The Odyssey creates definition of how individuals are either punished or rewarded by the gods. In the time of The Odyssey, not only large tracts of land separate civilizations, but also natural barriers and mythical obstacles. People could not have made the journeys that they made if they were not able to rely on other peoples for food, shelter, protection, and†¦show more content†¦Another example of generous hospitality is when Odysseus landed on the shores of Skheria, land of the Phaiakians. They give him a boat full of supplies and send him sailing home, but Poseidon had not finished teaching Odysseus a lesson. Zeus, not wanting to interfere with his brother, allowed him to destroy the Phaiakians and their boat while allowing Odysseus to live. They were punished because the dared to interfere with the gods punishment of Odysseus. In Book Fourteen, the swineherd shows very generous hospitality to a disguised Odysseus. He gives him food and wine to drink. Although the food he is served is quot; the pork of slaves,quot; the swineherd gives him plenty to quench Odysseus hunger (448). He is pleased with the swineherd at the courteousness that he shows. Odysseus tells him, quot;May Zeus and all the gods give you your hearts desire for taking me in so kindly, friend (447).quot; The swineherd is blessed by the mighty king and will surely be rewarded greatly for his kindness. Grudging Hospitality When hospitality was not freely given, for example, when Kirke turned most of Odysseus men into animals. She gave them drink and when they had lost all sense, she quot;flew after them with her long stick and shut them in a pigsty--bodies, voices, head, and bristles, all swinish now, though minds were still unchangedquot; (393). She even attempted to turn Odysseus into anShow MoreRelatedOdyssey Literary Analysis2667 Words   |  11 PagesThe Author and his Times The author of the Odyssey, to this day, remains unknown. Early Greeks have accredited works such as the Homeric Hyms, The Iliad, and The Odyssey to an individual by the name of Homer. However, there are some scientists that insist these said works were product of a group of people and not one man. This particular group of scientists claims that the subject matter of the writings is too diverse for them to have been the product of just one person. 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