Epic Conventions in the Epic Odyssey free essay sample

Athena counter-argues by describing Odysseus as an exception to this rule. Hermes tries to argue that Odysseus butchered the sacred cattle of the sun god Apollo, but Athena refutes him by claiming that Hermes committed a similar crime himself. She states that the gods should realise that if they fail to help humans they will be forgotten. Zeus concludes that Odysseus should be allowed to find his way back to Ithaca. BODY He tells his first adventure at the island of the Lotus Eaters. He and twelve of his men landed on shore after ten days lost at sea. They discovered the Lotus Eaters there.Odysseus tells his men not to eat the Lotus plant. If they do, they will never want to return home. The Lotus Eaters meant Odysseus and his men no harm. Odysseus and his crew left and later found themselves in the land of the Cyclopes. Dangerous and reckless giants. We will write a custom essay sample on Epic Conventions in the Epic Odyssey or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Odysseus was overwhelmed with curiosity. He took with him a crew of men and explored the land. In a cave, he found a mountain of a man. Odysseus and his crew went into his cave and found that Polyphemus was gone. They ate some of his cheese and waited. Polyphemus came back and sealed the entrance shut. They were trapped. The men hid but Polyphemus would find them soon.When he did, he ate two men from the crew of Odysseus. When he awoke in the morning, he began to think of ways to defeat the giant. Polyphemus was out with his sheep. Odysseus decided to carve an olive tree into a giant stake and drive it through Polyphemus giant eye. Odysseus decided to get Polyphemus drunk, once he was knocked out, he and his men would strike. Odysseus gave Polyphemus the liquor Eunthes son Maron had given him. Polyphemus drank until he was fuddled and flushed. Odysseus then told him his name was Nohbdy. After Polyphemus was asleep. Odysseus and his men went in for the kill.With the huge pike of olives, they blinded Polyphemus. The men escaped. The other Cyclopse asked Polyphemus who had blinded him. Polyphemus hollered Nohbdy, Nohbdys tricked me, Nohbdys tricked me! Odysseus and his men finally escaped and traveled to the islands of Aeolus, god of the winds. He gave Odysseus a bag of winds. Odysseus men felt that he wasnt sharing the treasures they opend the bag of winds and they blew them back to Aeolus. Later on in a thick forested land, the goddess Circe turned Odysseus men to pigs. Odysseus forced her to turn them back with a magical herb given to him by messenger god, Hermes.Odysseus was told by Tireseas, a blind prophet that he would eventually return home. He just couldnt injure Helios cattle. He would also meet the deadly sirens and Scylla who lives above a ship wrecking whirlpool named Charybdis. EPILOGUE Odysseus has now been gone for twenty years. His wife and everyone else think he is dead. Penelope has many suitors insisting that she marries one of them. Odysseuss son, Telemachus escapes an ambush planned by the suitors and ends up in Ithaca. Athena disguises Odysseus as an old beggar and tells him to live with a swineherd named Eumaeus. Telemachus knows of his fathers return, but tells nobody.He is the first of the Greek epic heroes to be renowned for his brain as well as his muscle. * Peisistratus   The gallant young son of Nestor. He is the companion of Telemachus on his journey through the Peloponnesus. * Philoetius   The chief cowherd of Odysseus; he is brave and loyal and, despite his age, stands besides his master during the battle with the suitors. 11. Statement of the theme or argument * Men, when they are courageous and lucky, even in a hostile environment, can overcome the odds against their survival.