The Odyssey By Robert Fagles - 926 Words

Robert Fagles’ translation of the Odyssey delineates a journey as both a transformative and life-changing experience that does not necessitate physical travel. Such characters as Odysseus, Telemachus, Penelope, and Athena have undergone physical, imaginative, spiritual, and emotional travel, which has had a telling influence on their lives. The journeys have played a critical role in shaping, transforming, and developing the characters. This paper will detail the journeys undertaken by various characters in the Odyssey. Odysseus is the main character in the Odyssey. His journey is revealed as full of obstacles as he attempts to become more than a man by gaining preeminence over other mortals. He is depicted as unsurpassed in both prowess and power, which makes him regarded in the same lights as gods. By stating that â€Å"Now the master mariner steered his craft, sleep never closing his eyes† , Robert Fagles offers insight into the life of Odyssey as a master mariner and a venerated soldier. Subsequently, the true identity of Odysseus is revealed when he voraciously slaughters suitors. Robert Fagles’ Odyssey also details Odysseus journey as undertaking a musical bearing given the extreme control he demands from his peers and the harmony he brings to those around him. Through control, Odysseus is depicted as a powerful character. Compared to suitors, Odysseus has a comparatively methodical approach that gifts him courage in the face of life challenges. Being a cunning championShow MoreRelatedThe Odyssey By Robert Fitzgerald And Robert Fagles1326 Words   |  6 PagesTelemachus has finally completed his death-defying, long-enduring expedition, and has returned to Ithaca. In Homer’s The Odyssey, the house of Eumaeus is the first place Telemachus approaches, once he arrives on shore. Two interpretations put forth by Robert Fitzgerald and Robert Fagles lead to different portrayals of Eumaeus. Fagles’ translation initially lays out the idea that Eumaeus is the father figure Telemachus never had for the first two decades of his life, whereas Fitzge rald’s sets theRead MoreEssay on Epithet Chart for Homers Odyssey, Robert Fagles594 Words   |  3 PagesThe Odyssey Epithet Chart for Major Characters/Gods and Goddesses As you read the Odyssey list all the epithets you find for the following characters. Cite Book and line number Character Epithet – Book and line # ____________________________________________________________ ____________ Odysseus: -â€Å"the man of twists and turns† (I.1) -â€Å"Great Odysseus† (I.228) -â€Å"King Odysseus† (I.456) -â€Å"godlike man† (II.261) -â€Å"Odysseus of Ithaca† (II.277) -â€Å"Worldly Odysseus† (V.237) -â€Å"Long-enduringRead MoreAthena, The Goddess Of Wisdom And Strategy965 Words   |  4 PagesAthena, the goddess of wisdom and strategy, plays an intriguing role throughout The Odyssey. An example of this role is specifically shown in Book 19, as she is present with Odysseus and Telemachus in the halls. In this scene, Athena is shown holding a golden lamp in front of Telemachus and Odysseus as they walk the halls. Odysseus is able to see Athena is holding the lamp. However, Telemachus cannot see her and is bedazzled by the golden radiance and glow. As Homer states, Odysseus and his princelyRead MoreEssay about David Katan’s Translating Cultures1038 Words   |  5 PagesFitzgerald or Fagles? Translations are essential to us and our culture, because through ancient documents, inscriptions and books, historians and archeologists reconstruct the ancient societies and civilizations, as well as the story of our forefathers and the history of the entire human race. They allow communication between us and different countries and nations, whose language might be different from ours and this may create difficulties in being able to understand each other. However, translatorsRead More Important Role of Women in Homers Odyssey Essay examples1721 Words   |  7 Pages   For the Greeks, Homers Odyssey was much more than just an entertaining tale of gods, monsters, and men, it served as cultural paradigm from which every important role and relationship could be defined.   This book, much more so than its counter part The Iliad, gives an eclectic view of the Acheans peacetime civilization.   Through Odyssey, we gain an understanding of what is proper or improper in relationships between father and son, god and mortal, servant and master, guest and host, and--importantly--manRead MoreThe Odyssey - Telemachus Journey1219 Words   |  5 PagesWhen does a boy become a man? This rite of passage is explored in Robert Fagles translation of Homer s epic poem, The Odyssey. Odysseus (king of Ithaca) fought in the Trojan War for ten years and after the fall of Troy he spent the next ten years trying to get home. He left behind an infant son, Telemachus, and a devoted wife, Penelope. Although they longed for Odysseus return, Penelope and Telemachus were the perfect hosts to wayward strangers - even as their estate became overrun with arrogantRead MoreEssay on The Function of the Greek Chorus1002 Words   |  5 Pagestone, and serves as a mirror for the moral ambit of the audience that allows for relatively short works containing dense moral content. The typical chorus consists of mortal citizens, but a preface to this tool is seen in Homers epic poem, The Odyssey. As the saga opens, the Olympian gods are gathered in an assembly that is mimicked in later dramatic works. Not only do the gods provide information about Odysseuss plight, they discuss Orestess vengeance for his father and facilitate the introductionRead MoreHeoes of the Iliad and the Odyssey1610 Words   |  7 Pagesretribution by the gods and other men. The two, honor and pride are so intertwined with one another, that it can be hard to distinguish between the two. However, heroic mortal men like Achilles and Odysseus, whose stories are found within The Iliad and The Odyssey, experience and are often consumed by the damming vice of pride, or hubris, and therefore are subjected to the ramifications that come with their decisions. In order to distinguish between the actions done through honor, or pride, it is necessaryRead More A Comparison of Homeric Formalism in The Iliad and The Odyssey1339 Words   |  6 PagesHomeric Formalism in The Iliad and The Odyssey Much that is terrible takes place in the Homeric poems, but it seldom takes place wordlessly... no speech is so filled with anger or scorn that the particles which express logical and grammatical connections are lacking or out of place. (from Odysseus Scar by Erich Auerbach)    In his immaculately detailed study comparing the narrative styles of Homer to those of the Bible, Erich Auerbach hits upon one of the most notable intriguesRead More Aeneid and Odyssey - A Comparison between Aeneas, Achilles and Odysseus1031 Words   |  5 PagesAeneid and Odyssey - A Comparison between Aeneas, Achilles and Odysseus      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   A comparison between Virgils hero, Aeneas, and the Homeric heroes, Achilles and Odysseus, brings up the question concerning the relevance of the difference between the Homeric heroes and Aeneas. The differences in the poets concerns are explained by the fact that Virgil lived many years after Homer, giving Virgil the advantage of a more developed literary and philosophical society than Homer had at his disposal