Leticia Roberts World Literature Summer 1May 2011 Response 1
The two most prominent codes of behaviors in the society as depicted in the first half of the Odyssey are the Hospitality code and the Loyalty codes. The Hospitality code is one in which the guest must introduce himself or herself to the host and tell them the purpose of their visit, from what city and who their parents are. In this code of behavior in the society was depicted in the Epic the Hospitality of giving gifts to your guest, welcoming them and showing appreciation of their coming, to visit and bringing you news. Whether it is bad news or good news. Back in the days this is how the people got their news. An example of this hospitality code not being followed was, when Odysseus and his men went to the Cyclops cave for a visit. Polysemeus did not give Odysseus and his men any gifts, as is required by the code. Rather he ate his men instead. That was one of the reasons why Odysseus blinded the Cyclops for not following the Hospitality code. The Second prominent code of behavior shown in the first half of would be loyalty, for example, the King to his men, Gods to mortals, and husbands to wives servants to masters. The king is to protect his people or subjects and make wise decisions for his people. He is to think of what is best for his kingdom and the people, while his people are to honor him, respect him, and be loyal to him and his rules. In book I lines 245 to 251, Telemachos asks Mentes, who is Athene in disguise, that the suitors are acting up in such a way that they are destroying the house and don’t have any respect for Odysseus their king. Gods are to give advice, guidance, and help, while the mortals are to sacrifice animals, libations, build temples, pray, and obey the codes. In book I lines 271 to 305, the goddess Athene advices Telemachos to find out about his father and tell him what he needs to do to stop the madness in his house. Even in the absence of Odysseus his wife and son are still loyal to him.Fidelity is another code that can also gounder loyalty. A husband is to protect, provide, and treat his wife well, while she is to be sexually faithful to her husband. In book II lines 87 to 110, Penelope tried to throw off the suitors, so as to not have to marry one of them. She has been faithful to her husband ever since his departure from Ithaka.She deceives the suitors by weaving a basket all day and undoing it at night. Never finishing it. The behavior is consider cunning because she uses wisdom to stay loyal to her husband all the while weeping in her heart.
Essay Response #2
Leticia ROberts
World Literature
Summer 1
Dr.John Gruesser
What specific qualities or actions do you believe constitute heroic behavior and what qualities or actions disqualify a person from heroic status? Does Odysseus meet your standards for heroism? Why or why not?
The Following are Common qualities of a hero:Sacrifice is the forfiture of something highly valued for the sake of one considered to have a greater value or claim. Determination is a fixed intention or resolution; a firmness of purpse or resolve. * Loyalty is the feeling of allegiance or the act of binding oneself to a course of action.Courage is that firmness of spirit and swell of soul which meets danger without fear. Dedication is a selfless devotion; complete and whole hearted fidelity or the act of binding oneself to a course of action. Intrepidity is firm, unshaken courage. Valor is courage exhibited in war, and can not be applied to single combats. Selfless is the quality of unselfish concern for the welfare of others and acting with less concern for yourself. Conviciton is a fixed or strong belief; a necessity of the mind or an unshakable belief. Focused is the ability to direct one's energy toward a particular point or purpose; to concentrate one's energy
.Although Odysseus has many hero like qualities he still shows human flaws such as being selfish. He reveals this side by the way he treats his men. He let his men die by putting them in danger many times throughout the story. A perfect example of this is when he set sail through the more dangerous path because it was quicker. He knew the 6 headed monster was in their path and he still chose to go that way, losing more of his men. Odysseus also shows human flaws by entering the cyclopes’ cave. Odysseus is extremely irresponsible for entering the cave uninvited and was to blame for his men dying .When Odysseus was at the island of Kalypso, he had the choice to stay there and be treated extremely well as he was by the goddess Kalypso. Odysseuschose not to because he was missing his wife Penelope and his son Telemachos,He really just wanted to be back into his palace in Ithacka. He knew that it would have been dangerous to be out on the sea in order to get back home. He also knew that on top of that, he was going to face hardships and as a brave man, he insisted on what he heard and was willing to face any consequences and at last arrived at his palace. A person that is not a hero, could not have done what Odysseus did but not survived and overcome all the obstacles Odysseus did.
In addition another human flaw that he shows is Intrepidity, He is firm, unshaken courageous in battle and with the suitors. He does not let anyone go even the men that were begging for their lives. He doesnot show any mercy and that is not what a hero would have done. In this passage it shows how evil Odysseus really is. Showing no mercy when he says the following: “Eurymachos, if you gave me all your father’s possessions, all that you have now, and what you could add elsewhere, even so, I would not stay my hands from the slaughter, until I had taken revenge for all the suitors’ transgression” (XXII, 61-64). Odysseus shows no mercy and kills all the suitors.So although Odysseus has many God like qualities, he also has many human flaws. Odysseus is between a God and a human. He reveals a few hero like qualities and also shows non hero like qualities. He is a great man nonetheless and in the end saves Ithaka from ruins He fought for his country, his life and family indeed a true hero
World Literature
Summer 1May 2011
Response 1
The two most prominent codes of behaviors in the society as depicted in the first half of the Odyssey are the Hospitality code and the Loyalty codes.
The Hospitality code is one in which the guest must introduce himself or herself to the host and tell them the purpose of their visit, from what city and who their parents are. In this code of behavior in the society was depicted in the Epic the Hospitality of giving gifts to your guest, welcoming them and showing appreciation of their coming, to visit and bringing you news. Whether it is bad news or good news. Back in the days this is how the people got their news. An example of this hospitality code not being followed was, when Odysseus and his men went to the Cyclops cave for a visit. Polysemeus did not give Odysseus and his men any gifts, as is required by the code. Rather he ate his men instead. That was one of the reasons why Odysseus blinded the Cyclops for not following the Hospitality code. The Second prominent code of behavior shown in the first half of would be loyalty, for example, the King to his men, Gods to mortals, and husbands to wives servants to masters. The king is to protect his people or subjects and make wise decisions for his people. He is to think of what is best for his kingdom and the people, while his people are to honor him, respect him, and be loyal to him and his rules. In book I lines 245 to 251, Telemachos asks Mentes, who is Athene in disguise, that the suitors are acting up in such a way that they are destroying the house and don’t have any respect for Odysseus their king. Gods are to give advice, guidance, and help, while the mortals are to sacrifice animals, libations, build temples, pray, and obey the codes. In book I lines 271 to 305, the goddess Athene advices Telemachos to find out about his father and tell him what he needs to do to stop the madness in his house. Even in the absence of Odysseus his wife and son are still loyal to him.Fidelity is another code that can also gounder loyalty. A husband is to protect, provide, and treat his wife well, while she is to be sexually faithful to her husband. In book II lines 87 to 110, Penelope tried to throw off the suitors, so as to not have to marry one of them. She has been faithful to her husband ever since his departure from Ithaka.She deceives the suitors by weaving a basket all day and undoing it at night. Never finishing it. The behavior is consider cunning because she uses wisdom to stay loyal to her husband all the while weeping in her heart.
Essay Response #2
Leticia ROberts
World Literature
Summer 1
Dr.John Gruesser
What specific qualities or actions do you believe constitute heroic behavior and what qualities or actions disqualify a person from heroic status? Does Odysseus meet your standards for heroism? Why or why not?
The Following are Common qualities of a hero:Sacrifice is the forfiture of something highly valued for the sake of one considered to have a greater value or claim. Determination is a fixed intention or resolution; a firmness of purpse or resolve. * Loyalty is the feeling of allegiance or the act of binding oneself to a course of action.Courage is that firmness of spirit and swell of soul which meets danger without fear. Dedication is a selfless devotion; complete and whole hearted fidelity or the act of binding oneself to a course of action. Intrepidity is firm, unshaken courage. Valor is courage exhibited in war, and can not be applied to single combats. Selfless is the quality of unselfish concern for the welfare of others and acting with less concern for yourself. Conviciton is a fixed or strong belief; a necessity of the mind or an unshakable belief. Focused is the ability to direct one's energy toward a particular point or purpose; to concentrate one's energy
.Although Odysseus has many hero like qualities he still shows human flaws such as being selfish. He reveals this side by the way he treats his men. He let his men die by putting them in danger many times throughout the story. A perfect example of this is when he set sail through the more dangerous path because it was quicker. He knew the 6 headed monster was in their path and he still chose to go that way, losing more of his men. Odysseus also shows human flaws by entering the cyclopes’ cave. Odysseus is extremely irresponsible for entering the cave uninvited and was to blame for his men dying
.When Odysseus was at the island of Kalypso, he had the choice to stay there and be treated extremely well as he was by the goddess Kalypso. Odysseuschose not to because he was missing his wife Penelope and his son Telemachos,He really just wanted to be back into his palace in Ithacka. He knew that it would have been dangerous to be out on the sea in order to get back home. He also knew that on top of that, he was going to face hardships and as a brave man, he insisted on what he heard and was willing to face any consequences and at last arrived at his palace. A person that is not a hero, could not have done what Odysseus did but not survived and overcome all the obstacles Odysseus did.
In addition another human flaw that he shows is Intrepidity, He is firm, unshaken courageous in battle and with the suitors. He does not let anyone go even the men that were begging for their lives. He doesnot show any mercy and that is not what a hero would have done. In this passage it shows how evil Odysseus really is. Showing no mercy when he says the following: “Eurymachos, if you gave me all your father’s possessions, all that you have now, and what you could add elsewhere, even so, I would not stay my hands from the slaughter, until I had taken revenge for all the suitors’ transgression” (XXII, 61-64). Odysseus shows no mercy and kills all the suitors.So although Odysseus has many God like qualities, he also has many human flaws. Odysseus is between a God and a human. He reveals a few hero like qualities and also shows non hero like qualities. He is a great man nonetheless and in the end saves Ithaka from ruins He fought for his country, his life and family indeed a true hero