Revision of essay 2:
I believe there are many different qualities that contribute to heroic behavior. Courage is obviously the biggest quality a hero can have. I also think that a hero should be loyal, focused, brave, determined, be dedicated and be able to sacrifice himself. Usually a hero is viewed as a male figure, but it can be anyone. Odysseus has both heroic and non-heroic traits.
Odysseus shows different characteristics of being a hero throughout the poem. He is loyal to his men on the journey home because he watches out for them and has their back. He is also determined to get home, so he must have a lot of strength and courage in him. Also he shows bravery when he blinds Polyphemos and escapes the Cyclops cave, and makes many sacrifices to make sure the rest of his men are safe. He shows his intelligence when he states, “Dear friends, surely we are not unlearned in evils. This is no greater evil now than it was when the Cyclops had us cooped in his hollow cave by force and violence, but even there, by my courage and counsel and my intelligence, we escaped away.” (XII, 190,208-212)
What makes Odysseus not a hero, I think is a little lack of knowledge. I think it was stupid of him to reveal his name to Polyphemos. I could see why he wanted to reveal his name, so he can be remembered. However Polyphemos knew that someone was going to blind him, then after it happened, it knew it was Odysseus. Now Polyphemos has the name of the man he puts the curse on.
Even though Odysseus’ characteristics are both heroic and non-heroic, I still think that he can be considered as a hero. Odysseus showed loyalty, strength, courage, determination, bravery and dedication throughout the book. He also made some important sacrifices and had to focus on what he was after and put everything else aside. That is what partly makes up a hero.
Revision of essay 1:
The poem, The Odyessy, has many codes of behavior throughout the book. In the society of Ithaka, the depicted codes of behavior in the first half of the poem are: loyalty, hospitality, fidelity, reverence, cunning, endurance, and eloquence. The two codes of behavior that are the most important are loyalty and hospitality.
The first code of behavior that is most important is loyalty. Loyalty plays an important part throughout the entire book. Every character in the book feels that he or she has to be loyal to the head God Zeus. Therefore many of the characters try to be loyal to the ones that they feel they need to be loyal to. From the start, Penelope plans on staying loyal to Odysseus. She figures out a way to trick the suitors. She tells them who ever can shoot Odysseus’ arrow through twelve axes, will take her hand in marriage. Her words exactly were, “Hear me now, you haughty suitors, who have been using this house for your incessant eating and drinking, though it belongs to a man who has been gone for a long time; never have you been able to bring any other saying before me, but only your desire to make me your wife and marry me. But come, you suitors, since here is a prize set out before you; for I shall bring you the great bow of the godlike Odysseus. And the one who takes the bow in his hands, strings it with the greatest ease, and sends an arrow clean through all the twelve axes, shall be the one I go away with, forsaking this house where I was a bride, a lovely place and full of good living.” (XXI, 311, 68-78) Also, Telemachos and Eumaeus show loyalty toward Odysseus. Telemachos goes on a voyage to learn more about his father. Later in the play, Telemachus and Eumaeus stand by Odysseus and take on the suitors with him to win the palace back.
The other code of behavior that is mainly important is hospitality. Like loyalty, the characters all try to follow the rules of hospitality. For example, even though Penelope does not want the suitors in her palace, she still lets them eat and drink. The code of hospitality states that if a guest comes to your place to provide information, it is that they are to receive food, drinks, shelter, entertainment and gifts. That is why Penelope let the suitors stay instead of kicking them out. Another character that shows hospitality is Menelaos. Menelaos shows it to Telemachos when he asks to leave Sparta. He wants Telemachos to stay but at the same time he explains how he can’t make him. Menelaos says to Telemachos, “Telemachos, I for my part never will long detain you here when you strain for home. I would disapprove of another hospitable man who was excessive in friendship, as of one excessive in hate. In all things balance is beter. It is equally bad when one speeds on the guest unwilling to go, and when he holds back one who is hastening. Rather one should befriend the guest who is there, but speed him when he wishes.”(XV,227, 68-74)
In conclusion, I think that loyalty and hospitality are the two most important codes of behavior. I think so because they are expressed often and more then the other codes of behavior.
Two:
A hero is normally described as a person who is admired for their courageous act or noble qualities. It can be male or female, but most people consider a hero to be more of the male figure. In the poem, The Odyssey, Odysseus shows many characteristics of a hero in my opinion.
Odysseus shows heroic characteristics when he fights the Cyclops and blinds him with a stick. In Book IX, Odysseus and his men arrive at a cave, which is on the land of the Cyclopes. They decide to enter it and make themselves at home. The Cyclops, Polyphemos didn’t approve of this so he started to eat some of the men alive. This is where Odysseus’ heroism shines through. He finds and stick and sharpens it and hides it. He then plans to poke of the Cyclops eye out, and so he did. He saved the rest of his men.
I think when Odysseus decides to reveal his name to the Cyclopes is one mistake that he shouldn’t of made. I guess he was trying to be a hero in a way, because he wanted to be remembered but then again I don’t think it was a good idea to tell his name. The Cyclops knew a man was going to blind him, and at first he didn’t know who it was but now he obviously knows it was Odysseus.
Even though Odysseus’ characteristics of a hero can go both ways. I still think that he can be considered as a hero. I do think it wasn’t smart to reveal his name to Polyphemos, but then again he did save the rest of his men from being eaten alive. And that I think is very courageous of him to come up with that plan.
One:
The poem, The Odessy, has many codes of behavior throughout the book. In the society of Ithaka, the depicted codes of behavior in the first half of the poem are: loyalty, hospitality, fidelity, reverence, cunning, endurance, and eloquence. The two codes of behavior that are the most important are loyalty and hospitality.
The first code of behavior that is most important is loyalty. Loyalty plays an important part throughout the entire book though. Every character in the book feels that they have to be loyal to the head God Zeus. Therefore many of the characters try to be loyal to the ones that they feel they need to be loyal to. From the start, Penelope plans on staying loyal to Odysseus. Throughout the book she commits to her plan. Even when the suitors come into her palace and basically take over, she finds ways to trick them and she does not want anything to do with them, she waits for Odysseus to come home.
The other code of behavior that is mainly important is hospitality. Like loyalty, the characters all try to follow the rules of hospitality. For example, even though Penelope does not want the suitors in her palace, she still lets them eat, drink and talk to the other women there. The code for hospitality states that if a guest comes to your place for information, it is that they are to receive a gift. That is why Penelope let the suitors stay instead of kicking them out. Also the Cyclops shows hospitality even though he is angry that Odysseus and his men were in his cave. Odysseus and his men entered the cave and started the eat the Cyclopes food. When the Cyclops came into his cave he questioned them. Odysseus said they came for information and in return they needed a gift. Even though the gift wasn’t a real gift, the Cyclops said as the gift, he would eat them. Cyclops states, “Then I will eat nobody after his friends, and the others I will eat first, and that shall be my guest present to you” (IX, 369-70). That is still following the code of hospitality.
In conclusion, I think that loyalty and hospitality are the two most important codes of behavior. I think so because they are expressed often and more then the other codes of behavior.
I believe there are many different qualities that contribute to heroic behavior. Courage is obviously the biggest quality a hero can have. I also think that a hero should be loyal, focused, brave, determined, be dedicated and be able to sacrifice himself. Usually a hero is viewed as a male figure, but it can be anyone. Odysseus has both heroic and non-heroic traits.
Odysseus shows different characteristics of being a hero throughout the poem. He is loyal to his men on the journey home because he watches out for them and has their back. He is also determined to get home, so he must have a lot of strength and courage in him. Also he shows bravery when he blinds Polyphemos and escapes the Cyclops cave, and makes many sacrifices to make sure the rest of his men are safe. He shows his intelligence when he states, “Dear friends, surely we are not unlearned in evils. This is no greater evil now than it was when the Cyclops had us cooped in his hollow cave by force and violence, but even there, by my courage and counsel and my intelligence, we escaped away.” (XII, 190,208-212)
What makes Odysseus not a hero, I think is a little lack of knowledge. I think it was stupid of him to reveal his name to Polyphemos. I could see why he wanted to reveal his name, so he can be remembered. However Polyphemos knew that someone was going to blind him, then after it happened, it knew it was Odysseus. Now Polyphemos has the name of the man he puts the curse on.
Even though Odysseus’ characteristics are both heroic and non-heroic, I still think that he can be considered as a hero. Odysseus showed loyalty, strength, courage, determination, bravery and dedication throughout the book. He also made some important sacrifices and had to focus on what he was after and put everything else aside. That is what partly makes up a hero.
Revision of essay 1:
The poem, The Odyessy, has many codes of behavior throughout the book. In the society of Ithaka, the depicted codes of behavior in the first half of the poem are: loyalty, hospitality, fidelity, reverence, cunning, endurance, and eloquence. The two codes of behavior that are the most important are loyalty and hospitality.
The first code of behavior that is most important is loyalty. Loyalty plays an important part throughout the entire book. Every character in the book feels that he or she has to be loyal to the head God Zeus. Therefore many of the characters try to be loyal to the ones that they feel they need to be loyal to. From the start, Penelope plans on staying loyal to Odysseus. She figures out a way to trick the suitors. She tells them who ever can shoot Odysseus’ arrow through twelve axes, will take her hand in marriage. Her words exactly were, “Hear me now, you haughty suitors, who have been using this house for your incessant eating and drinking, though it belongs to a man who has been gone for a long time; never have you been able to bring any other saying before me, but only your desire to make me your wife and marry me. But come, you suitors, since here is a prize set out before you; for I shall bring you the great bow of the godlike Odysseus. And the one who takes the bow in his hands, strings it with the greatest ease, and sends an arrow clean through all the twelve axes, shall be the one I go away with, forsaking this house where I was a bride, a lovely place and full of good living.” (XXI, 311, 68-78) Also, Telemachos and Eumaeus show loyalty toward Odysseus. Telemachos goes on a voyage to learn more about his father. Later in the play, Telemachus and Eumaeus stand by Odysseus and take on the suitors with him to win the palace back.
The other code of behavior that is mainly important is hospitality. Like loyalty, the characters all try to follow the rules of hospitality. For example, even though Penelope does not want the suitors in her palace, she still lets them eat and drink. The code of hospitality states that if a guest comes to your place to provide information, it is that they are to receive food, drinks, shelter, entertainment and gifts. That is why Penelope let the suitors stay instead of kicking them out. Another character that shows hospitality is Menelaos. Menelaos shows it to Telemachos when he asks to leave Sparta. He wants Telemachos to stay but at the same time he explains how he can’t make him. Menelaos says to Telemachos, “Telemachos, I for my part never will long detain you here when you strain for home. I would disapprove of another hospitable man who was excessive in friendship, as of one excessive in hate. In all things balance is beter. It is equally bad when one speeds on the guest unwilling to go, and when he holds back one who is hastening. Rather one should befriend the guest who is there, but speed him when he wishes.”(XV,227, 68-74)
In conclusion, I think that loyalty and hospitality are the two most important codes of behavior. I think so because they are expressed often and more then the other codes of behavior.
Two:
A hero is normally described as a person who is admired for their courageous act or noble qualities. It can be male or female, but most people consider a hero to be more of the male figure. In the poem, The Odyssey, Odysseus shows many characteristics of a hero in my opinion.
Odysseus shows heroic characteristics when he fights the Cyclops and blinds him with a stick. In Book IX, Odysseus and his men arrive at a cave, which is on the land of the Cyclopes. They decide to enter it and make themselves at home. The Cyclops, Polyphemos didn’t approve of this so he started to eat some of the men alive. This is where Odysseus’ heroism shines through. He finds and stick and sharpens it and hides it. He then plans to poke of the Cyclops eye out, and so he did. He saved the rest of his men.
I think when Odysseus decides to reveal his name to the Cyclopes is one mistake that he shouldn’t of made. I guess he was trying to be a hero in a way, because he wanted to be remembered but then again I don’t think it was a good idea to tell his name. The Cyclops knew a man was going to blind him, and at first he didn’t know who it was but now he obviously knows it was Odysseus.
Even though Odysseus’ characteristics of a hero can go both ways. I still think that he can be considered as a hero. I do think it wasn’t smart to reveal his name to Polyphemos, but then again he did save the rest of his men from being eaten alive. And that I think is very courageous of him to come up with that plan.
One:
The poem, The Odessy, has many codes of behavior throughout the book. In the society of Ithaka, the depicted codes of behavior in the first half of the poem are: loyalty, hospitality, fidelity, reverence, cunning, endurance, and eloquence. The two codes of behavior that are the most important are loyalty and hospitality.
The first code of behavior that is most important is loyalty. Loyalty plays an important part throughout the entire book though. Every character in the book feels that they have to be loyal to the head God Zeus. Therefore many of the characters try to be loyal to the ones that they feel they need to be loyal to. From the start, Penelope plans on staying loyal to Odysseus. Throughout the book she commits to her plan. Even when the suitors come into her palace and basically take over, she finds ways to trick them and she does not want anything to do with them, she waits for Odysseus to come home.
The other code of behavior that is mainly important is hospitality. Like loyalty, the characters all try to follow the rules of hospitality. For example, even though Penelope does not want the suitors in her palace, she still lets them eat, drink and talk to the other women there. The code for hospitality states that if a guest comes to your place for information, it is that they are to receive a gift. That is why Penelope let the suitors stay instead of kicking them out. Also the Cyclops shows hospitality even though he is angry that Odysseus and his men were in his cave. Odysseus and his men entered the cave and started the eat the Cyclopes food. When the Cyclops came into his cave he questioned them. Odysseus said they came for information and in return they needed a gift. Even though the gift wasn’t a real gift, the Cyclops said as the gift, he would eat them. Cyclops states, “Then I will eat nobody after his friends, and the others I will eat first, and that shall be my guest present to you” (IX, 369-70). That is still following the code of hospitality.
In conclusion, I think that loyalty and hospitality are the two most important codes of behavior. I think so because they are expressed often and more then the other codes of behavior.