Free Essays on Homers Odyssey: Death and Rebirth :: Odyssey essays

Odyssey Death and Rebirth in the Odyssey   The Odyssey, by bell ringer, is a classical piece of Greek literature. Throughout The Odyssey, the Blind Bard makes single-valued function of many literary techniques in order to lend meaning to the meter beyond its existence as a work of historic parable and aid his readers in the comprehension of the tale. One of these techniques is the use of melodic themes. A composition is a recurring theme that is use throughout the work. In The Odyssey, Homer makes use of many motifs including eating/drinking, Odysseuss anger, bathing, and disguise, just to name a few. However, perhaps the most important of Homers motifs is the symbolic death and rebirth theme. This motif is used throughout The Odyssey to emphasize the growth and enlightenment of the characters. The first example of this motif occurs with Telemachos early in the text. Telemachos, in book I, is visited by the goddess Athena in disguise. In their conversation, Telem achos reveals the bother and suffering that he is experiencing as a effect of living without k like a shoting the status of his father, fearing that he is dead. . . . and he left pain and lamentation to me. Nor is it for him alone that I grieve in my pain now (The Odyssey, Latimore, I. 242-3). Symbolically, at this point in the text, Telemachos is dead. He is willing to take no operation to save his home from the suitors or take any orifice to determine the status of his missing father. However, his symbolic death is not without a rebirth. Athene, disguised as Mentes, brings Telemachos back to life. She convinces him that he must take action to preserve his household and determine the fate of his father. This prompts Telemachos to take over his fathers procedure in the household and journey forward to gather information active his missing father. His rebirth is further carried out in the story when he is reunited with his father together, the two act to regain contr ol of their household from the dilapidated suitors. The next example of the death and rebirth motif occurs with our introduction to the storys of import character and hero, Odysseus. Homer introduces Odysseus on the Kalypsos island. On a purely oral level, Odysseuss stay with Kalypso