"Thirty years ago my older brother, who was ten years old at the time, was trying to get a report on birds written that he'd had three months to write, which was due the next day. We were out at our family cabin in Bolinas, and he was at the kitchen table close to tears, surrounded by binder paper and pencils and unopened books on birds, immobilized by the hugeness of the task ahead. Then my father sat down beside him, put his arm around my brother's shoulder, and said, "Bird by bird, buddy. Just take it bird by bird."
You're writing an essay, not a report; and you have only 3 weeks, not 3 months. Still, the advice is good. Take it one step at a time. (Which implies that you must, in fact, take a step - [read: write] - at some point.)
To help you get started, for this week's blog please post a comment about your upcoming paper topic. I realize we haven't conferenced yet and that your ideas are still quite possibly nascent. Be that as it may, I'll happily take it upon myself to nudge you along. Please give
- a brief description of your overarching topic
- why/how it caught your interest and attention while reading
- your proposed thesis - the position or idea for which you'll be presenting textual evidence.
It's quite possible that some of you will have a similar topic, but you should each have a unique thesis.
Posts are due by midnight on Thursday, September 22.
I am aware that I have blogged about this topic before, but it is an interesting and reoccurring topic to me. I really enjoy watching Telemachus mature and become a man throughout the book. He starts off as an unsure juvenile, who sits at home and wonders about his father and what he will do with his life, until Athena nudges and sort of kick starts his adventure. It is extremely relative to anyone the age group 18-22 leaving home for college for 4 years when one thinks "well it is time to start growing up and standing on my own two feet," which is exactly how this gained my attention. When Telemachus meets Menelaus he says "Your father's son you are-- your words have all his wisdom." (Book 4, line 229) Though this may at first be thought of as reassuring for Telemachus, it also is an empty compliment because Telemachus doesn't know of his fathers wisdom, only his abandonment. I pictured Telemachus at this point thinking how he doesn't want to be compared to his father as much as he'd like to be evaluated as a man himself. In my essay I noted the definition of Odyssey: a long and eventful or adventurous journey. Then I state my thesis, The title of the Odyssey carries parallel narratives, one of Odysseus' journey home from his triumphs in Troy, and Telemachus' eventful and lively transformation from an adolescent to an adult.
ReplyDeleteMy topic is one that we have discussed once before in a blog post. I really loved the theme of how much influence gods have in controlling the fate of immortals and mortals. The Gods are seen controlling one another when Zeus sends a messager to urge Calypso to release Odysseus, for example. But they also have a large role in the fate of mortals. Some proof to back up the claim that the Gods know for the most part the fate of certain mortals is in book 20 lines 82-83, "Zeus who knows all, all that's fated, all not fated, for mortal men". This one quote gives evidence to back up the fact that the gods know and can control what happens to mortals, as Athena constantly does for Odysseus. She in particular is always involved in saving Odysseus from his fatal adventures and she has such a large role in guiding him in his actions so that he can make wise decisions that his otherwise impulsive self would not have taken. My thesis will sound something like this: Immortals are seen throughout The Odyssey guiding or urging others, mortals or immortals alike, to do something, but one God in particular, Athena, is very involved in the life of one mortal, Odysseus and her relationship with him changes as she guides him through many different trials and tribulations on his journey home.
ReplyDeleteMy overarching topic is the use and purpose of animal symbolism in The Odyssey. The many vivid animal metaphors seem more relatable to me, as the reader. Other comparisons, for example the shipwrecked sailor simile (Page 463 Line 262) has little relevance in present times. However, descriptions containing lions or geese make sense to the modern mind, since we have contact with these creatures either firsthand or through the media. Therefore the imageries increase perception of the characters and plot. Finally, my thesis: The use of animal symbolism throughout The Odyssey provides relevant insight into characters’ personality and also foreshadows impending events.
ReplyDeleteThe relationship between the gods and man, and the question of agency in The Odyssey. This first caught my attention in the second page when Zeus refers to men saying “they compound their pains beyond their proper share” (1.78). This almost seemed to me that men make their own destinies worse even though the gods try to influence decisions and events. So, does man really have any say? As I followed it throughout the book I found that gods seemed to be aware of the happening of men past, present, and future, but they more tried to influence the decisions. This occurred in the case of Aegisthus, and with Odysseus several times throughout his journey. Many of the gods explain that “you must decide for yourself” (12.64). Therefore, as the trials of Odysseus and other characters carry on it can be found that while the gods are influential to both themselves and men, no one person or creature has complete control over another.
ReplyDeleteMy topic is about the role of the goddess Athena as a mentor towards the mortals, Odysseus and Telemachus. We see from the very beginning of the poem that the gods are intertwined in the mortal’s lives, but Athena’s actions are quite selective. Her behavior is very specific, often directing and protecting, always acting as a guide for Odysseus and Telemachus. Numerous times in the poem Athena is described as “guiding, urging or directing” Odysseus and Telemachus what to, or not to do in a situation. In the opening book Telemachus states “You’ve counseled me with so much kindness now,” thanking her for pushing him to voyage on to find news of his father (1. 354). Here we see an example of Athena aiding Telemachus without his request. I found it interesting that soon enough, Telemachus and Odysseus recognize that she is assisting them. Once you reach the end of the poem, you start to see an actual dependency on Athena, especially in the battle scene with Odysseus and the suitors. Homer shows this by stating, “Athena swept in and Odysseus, thrilled to see her, cried out…” making you feel the reliance on Athena by Odysseus (22. 215). Athena’s actions and the recognition of these actions set her apart from the other gods in the Odyssey, not only adding onto the journeys of Odysseus and Telemachus but creating a story of her own.
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ReplyDeleteMy overarching topic for my paper is going to be about marriages in the Odyssey. Not just marriages between a man and his wife, but marriages (as in relationships) between mortals and immortals, or mortals/immortals and their love of recognition, power, wisdom, etc. This subject originally caught my attention after observing the different marriages between the mortals in the book. How so many of them seem to be broken up by affairs but it's usually the unfaithfulness of the woman that's makes the difference and not the unfaithfulness of the man. I'm going to try to show how marriages in the book reflect each person's character in the book or how they treat others (in any relationship that they're in). And how it seems that people who are what we call "good" have better marriages and relationships and people who we would say are "bad" don't have as strong marriages or character. I also want to point out the problem with immortal and mortal relationships and that they don't work because mortals and immortals have different goals and responsibilities.
ReplyDeleteAt first I was intrigued by the overall general theme of women as plunder of war and all the history that entails with this topic. I then realized that I would need most of my citations from the Illiad and not the Odyssey. Another aspect that I was enthralled with was the idea that there are differences within women. This point eventually developed into my thesis. Although women are seen as inherently innocent and respectable throughout history, within The Odyssey women are deemed to be either "good" or "bad" based solely upon their sexual behaviors. Two examples that illustrate this point are that of Penelope and Clytemnestra. Penelope is at first described as an individual that "no one could equal (Book 2 Line135)". She wept all day and all night for her Odysseus and even came up with two tests of cunning so as to extending her loyalty to her husband. She even tests Odysseus so as not to be unloyal in the slightest in Book 23. Clytemnestra on the otherhand was openly unfaithful towards her husband. Agamemnon speaks of the events in Book 11 lines 470-500. He describes her as "my treacherous queen," and later goes on to speak of women such as his wife as "nothing more deadly, bestial than a woman set on works like these...bathes in shame not only herself but the whole breed of womankind, even the honest ones to come (line 492)." This in short was saying that one bad apple out of the bushel gives the rest a spoiled and rotten name. These are two extremes of the infidelity spectrum of course but I believe that it illustrates the idea that infidelity is a major basis and/or standard for the women in The Odyssey.
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ReplyDeleteMy topic will begin with discussing how in the beginning of the book you are not introduced to the main character Odysseus. From chapter one in the book you are introduced to his son Telemachus and are able to formulate what Odysseus is like even though you have not been introduced to him. I became interested in this topic when I recognized that as I read a book I like to be able to visualize the characters. In the beginning you hear Odysseus described as the “Great Odysseus who excels all men in wisdom, excels in offerings too he gives the immortal gods” (1.78). As I read I recognized that I was always going to keep the phrase in my head “Like father, like son.” That way as I read the book when I would get descriptions and actions about Telemachus I would try and apply them to the Odysseus that I had not met. In book 4 you hear Menelaus look and describe Telemachus to look like his father by his hands and feet (4.163). This gave me the chance to be able to get a description about Telemachus and be able to apply it to the character of Odysseus. Little by little you do get introduced to Odysseus as a character and have to try and understand him. In book 5 you are introduced to Odysseus and when you are it is stated, “Off he sat on a headland, weeping there as always, wrenching his heart with sobs and groans (5.93). In my paper I will take examples like these and formulate a paper to prove that Telemachus is like his father. My thesis: In the book the Odyssey you experience the relationship between a father and a son that resemble each other through their appearance, actions, and emotions and therefore are able to learn more about the characters through reading about each of them.
ReplyDeleteThe motive of this paper is the ambiguous relationship between the gods and humanity. I want to convey to you my reader, what the thrust was that the gods were using in acting as they were toward humanity, and what type of ringleading led them to be such an influence in this 2,700 year old epic poem.
ReplyDeleteWhy I am writing this this way is because while reading Robert Fagles interpretation of "The Odyssey" I kept notes in the margin. The relationship between the gods and the mortals I found interesting,"The queen, going up to her lofty well-lit room, fell to weeping for Odysseus, her beloved husband, till watchful Athena sealed her eyes with welcome sleep"(16,499-01). Also I noted how Homer explained the gods power in there own right, unleashing supernatural occurrences, "With that he rammed the clouds together- both hands clutching his trident- churning his waves into chaos, ect.."(5,321-22). Instead of following a lot of the print, what the gods were saying and doing made this narrative more exclusive to me as a reader.
In "The Odyssey", immortal gods and humanity clashed, they clashed so hard that they were pretty much at the end of each others rope. What I mean by that is, the gods game was the mortals and the mortals game was survival. In this essay I want to introduce you to some acts and to some really simple thought of how the gods played humanity like "training day". Also points about the gods and what is said about spoils, and whose hand is deciding fate. Humanity is taking their life much to hard, I'm going to prove that the mortal is not a puppet on any level by the end of this paper.
My topic is the ability for mortals to trust immortals. The gods do not trust each other; Hermes helps Odysseus to fight against Circe (10. 302-340) and Calypso (5. 108-163), and yet the mortals are still supposed to trust the gods. As I was reading, I was intrigued that it did not seem as though the gods worked together and they went behind each other’s backs to carry out a plan. These parts in The Odyssey made me question whether the mortals could trust the gods. My thesis will be something along the following lines: The gods in The Odyssey cannot trust each other, they weave schemes against each other often, but yet mortals are expected to trust the gods; mortals cannot trust the gods if the gods cannot trust each other.
ReplyDeleteThroughout the entire narrative I couldn’t help but think that the story was just as much, if not more, of Athena’s story than Odysseus’ or Telemachus’. Maybe it’s just my interest in gods and goddesses that sparked it, or maybe it is because I found myself caring about Athena more than any other character in the story; regardless, my essay will put Athena in the limelight. We discussed the personal growths that Odysseus and Telemachus experienced throughout the tale; and I completely agree that they both grew, but Athena experienced growth as well. Athena was serving as a mentor, a protector, and a mediator in the tale, how could she not grow? In the beginning of the narrative Athena seems very young and timid, notably when addressing Zeus and asking him of what Odysseus’ fate will be (79. 53-75). In book 24, Athena really shows her power and maturity when she commands the fighters and Odysseus to make peace (485. 486-602). The changes in Athena left me with this vision of a strong, powerful, intelligent, adult-like goddess. My thesis will read something like the following: Though The Odyssey is often described as Odysseus’ journey home to Itacha, the narrative is just as much, if not more, about the growth of the characters; specifically Athena, and how by the end of the narrative she has grown into the goddess the needs to be.
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ReplyDeleteI have chosen to focus on the character of Odysseus because it has captured my attention with its complexity. More specifically, I will be looking at how the text portrayed him throughout the book and how it played a significant role in the purpose of the last chapter. The important characteristics of Odysseus for the author was very evident as the book came to an end. This contradicted my own desires, along with many others, for the ending. However, that wasn’t of greatest importance to the author and maybe of the quality characteristics of the time, so it put a different spin on the book. Either way, it’s important to acknowledge because the last chapter is crucial to the overall perception of The Odyssey, and Odysseus’ character contributes to a large portion of that. It either brings closure to the experience or not. This caught my interest while reading because I enjoy learning of peoples’ characters and how others interact with their environment and respond to different situations. It interests me how authors portray different characters and the significance behind how their characters make up a story. All of this plays into my own beliefs and feelings toward the last chapter.
ReplyDeleteAs a thesis I may start with: The characteristics of Odysseus that are portrayed throughout the text feed into the purpose of the conclusion and, according to the author, the important characteristics of a hero during this time which cause unmet hopes and expectations in many readers.
During the readings, I was very interested in Odysseus's relationships with women. There are many, and they all seem to be focused around two things; sex and power. This caught my attention after Odysseus meets Princess Narcissus and how she starts to fall in love with him. I also was interested after our discussion we had in class about Athena's relationship with Odysseus and how she seems to follow him around like a "middle school girl". Odysseus's relationship with men in the book seem less crucial and not as important as his relationships with women. Women seem to control Odysseus's journey home and are constantly preventing him from getting home. Helen was the very reason he left Ithaca in the first place and Athena is the reason he ever finds his way back twenty years later. My thesis will go something like this: In the Odyssey, Odysseus's journey is directly affected by his relationships with various women and the constant struggle of power he has over the opposing sex.
ReplyDeleteMy topic will be concerning the value of Odysseus's cunning over his strength in his journey home to Ithaca. Although it is no secret that Odysseus is a man of great strength, what interests me more is his strategic personality and quick wit that gets him out of trouble. This topic caught my attention from the very beginning, as he is referred as "The man of twists and turns " (77.1) I started to take note of all the times he used his cunning to get out of trouble, such as with Polyphemus and his uses with disguises and made up stories. In my opinion, any man can be capable of great strength, but it takes a special person to have the quick mind to get out of trouble and think on one's feet. Without these qualities, Odysseus would not have made it back to Ithaca and his family. My Thesis will be similar to this: In the Odyssey, more importance is placed on cunning than strength in the character of Odysseus and his journey home.
ReplyDeleteThe main point of interest about The Odyssey for me is the "growth" of Odysseus that everyone talks about after reading the book. Anytime I have read this story, Odysseus to me is as irrational and egotistical as he was in the beginning. I will say there are points in time where he seems to learn something about patience and not being as cocky as he is, but they are always followed shortly after by some act of idiocy to satisfy his self-centered ego, i.e. immediately after escaping the cave of the cyclops (9.531-9.536) or when Athena called off the ending battle (24.590). My thesis will sound something like this: In the Odyssey, all characters learn some valuable trait throughout the story except for Odysseus, who in the end turns out, despite all the adventures and hardships he endures, exactly as boastful and irrational as he was in the beginning.
ReplyDeleteFor my paper I am addressing the theme of prayers. Throughout the entire story I also took note of how often prayers were offered up to the gods. It sparked my interest because my initial thoughts were that the majority of the prayers were asking for something in return. This intrigued me because I often think of prayers as giving thanks, not asking for an action to be taken. I am not a religious person, but I do find religion to be a very interesting topic. My proposed thesis for this paper is that the prayers throughout this story do not just merely serve as prayers; they may also serve as some sort of narrative tool. The placement of the prayers could possibly provide an inside look into the story or may mark important places. I am going to find out what type of purpose the prayers are serving by creating a chart where I identify each prayer, the receiver and giver of the prayer, the content of the prayer, the context of the prayer, and where this prayer takes place. Once this is done I will hopefully be able to make a conclusion about what type of narrative purpose the prayers serve.
ReplyDeleteHaving read the Odyssey and Out of the Silent Planet I have decided to write my paper on Out of the Silent Planet. Though I did not particularly care for the story of the book, I think there are certain themes throughout the story that are very meaningful, to me in particular. For instance, there is a strong distinction between what it mens to be "bent" and "broken". The first time I read this book I was very intrigued by this theme, and saw it throughout some of C.S Lewis' other books as well. It is also something I feel I could write a lot about. I supposed I am not positive about what exactly I am going to write-seeing as that I have not had my meeting yet- however, my essential question might go something like this: In Lewis' "Out of the Silent Planet" there is a strong theme of people being either bent or broken: how does Lewis distinguish between the two and what constitutes this throughout the story. Obviously this is not my final topic or question but I feel that I am able to write a legitimate paper on the difference between the two.
ReplyDeleteMy topic is based on the overarching theme of cunning and deception. The theme is introduced in the very first line of the book, describing Odysseus as “a man of twists and turns,” (1,1). Additionally, Penelope constructs a “masterpiece of guile,” (2, 101) when weaving a shroud to delay the suitors’ courting, Athena claims, “I am famous among the gods for wisdom, cunning wiles, too,” (13, 338), and Agamemnon is murdered by his wife’s deceit, for Zeus’s trustiest weapon is women’s wiles (11, 496). Craft is also apparent through the number of characters appearing in disguise, including Odysseus, Menelaus, and Athena. This topic caught my attention because of the continual triumph of cunning over strength, specifically when Menelaus overcame the superhuman strength of Proteus through fallacy. The supremacy of wits is again evident when Odysseus escapes Polyphemus and during the defeat of the suitors. Therefore, my thesis states: While strength proves to be a valuable character trait, Homer’s The Odyssey suggests that the power of cunning and guile consistently outweighs that of superior strength.
ReplyDeleteThe topic I am choosing to write about in my paper is about the father son relationships throughout this epic poem. When I first think of father son relationships in the Odyssey, I think of Odysseus and Telemachus. But there are many more relationships that have a major impact on the book. We learn in the first few pages that Poseidon is fuming against Odysseus for blinding the Cyclops giant eye (1.82). Even though it is not said, Poseidon is the Cyclops’s father. A theme throughout this book is revenge. I have seen revenge for disrespect, dishonor, and false doings against ones son. I find it interesting that fathers in this book always seem to stick up for their sons, even if they know it is not right. An example of this is Eupithes, Antinous’ father (24. 470). The father son relationships caught my eye when I realized that they mentioned a name, then who that person’s father was. I also noticed it whenever characters where asking questions to a stranger, they always asked who their father was. It is almost as if whoever your father is, matter on who you will become.
ReplyDeleteFor my paper, I will be investigating the trust and distrust between Odysseus and his men. There are many examples of trust throughout the book. We see it every time the men go ahead of Odysseus to investigate a situation or follow his orders without question. They stuck with Odysseus from the time that they left Troy till the time of their death and that shows a great deal of trust. On the other hand there are also a few key instances of distrust. One that we have noted in class, how the men will make their own decisions and change course every time that Odysseus falls asleep. As well as when the men ate from the Sun Gods Land when “Zeus hit the craft with a lightning bolt and thunder.” (284.447)Leading to all of the men’s death. It seems that the gods are blamed for Odysseus’ returning alone but is that the case? Therefore my thesis statement will go along the lines of; In the Odyssey, Odysseus returns to home alone, thought to be the work of the gods, but was trust a factor in the loss of his men on their journey from Troy.
ReplyDeleteThe topic of my paper is monsters. Though these characters didn't immediately capture my interest, they serve as very interesting characters to dissect. The one thing I've noticed is that the monsters all depict some aspect of human weakness. For example, the Sirens symbolize lust, the cattle stand for gluttony, the winds envy, and so on. The object of the adventure - or Odyssey if you will - is always to defeat the monster, somehow overcome the obstacle just as in life, we strive to overpower our weaknesses. Though on the surface, the Odyssey is a tale of an epic hero trying to find his way home, on a deeper level, the poem exploits human weaknesses and the constant battle to overcome them through the many monsters Odysseus encounters.
ReplyDeleteUnlike most everyone else, I am going to write about Out of the Silent Planet. I did not care for the Odyssey and was pretty much lost throughout the entire book. Although I have only read the first 6 chapters of Out of the Silent Planet, I think I have found an interesting topic to write about and one I can back up. I will be writing about Ransom's attitute throughout the story and how it affects his journey. He really seems to "just go with it" no matter what situation he is in. I will argue and prove that his attitude caused him to remain safe and allow him to return to Earth. I hope this topic will work..? I may need to modify as I continue to read the book.
ReplyDeleteFor my paper I'll be using the book Out of The Silent Planet. One of the overarching themes of this book is the main character's growth in terms of his courage. In the beginning of the book, the main character, Ransom, is depicted as a timid and lonely person lacking a much needed backbone, in terms of his demeanor. I became interested right away in him, not only because he is the main character and thus a round character in this story, but because of the drastic changes he overcomes throughout the challenges he faces. I'm not sure what my thesis will be, but I'd like to propose something about the changes that occur within Ransom versus the changes within other characters of the book.
ReplyDeleteMy goal is to write a paper on the book we are diving into at the moment, Out of the Silent Planet. I have only completed the first six chapters of the book, but I have already noticed several themes, such as the characters traits, the main character, Ransom, and his growth in character, and the descriptive patterns that are occurring. I am not concrete on a thesis, because I would like to delve further into the book, before deciding what is the best theme to go with.
ReplyDeleteIf I complete Out of the Silent Planet and I do not have a strong pull as to a theme, then I will go with a theme from The Odyssey. This theme is based around Athena's character. The thesis would relate to her growing and changing as a goddess throughout the book and how she controls man rather than guides him. This fact plays in the later chapters of the book.
I believe that I want to write about Odysseus and how it is his role at home that seems to bring the man out in him. It appears that it is his role as a father and a husband that makes him a man with "his heart set on his wife and his return" (78. 16) and "who excels all men in wisdom, excels in offerings too" (79. 80). This caught my interest because I perceived Odysseus differently throughout the story. At first I had a sense of respect towards him reading about how others described him. Then I met the man in Book Five, and found him to be very full of himself and childish in many ways. At the end of the story when Odysseus finally returns home, I found him to be a great man as he was described in the beginning. I feel like the it was his relationship and responsibilities he had at home that made him pull through. It was the home stretch for him, he either was going to get rid of the suitors or give up. In the end, I believe that he was facing his enemy, and once faced with it he had to make a choice. I believe that it was his family influence that brought him his realization. I have not had my meeting yet, but my thesis could be how it is Odysseus's family and the expectations from his role in that family that push him to defend his position. When he was away at war, it was as though he was a different person. When he was gone at sea for twenty years, I do not believe that it was just his body that was lost, but also his identity.
ReplyDeleteI will be writing about the book Out of the Silent Planet for my paper. Although I did not hate reading the Odyssey, I did not love it. For Out of the Silent Planet I have read only the first 6 chapters, but have read a few reviews about the book also. An interesting topic that came up that I would like to focus on while reading the book is racism. I have always been around many people of different backgrounds, cultures, and races a majority of my life. I am so used to being open to those that are 'different,' it intrigues me as to how others cannot be. In one conversation in the book between Devine and Weston, degradation is apparent. Weston speaking of the inhabitants says "If you're so fond of the brutes as that you'd better stay and interbreed--if they have sexes, which we don't know yet. Don''t you worry. When the time comes for cleaning the place up we'll save on or two for you, and you can keep them as pets or vivisect them or sleep with them or all three--whichever way it takes you...Yes, I know. Perfectly loathsome. I was only joking. Good night." (p36). In just this one passage, Devine calls names (brutes), alludes to using the creatures as slaves, and uses the creatures as a way to insult his colleague, when they don't even know about them completely. The end of the passage sounds similar to many today who joke about races and make fun by saying at the end..oh of course I am just kidding! I hope to find parallels with today's society and how racism still exists. For my thesis, I do not feel I have gotten ahead enough to declare that. Reading more is going to be beneficial. It will of course be that there is racism in the book, but I would like to discover what kind it is and if there are any similarities in today's society still.
ReplyDeleteThroughout “The Odyssey”, no matter where you look, warfare is the backdrop or setting of the book. Obviously, the whole reason Odysseus left was for the Trojan War, but there are many other times where there are other battles or at least minor skirmishes that occur or are mentioned. There is also the idea that dying in battle gives glory as opposed to dying in another manner, such as betrayal in Agamemnon’s case or being lost at sea as in the case Odysseus is posed with. Men who return from battle or die in battle are remembered by the bards, like in King Alcinous’ palace. This leads me to believe that war is one of the most important facets of many societies in the world at this time. Without war, these kingdoms would not have their heroes and legends, such as Odysseus, Achilles, or Ajax.
ReplyDeleteThe topic of warfare is one that has always interested me and through reading this, the battles were what jumped out most to me. My idea is this: warfare is as essential to Greek societies as their worship to the gods, their family life, and any other facet. At the moment, I do not have a specific plan of action to best prove this, but I will provide evidence showing the influence on all levels of society and how it inundates their lore and history, thus demonstrating their love of warfare.
The title of my paper will probably be: "From Zeus to Irus: An exploration of Hierarchy and Role Expectations in the Odyssey." This title is, of course, highly tentative because I often don't know what I'm going to write about, exactly, until it has been written. For example, perhaps Irus is not on the lowest rung of the social hierarchy. My favorite dialogue is when Achilles is warning Odysseus about the nature of death. "By god, I'd rather slave on earth for another man--some dirt-poor tenant farmer who scrapes to keep alive--than rule down here over all the breathless dead" (265.556-559) I really do like that title, though. Maybe "From the Throne of Zeus to the Kingdom of the Dead" is more appropriate. As for role expectations, the Odyssey read to me as a mainstream, ideal-reproducing socialization tool for teaching Greek children the finer points of proper reverence of the gods and how to live a good life and die a good death. It even reinforces gender roles, and role expectations of the lower classes. I chose a broad topic, but I believe it will condense nicely and allow me enough freedom to add content on the fly, while making some insightful social commentary. I won't be posting a thesis statement because I never formulate one before I write a paper.
ReplyDeleteI have a couple of ideas for my topic.
ReplyDeleteThe first is from the Odyssey and it deals with gender roles and I want to tie in gender roles between god/goddesses and also the gender roles seen between male/female mortals. It's something that interested me in the book; for example, the ways in which Odysseus was saved by females throughout his journey. Who helped him along more, men or women? My thesis will lean towards the roles of the females aiding Odysseus more than the males, which I think would be a valid argument.
My other idea is from OSP and I want to examine and explore Weston's bias against those who study the classics, or basically those who have a humanistic approach. His character is really interesting and if I can finish the book this weekend, this is probably the direction in which I'll go.
My topic will be about the importance of hospitality throughout the text. I will be drawing a parallel between the various locations that Odysseus and Telemachus went (Sparta, Pylos, etc) and how they were treated as well as how Odysseus imposes himself on the Cyclops demanding hospitality which is also connected to how the suitors imposed themselves in Odysseus' home and ate all his food and drank his wine. I will be talking about how Odysseus broke the code of conduct and not the Cyclops even though Odysseus, in book 9, assumes he did nothing wrong, when it reality, the Cyclops did nothing wrong.
ReplyDeleteI was a bit nerdy and decided to read Out of the Silent Planet and do my paper about this novel instead. The book, although very short in my opinion has many more themes and topics to write about and discuss then The Odyssey. It was really hard to choose a topic but I decided to write about how this novel is really a critique of society: ie: relgion, sexism..
ReplyDeleteI decided to write about Odysseus and Telemachas' father/son relationship and how Athena helped them both on their journey's, and I also incorporated how Athena helped Telemachus come into adulthood and acted as a father/mother figure to him when he took his journey to find his father.
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