Monthly Archives: September 2016

Topic: Women   Thesis: All women that Odysseus’ confronts on his journey home pose an inevitable threat, either through seduction, wit, beauty, or sheer strength, to men on missions. Although these women aren’t always the focus of the plot, and … Continue reading →

Topic: Death of the suitors The bloody end of the suitors fulfills the frequently-mentioned prophecy of Odysseus. Through his might and wit, Odysseus took revenge against the young schemers in heroic fashion. Main Idea: The death of the suitors shed … Continue reading →

TOPIC: Women in the Odyssey (Focusing on the underlying power of women) POSSIBLE THESIS: In the Odyssey, women are responsible for shaping a large part of Odysseus’ journey to Ithaca—through interventions and by influencing his decisions—which allows them to exhibit … Continue reading →

Women in the Odyssey: Female characters in the Odyssey usually are not the central focus in the epic, but they help move along the plot: whether it be helping a man’s journey or hindering it. Athena: She uses her magic to change Odysseus’ … Continue reading →

Theme: Women, with a focus on immortal women and the power they hold with their sexual independence as well as the punishment that comes from that Possible Thesis: Goddesses, although straying from the “powerless” stereotype linked to women, end up being punished … Continue reading →

Topic: Women In the Odyssey, the female characters are often dichotomized into two character forms: that which is ‘pure’ like Nausicaa, and that which is a ‘nymph’ like Calypso. Nymph Calypso initially hinders Odysseus from returning home, while pure Nausicaa assists him in … Continue reading →

Topic: Binary of Memory vs. forgetfulness, with a focus on the prominent importance given to the act of remembering and the cautionary tales and adverse attitudes towards forgetfulness. Thesis: In The Odyssey, Homer is obsessed with recounting as many stories … Continue reading →

Theme: Women About: Specifically, the role of the “maidservant” throughout The Odyssey and how these characters assist, or direct in steering and influencing the plot. Potential Thesis: The female servants of The Odyssey may not be considered more than side characters, but it is their very … Continue reading →

Focus: It has been said that epics like The Odyssey were the cornerstones of Ancient Greek life, thus creating a consilience between literature and life- actual life. I endeavor to find what sort of message the episode of Hades/Death gives … Continue reading →

Memory: In The Odyssey, a sort of collective memory exists for all the people of Greece, made possible by the bards who sing of events that have happened in both the historical and recent past. In this aspect, memory is … Continue reading →