Outline and Intro paragraph
Introduction:
In the Greek epic Odyssey, death is considered a tragic event. Shrouded with lament and sorrow, the dead enter the underground world of Hades, where they remain observant of the living. Despite the negativity associated with death, it is not only a crucial part of the mortal experience, but also a gift in disguise.
Body Paragraph 1:
Topic sentence: Death is a gift to the mortal existence.
- On his long journey home, Odyssey wished death upon himself, wanting to die in Troy along his comrades in the glory of battle. Death, therefore, is a way to cement one’s legacy. Once a man dies, his legacy will become part of the memory. His legacy will become immortal, untouched and untarnished.
- Penelope, who was unaware that Odysseus had already returned, wished death upon herself. For her, it was an easy way out of difficult situation. If she were to wait for Odysseus to come home, she would face tremendous pressure from the suitors and social pressure from her son, Telemachus; if she were to choose one of the suitors, she would be betraying Odysseus, who emphasized loyalty in his household. If she were to die, she would be relieved of the pressure and still remain loyal to Odysseus.
Body Paragraph 2:
Topic sentence: The inability to die is a curse to the immortals.
- Since Gods are unable to die, their legacies cannot become immortal. Therefore, Gods have to consistently display their dominance to maintain the long-lasting respect from men. Poseidon, for example, had to severely punish the Phaeacians for ignoring his warnings.
- Being immortal, living forever long and able to experience in ways that mere mortals cannot, changes the way Immortals value experiences. Marriage and harmonious relationships become perhaps boring to them, and they seek excitement out of quarrels, feuds, and disguising as mortals. After experiencing everything, there are perhaps no thrills left in living.
Hi Chao! I really love this sentence: “Despite the negativity associated with death, it is not only a crucial part of the mortal experience, but also a gift in disguise”. It is not only a great thesis, but a wonderful way to close out your introductory paragraph.
It is apparent from the poem that Odysseus valued old age and an honorable death. Calypso had offered to make him immortal, but he refused her offer. He refused her offer because he did not value immortality, rather, he valued his love for Penelope and his desire to grow old with her.
The topic sentence: “The inability to die is a curse to the immortals” is brilliant. It encouraged me to think about the Odyssey in a way that I had not before. The mortals in the Odyssey strive to make the most out of the time that they are given on this earth, they take pleasures in the ‘simple things’ like cultivating relationships. The Gods and Goddesses of The Odyssey can only derive so much pleasure from the simple things in life, so they thrive off of starting drama and engaging in quarrels.
Hey Chao!
I think this is a great outline. I especially loved when you said “since gods are unable to die, their legacies cannot become immortal.” Something about death demands respect and memories to last, and this is more revealed when we see the gods having to consistently assert their dominance and ask for sacrifices. They kind of need to remind the mortals they are still there and they are to be respected and remembered. That was a great connection to Poseidon.
I think another great passage you can use in your final paper for your first topic is bringing up the type of death exemplified by Heracles. Life was the labor for him, and death brings peace and lets him rest in honor. This also shows how death can be a blessing.
Hi Chao,
There’s a lot of potential here, but also a lot of work left to be done. Here are some thoughts on claim and evidence:
CLAIM: As it currently stands, your claim is “Despite the negativity associated with death, it is not only a crucial part of the mortal experience, but also a gift in disguise.” Be sure to tie this claim *to the Odyssey* (ie, dont make an argument about death in general; only about death in this specific text). I’d also like to hear more about what you mean by a gift, a term that feels a little vague. Writing on a text that is very much concerned with *literal* gifts puts a particular burden on you, as a writer, when deploying gift metaphors. Do you mean a gift in Homer’s sense (something that cements bonds, and shores up social structures)?
EVIDENCE: You’ve picked some great moments that demonstrate the complexity of death–how it has positive as well as negative associations. I think you should look at both Achilles’ and Heracles’ comments on death and life (they say opposing things!) in the episode in Hades.
You mention that the dead stay involved with the living–Agamemnon is a great example of this!–how might this observation fit with, or challenge, your thesis?
I’m not sure the gods SUFFER because of their lack of mortality; nor does it seem to me to be true that they lack honor/reputation of the kind mortal heros only gain after death. You’ll need to convince me, with careful analysis of textual evidence.
I’m excited to see this develop!
Prof Kolb