The World Set Up By Homer - 754 Words

The world set up by Homer is not easy; the war certainly has no purpose, certainly not for the greater good, but merely part of the blind workings of an unfathomable fate. When warriors die, there does not exist Valkyries singing them to their rest, merely the bleak prospect of an ashen, ghostly, absence of meaning. The Iliad, therefore, presents a collective cavalcade of loss, the endless parade of men, equal in all forms, summoned briefly to the wonders of life only to be consigned to death by the horrors of fate. â€Å"Nothing precious is scorned, whether or not death is its destiny; everyone’s happiness is laid bare without dissimulation or disdain; no man is set above or below the condition common to all men; whatever is destroyed is regretted† (Weil). (introduction sentence) The paradoxical tension at the heart of Homer’s ill-fated vision of war becomes apparent within the first clash of rival armies in Book IV. The preparations for combat by both sides draw attention towards the passionate individuality of the warriors, who by the very nature of the heroic complex, are defined by their participation, or rather success, in battle. As Agamemnon visits the front lines, he calls forth a series of great Achaean heroes: Idomeneus, Nestor, Odysseus, Diomedes, Stehnelus, and Ajax, each of whom is portrayed as the brave, proud, loyal archetypical Homeric hero caught up within this test of excellence. En masse, the Achaean army is seen gathering under the irresistible and alluringShow MoreRelatedSimilarities Between The Underworld Of Homer s Odyssey And That Of Virgil s Aeneid1485 Words   |  6 PagesThe remarkable resemblance between the Underworld of Homer s Odyssey and that of Virgil s Aeneid reveals, upon closer examination, s everal important differences; these adaptations and corrections by Virgil of the Homeric vision lend credence to the Bloomian concept of influence, and show the many-faceted reactions of Virgil to the burden of his eminent precursor. In addition, they provide the reader of the poems with a fascinating basis for comparison, not only between the two poets, but betweenRead MoreAnalysis of October Sky Essay802 Words   |  4 PagesLiving Above Ground The inspirational true story of Homer Hickam in October Sky reminds us all to strive for our goals and never give up, even in the face of adversity. However, Homer was fighting for a great deal in his pursuit of rocketry, he was even fighting for his life. Born in a coal mining town, son of a foreman, Homer seemed destined to work the mine when he grew up. But in October Sky, Homer has to overcome what the mine represents: isolation and death. The life of a coal miner isRead MoreOctober Sky Psychology Write-Up803 Words   |  4 PagesFilm Write-up 1 October Sky is a based on a true story about a mining town called Coalwood and one boy’s journey. Homer Hickam is an adolescent boy whose life has been predetermined by his father, a foreman at the coalmine, to work down in the mines but he has a different plan for his life. In October 1957, everything changes when the first artificial satellite, Sputnik goes into orbit. 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With its simple plots, exaggerated situations, unrealistic scenarios, lurid colours, humour, animation and familiar pattern, it is a typical cartoon but with an original twist. This makes it like noRead MoreMasculinity In Homers Odyssey1655 Words   |  7 PagesHomer’s Odyssey is an epic tale set in the world of ancient Greece - a world dominated by men. Admirable men such as Odysseus, the story’s protagonist, are strong, cunning, and wise; they have control over their lives and the people within them. In The Odyssey, the quintessential man is characterized by his authority, including control of the women who surround him. As is suggested throughout the novel, the patriarchal world would fall into disarray without the force of intrinsic male authority.Read MoreOdysseus - a Different Type of Hero1225 Words   |  5 PagesOdysseus Ââ€" A Different Type of Hero The Homeric epic, the Odyssey, is set in the peaceful years following the Trojan War, and concerns the returning heroes on their journeys home, in particular Odysseus of Ithaca. Odysseus is an epic hero; he displays courage, superior strength, and leadership, all qualities that people admire. While displaying these archetypal heroic traits he also displays his weaknesses as a man, particularly his excessive pride, which actually make him easy to relate to. SoRead MoreOdysseuss Appearance in The Odyssey and the Iliad1416 Words   |  6 Pages In the works we have read so far there are many characters that show up more than once. These characters demonstrate the thoughts of the author they were written by. We can find information about Greek culture by analyzing the different texts that characters show up in. I am going to argue that Odysseus is a smart, versatile, and cunning character that shows a different type of masculinity than is portrayed by other characters. The first text that gives Odysseus a major role is the Iliad. WhenRead MoreEssay on Winslow Homer: Masters of Paint611 Words   |  3 Pages(Hodge 126). Quoted by the master American realism artist, Winslow Homer was skilled in the art of realism. He painted only what he observed from nature and his surroundings. Homer’s styles, mediums and subjects helped him create the artwork that he was so famous for. Probably his most famous painting, The Snap of the Whip is painted by Homer with incredible realism and accomplishment. As seen through his many landscapes, Winslow Homer enjoyed painting and studying the glorious nature that surroundedRead MoreThe Odyssey An Epic Poem1418 Words   |  6 PagesThe Odyssey an epic poem that has stood the test of time as history is made. Homer made a story as raptured almost everyone who reads it. Even the most trivial characters seem to serve some important role later in the epic poem. Yet it seems that the meaning of this great piece of fiction changes with the changing desires of society. Yet one thing that Homer puts in every corner of the book stays the same with the test of time. The misfortune that hangs like the sword of Damocles over each characters’