Homers epic poem the odyssey contains a reoccurring theme of hospitality. In the epic poem, over and over again, home continues to describe many ancient greek values that all. Each form of hospitality, whether generous or cruel, distinguishes the civilized hosts from those. Which of the following best describes the theme of xenia, or hospitality, in books 16 of the odyssey. This theme reappears throughout the entire epic, as much of the poem can be analyzed and related to this anger. Odysseus and his men land on the island of the cyclops. Ulysses now left the haven and took the rough track up throughthe wooded country and over the crest of the mountain till hereached the place where. In books three and four, nestor and menelaus show hospitality to telemachus and athena. Hospitality is such a main factor in the epic tale that the odyssey would collapse with the lack of use of it. In the odyssey, by homer, odysseus experiences various forms of hospitality. His experiences range from the generous hospitality of the phaeacians to the deathly hospitality of the cyclops. Nov 27, 2011 hospitality played a vital role in the way a person went about life and lived. Summary homer opens the odyssey with an invocation to the muse of epic poetry and asks for her guidance in telling.
Sing to me of the man, muse, the man of twists and turns driven time and. In book 1, athena comes to ithaca in disguise as the hero mentes to convince telemachus to go in search of news of odysseus. The epic focuses, of course, on odysseus s nostos return home or homeward voyage, a journey whose details a greek audience would already know because of their rich oral mythic tradition. Defying hospitality throughout the development of humanity, the random group of societies have been historically allequipped to deal with challenges the state of disorganization is not conducive to advancement of society due to the chaotic nature of existence on planet earth. Essay on greek hospitality in the odyssey 926 words bartleby. Just think of all the hospitality we enjoyed at the hands. Both positive and negative examples of hospitality exist in the odyssey. The story begins ten years after the end of the trojan war, the subject of the iliad. Telemachos reception of the disguised athena in book 1 and eumaios the swineherds reception of the disguised odysseus and telemachos are classic moments with most of the elements surrounding true hospitality. May 23, 20 the odyssey is, among other things, an eloquent tribute to the pain of being forcibly separated from home, and to the lengths to which a person will go to be reunited with his family. Xenia is displayed in many instances throughout the novel, and the importance of xenia is emphasized by the actions of it. Odysseus, the hero and namesake of the odyssey, is a greek king from the heroic age, who participated in the great war that ended in the destruction of troy.
Homer even uses such scenes as the encounter with the kyklopes polyphemos and the witch kirke as ironic plays on hospitality. Hospitality is a central theme of the odyssey that focuses on the behavior of both hosts and their guests. In homers world, however, hospitality is essential. You can say that hospitality is kindness and hospitality is an important part of homers the odyssey. Summary and analysis book 1 athena inspires the prince. For example, in book viii titled songs of the harper in the odyssey, the phaiakians gave odysseus many generous gifts before odysseus. Part 1 and part 2 reading guide questions 40 pts part 1 and 2 comic strips 20 pts properties of a hero chart 10 pts timeline of events 5 personal journey timeline 25 pts unit test 80 pts vocabulary. Hospitality in homers time was well shown through long travels such as odysseus. B the suitors slaughter the palaces livestock for their feasts.
Throughout the novel hospitality is the universally recognized morality 44 of the people that make up the vast landscape of ancient greece. Which of the following best describes the theme of xenia, or. The major themes in the odyssey are especially significant because they serve to form the moral and ethical constitution of most of the characters. How and why is the hospitality theme in the odyssey. Hospitality is a very important and widely recurring theme hosts who do not give good hospitality are usually punished. These include hospitality, reputation, revenge, and power. Greek hospitality in the odyssey essay 962 words cram. Her hospitality is not the respectful type that guests are supposed to receive.
Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Xenia in the odyssey there are many themes in the book the odyssey by homer. When odysseus and his men land on the island where the cyclopes live, he wants to remain. For seven of the ten years odysseus has spent wandering the mediterranean sea, he has been held captive by the goddess calypso on her island. Still, there is a way to change how they get there.
Explore our collection of motivational and famous quotes by authors you know and love. In book 1, telemachus shows examples of good xenia. The wecome isnt nicelyintentioned, circe even nonetheless it. There may be a lot of justice in the odyssey, but there isnt a court of law to be found. The reader learns about the characters through the themes. Discover and share odyssey quotes about hospitality.
The notion of hospitality is so strong in the world of the odyssey that guests can even be considered part of ones family. In essence, many of the problems that befall people in the epic are due to violating hospitality. In the epic poem, over and over again, home continues to describe many ancient greek values that. In the iliad, one of the first ideas presented to us in book 1 is akhilleus anger. The odyssey group has become the premier provider of hospitality staff nationwide. Book 1 book 2 book 3 book 4 book 5 book 6 book 7 book 8 book 9 book 10 book 11 book 12 book book 14 book 15 book 16 book 17 book 18 book 19 book 20 book 21 book 22 book 23 book 24 themes all themes fate, the gods, and free will piety, customs, and justice cunning, disguise, and selfrestraint memory and grief glory and honor. Xenia is displayed in many instances throughout the novel, and the importance of xenia is emphasized by the actions of it, but also the violation of it.
According to research by the pew hispanic center, a million people have been put in the position of odysseus, penelope, and telemachus, separated by force from. Homer uses these examples to suggest that good hospitality does what. Which of the following best describes the theme of xenia, or hospitality, in books 1 6 of the odyssey. In the ancient greek society, like the society present in the book the odyssey, hospitality is exactly what was anticipated from the people.
Hospitality played a vital role in the way a person went about life and lived. Discuss examples of hostguest relationships as they appear in the story. An example of hospitality shown in the form of gifts is when odysseus is in polyphemus cave. Hospitality and destiny in the odyssey and sundiata studymoose. We discussed one of these themes, hospitality, and the other themes on this webpage are very interesting as well. Odyssey essay on hospitality, an essay fiction fictionpress.
The odyssey is an epic journey, but the word journey must be broadly understood. In homers epic poem the odyssey, both odysseus and his son telemachus journeys include frequent encounters of hospitality. The characters in the odyssey are definitely not free to be you and me. Hospitality signifies the host and guest relationship. Law of hospitality in odyssey essaysthe importance of the law of hospitality in homers the odyssey the law of hospitality is an unwritten law in which a host cannot refuse a guest, whether it is a weary traveler, a nobleman, or a beggar. Examples of hospitality in the odyssey hospitality. Another interesting factor to consider is the concept of the guesthost relationship in ancient greek culture and how it plays a factor in the theme of hospitality in the odyssey melisa et al. Hospitality is used throughout the whole book, contributes to the fact of how odysseus is so famous, and is treasured by the people that treat the strangers. The more complicated a character is, the more he or she engages these major themes. Hospitality being in use throughout the whole book makes the odyssey the way. Not only in the odyssey and ancient greece was hospitality shown towards strangers, but it also occurred in sundiata.
The main character, odysseus, is nothing more than a wandering stranger to the phaeacians. The hospitality shown by these characters was common courtesy in ancient greece, and though it would be rare to see an american invite a complete stranger into ones home, it would be instinctual for one of greek culture to take that stranger in and offer them food, shelter, and protection without hesitation. Hospitality in the odyssey study guides and book summaries. Homers the odyssey reflects many ancient greek values through poetic devices and dialogue. Even when death is staring odysseus in the face, he expects hospitality to be shown to him, since he is a guest in polyphemus home, odysseus says, so you ask the name im known by cyclops. Throughout the story, we are given scenarios in which hospitality, both on the part of the guest and the host, plays a key role in the events that transpire immediately afterward. It is common for showing hospitality to others by gift giving and sharing meals. Oct 30, 2006 in essence, many of the problems that befall people in the epic are due to violating hospitality. A athena encourages telemachus to embark on a journey seeking news about his father. They come into a cave, and eat the roasting sheep that is there violating hospitality by going into someones home and eating their food without permission or even asking. In the odyssey, one of the first ideas is odysseus as a wanderer.
Through the consistent delivery of world class services, we have become the provider of choice for a wide range of clients. This law is not widely used today, if at all, but in. Telemachus is in a difficult position because he is not seen as an. The art of hospitality the greeks and the odyssey essay 871 words 4 pages. The importance of hospitality illustrated in homers odyssey essay far removed from our individualistic society today is the ancient greece portrayed in the odyssey, by homer, where hospitality and good will are the way of things. While reading homers the odyssey, one can tell that hospitality was an important virtue amongst the greek culture of ancient times. Helping odysseus leave book 1 book 5 book 9 the cyclops demonstrates a direct contrast of the idea of hospitality odysseus explains his view on hospitality with what. Here is this stranger, i do not know who he is, come wandering suppliant here to my house from the eastern or western people. Essay on hospitality in the odyssey 1992 words cram. Justice seems to be based around some divine sense of causeandeffect. They claim they have the right to stay because penelope will not remarry. Xenia, or hospitality is one of the largest, most prominent themes throughout the book. Thinking of hospitality as a major theme in a literary work may seem odd to modern readers. Throughout the odyssey there are many ongoing themes, but one of the most.
What are some quotes about the value of hospitality in the. How is xenia shown in the first four books of the odyssey. Honoring a guest was important to a host because it meant pleasing the gods and. Hospitality in the odyssey essay 479 words bartleby. Telemachus shows hospitality towards athena and penelopes suitors in books one and two. The importance of hospitality in the odyssey essay xenia. Odysseus and his men find their way to an island and seek shelter in a cave that seems to be the home of a giant. Sparknotes and shmoop the two have financial disaster by financial disaster summaries of the odyssey. Telemachus carefully follows the customs of hospitality. The first stop on the exile journey of sundiata was djedeba.
Telemachus calls the assembly because his house is plagued with guests who will not leave. The big exception depicted in the story of the odyssey is the lack of hospitality granted by the suitors. Hospitality essay sample there are many different themes in the odyssey, but the most prominent theme homer portrays in his epic poem is hospitality or xenia. Hospitality in homer s odyssey is a central theme of the epic poem. The odyssey is, among other things, an eloquent tribute to the pain of being forcibly separated from home, and to the lengths to which a person will go to be reunited with his family. The king there received them with a little mistrust, but mentioned that everywhere the stranger enjoys the right to. That war originated in the pollution of hospitality by paris, the trojan prince who was a guest of spartan king menelaus and seduced his wife helen. All of the greek heroes except odysseus have returned home. One of the most hospitable cultures was that of the ancient greeks, exemplified in homers the odyssey by both gracious hosts and guests. Theme of hospitality in the odyssey by brittany mann on prezi. The act of xenia was perhaps the most important greek custom out of all because you see it being performed time and time again throughout odysseus journey home.
Hospitality in the odyssey by ciara nicolaou on prezi. Hospitality the odyssey group providing customized. Layers of meaning in the odyssey if you would like to learn more about some of the hidden themes throughout the odyssey, such as spiritual growth, loyalty, perseverance, and hospitality, take a look at this site. The odyssey is one of two major ancient greek epic poems attributed to homer. Book 5 demonstrates hospitality through calypso in 3 different ways 1. View homework help dialectical journal the odyssey, books xv and xvi from eng 400301 at john brown univeristy. In being mortified that a guest might still be standing at the doors, he shows his humility and servitude towards his guest.
345 597 1058 1242 512 776 1026 1249 316 184 1074 451 150 728 1141 1105 1333 1417 292 264 1550 581 1188 395 1242 797 1293 792 741 743 140 960 1402 973 956 963 1090 999