Essay on Names in The Odyssey and The Bible - 1634 Words

Importance of Names in The Odyssey and The Bible Two of the most widely studied ancient works are Homer’s Odyssey and the book of Genesis from the Bible. Each of these texts provides a unique viewpoint of an early civilization. In both of the texts, one can learn not only stories about great heroes, but also about the way that these peoples lived and what they believed. Many interesting parallels can be drawn between the two developing societies shown in the Odyssey and the book of Genesis. One parallel is the importance placed on names by each culture. Although viewed as important in different ways, the value placed on a name shows a striking similarity between the evolving cultures of both the Greeks and the Hebrews.†¦show more content†¦For example, when Athena, disguised as Mentà ªs, introduces herself to Telemachus, she says, â€Å"My name is Mentà ªs; I am the son of a clever father, Anchialos†. A name symbolized not only one’s own fame and honor, but also that of one’s ancestry. I f a man’s family was particularly honorable or dishonorable, it was instantly obvious because of the renown and history that stood behind his name. The name was truly the most important possession of any man in early Grecian culture. This is probably best evidenced by Odysseus’ encounter with the cyclops, Polyphemos. In the beginning, Odysseus merely tells Polyphemos that he is Noman, a man with no history or background, about whom the cyclops does not know if he should fear or welcome, a man whom he could never find again. After he has injured Polyphemos and is away from him, however, Odysseus tells his name, saying, â€Å"†¦your blinder was Odysseus, the conqueror of Troy, the son of Laà «rtà ªs, whose address is in Ithaca!† It seems that Odysseus cannot stand the thought of this great victory not being added to the history of his name, and, although it gets him in lots of trouble, thinks it much worse to do a great deed unknown than to suffer the consequences of having it known. This example clearly summarizes the higher and deeper purpose of a name in ancient Grecian culture, to be a witness for the man himself and his character. In the Odyssey, Homer also uses the namesShow MoreRelatedEssay on The Sweet Song of Dante Alighieris Siren1652 Words   |  7 Pagesincorporating themes of unqualified repentance and realization of the true goodness of things divine. The Sirens are familiar literary characters from Greek mythology; they are most recognized as one of the many perils Odysseus encounters in Homers Odyssey. As Circe explains to Odysseus before he sets out for home, You will come first of all to the Sirens, who are enchanters / of all mankind and whoever comes their way†¦/ They sit in their meadow, but the beach before it is piled with boneheaps / ofRead MoreTrojan War2196 Words   |  9 PagesAphrodite after she offered to make Helen, the most beautiful of all women, fall in love with him. She then proceeded to take Helen from Menelaus, with Paris’s help and give her to him, thus causing the Trojan War. Throughout this struggle up through The Odyssey and The Iliad, the two armies of Greeks and Trojans battle along with the gods for Helen. And the question that must be asked in light of this great mythological struggle is, was the war just? Was the bloodshed of thousands of men, women, and childrenRead MoreAnalysis Of Jo hn Milton s Paradise Lost 1852 Words   |  8 PagesMaust English IV AP 10 October 2015 Select a novel, play, or epic in which a character experiences such a rift and becomes cut off from â€Å"home,† whether that home is the character’s birthplace, family, homeland, or other special place. Then write an essay in which you analyze how the character’s experience with exile is both alienating and enriching, and how this experience illuminates the meaning of the work as a whole. You may choose a work from the list below or one of comparable literary merit.Read MoreHow to Write a Research Paper11497 Words   |  46 Pagesbook by a corporate author (commission, association, committee): 6. A book by an anonymous author: 7. A book with an editor only: 8. A book with an author and an editor: 9. A work in an anthology or a collection of essays: 10. An introduction, preface, foreword, afterword, or textbook glossary: 11. A book in a series (multiple authors): * Note: 47 is series number 12. A multi-volume work, same author, one title: 13. A multi-volumeRead MorePostmodernism and the Simpsons10775 Words   |  44 PagesHugvà ­sindadeild Postmodernism and The Simpsons Intertextuality, Hyperreality and Critique of Metanarratives Ritgerà ° til B.A.-prà ³fs Bjà ¶rn Erlingur Flà ³ki Bjà ¶rnsson bjornfloki@gmail.com Kt. 110982-5779 Maà ­ 2006 Abstract This essay offers a postmodernist reading of the popular television program The Simpsons, with special regard to the postmodern theories of intertexuality, hyperreality, and metanarratives. Before delving into The Simpsons, some major theoretical aspects of postmodernism in aestheticRead MoreTest Bank For Ethics For The Information Age 5th Edition Mike Quinn4321 Words   |  18 Pagesin national elections. d) transmit light without wires. e) All of the above 29. The power of radio as a medium of mass communication was demonstrated in 1938 when Orson Welles put on a dramatization of a) War of the Worlds. b) Hamlet. c) Homer’s Odyssey. d) the assassination of Franklin Roosevelt. e) 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. 30. ARPA Director J.C.R. Licklider conceived of a Galactic Network that would a) control weapons from space. b) guide spacecraft to distant planets. c) become the world’sRead MoreStudy Guide Literary Terms7657 Words   |  31 Pagesoverwhelming space, danger, instability; whereas earth connotes safety, fertility and stability. 28. claim-to assert or maintain as a fact: Ex. She claimed that he was telling the truth. 29. classification and division- In a classification essay, a writer organizes, or sorts, things into categories. Division separates items into categories. 30. coherence- logical interconnection; overall sense or understandability. The property of unity in a written text or a segment of spoken discourseRead MoreThe Love Song of J.Alfred Prufrock Essay4201 Words   |  17 Pagesto be comforted.   Ã‚   5. Consider the title of the poem. How is it ironic? In what ways is the poem a love song? The title is actually the only place where Prufrock’s name is mentioned – in the poem he talks about himself in the first person. Eliot is clearly poking fun of himself with this title – as a young man he signed his name T. Stearns Eliot, but that doesn’t mean the poem is biographical. For one thing, we’re pretty sure Eliot didn’t drown in the ocean. The other thing to know about theRead MoreAmerican Literature11652 Words   |  47 Pages errand into the wilderness be a city upon a hill Christian utopia Genre/Style: ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · sermons, diaries personal narratives captivity narratives jeremiads written in plain style Effect: ï‚ · ï‚ · instructive reinforces authority of the Bible and church Historical Context: ï‚ · ï‚ · a person s fate is determined by God all people are corrupt and must be saved by Christ Rationalism / Age of Enlightenment period of American Literature - 1750-1800 Content: ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · national missionRead MoreChildrens Literature13219 Words   |  53 Pagesnothing that could be considered a children’s book in the sense of a book written to give pleasure to a child. Because there were very few works composed for children, children borrowed from stories they enjoyed listening to such as the Iliad, the Odyssey, and Aesop’s Fables. Plato specifically mentions children’s education in Book VI of The Republic. Though he holds rather liberal views on education and directly states that children’s lessons should â€Å"take the form of play,† Plato held less liberal