Odysseus V Telemachus Essay - 1469 Words

Jon Dunlap 3/8/12 Odysseus v Telemachus Period 2 â€Å"Maturity has more to do with what types of experiences youve had, and what youve learned from them, and less to do with how many birthdays youve celebrated.† – Anonymous (Thinkexist.com). Maturity is a key theme during the journeys of Telemachus and Odysseus. In Homer’s Odyssey the journeys of Telemachus and Odysseus have many similarities and differences such as their common goal and the lessons they learn; and only by overcoming these obstacles are they able to become emotionally stronger and find success in Ithaca. Odysseus and Telemachus’ respective journeys have many similarities such as the common enemy the share and the goal they are fighting towards. First,†¦show more content†¦Odysseus and Telemachus have one final thing in common on their journeys; they are both aided by Athena. Athena had been an ally of Odysseus since the Trojan War, mainly because she reminded him of herself. Throughout The Odyssey Athena aides both heroes on several occasions; Athena begs her father Zeus to allow her to aid Odysseus, so he can go home to his family, Father, son of [Kronos], King of kings, it served Aegisthus right †¦ it is for [Odysseus] that my heart bleeds, when I think of his sufferings in that lonely sea-girt island, far away, poor man, from all his friends† (Butler BK 1). Athena helps Telemachus by getting him his ship and crew before the journey to search for word of Odysseus, and develops a bond with both of them throughout the story. Despite the many similarities, Odysseus and Telemachus are very different; as evidenced by the way they behave, their respective upbringings, and the lessons they learn. The first main difference between Odysseus and Telemachus is the way they behave under pressure. Odysseus, having had many years of experience and the gift of persuasive speaking, tends to handle problems with patience and careful planning. This can be seen as he charms Nausicaa into aiding him on Scheria, O queen, he said, I implore your aid- but tell me, are you a goddess or are you a mortalShow MoreRelatedConflict in The Odyssey Essay998 Words   |  4 Pagessecond oldest surviving Greek text. The story contains many conflicts such as man v god, man v himself, and man v society. This paper will explore some of the important conflicts in this classic tale. Man v god is the most important conflict in the story. Towards the beginning of the story Odysseus goes to war against the Trojans and wins. What he doesn’t know is that the great God Poseidon favored Odysseus and his army and helped them win the Trojan War. Poseidon becomes very angry with Odysseus’sRead More Essay on the Double Meanings of The Odyssey995 Words   |  4 Pagesmeanings. The double meanings of these symbols are used to represent Odysseus and Telemachus as they strive to meet each other. 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