The Odyssey: Allegory Elements In The Work

Without a doubt, The Odyssey is an excellent work for any student to read. Any low ability learner can follow this great story. Indeed, by reading this work, I can attest to the fact that even though the language might at times seem quite formidable, it is quite clear that the student will get to visualize the plot summary, which is technically a better learning ability in life. As a learner, The Odyssey allows and offers some learning abilities that make a person enjoy the imaginative and adventurous stories of the mortals and the Greek Gods. Today, literature tends to open people’s eye, and this is what The Odyssey did for me. It allowed me to see and appreciate this work of literature just like all past generations have the choice of doing. The Odyssey helped me understand that there is so much more than what the front door tends to show people. To add to that, The Odyssey also helped me realize the wide world outside that technically surrounds everyone. The Odyssey displays a lot of accepting your fate, as well as your destiny. Due to Telemachos changing from an independent boy into a more mature yet responsible adult, I can attest that The Odyssey has helped me begin learning and asking a couple of questions about development. Telemachos trying to figure out the man he is helps me build my instinct and intuitions, which goes to expand my mind. Telemachos finds himself becoming a wiser man as well as becoming more mature through the story. Anybody reading The Odyssey could relate to Telemachos.

Also, by talking about the past beliefs and customs, The Odyssey has given me a chance to leap into this past. Literature and history are technically entwined with each other. The Odyssey as a historical context, in association with what I have learnt about literature, I can outright state that I get to understand that history is not all about power struggles, dates, names, or even ways. History, especially the one present in The Odyssey is about individuals that are products of their time, and with the same people having their own lives. It is also safe to state that from this literal context, our world today is nothing like it was during the 15th Century. There is no doubt people all over the world have changed greatly and exclusively. From the feelings and situations of Odysseus’s and Penelopeia’s, I can attest to understanding how one might end up having feelings of yearning, mistrust, and helplessness at some point in one’s life. Also, The Odyssey also helps me understand the value of a home and a family in the epic. By reading this epic I can state that I developed some skills that may not have been addressed in shorter works of literature. I have learnt from The Odyssey to follow the activities of a couple of characters at that period in history.

From The Odyssey, I can state that it provides me with a method of learning and customs from the ones I know. From this historical context, a couple of aspects of the ancient Greeks is generally revealed through the setting, wording, plot, characters, and even some actions. I can also go ahead and state that in this scenario, from the work by Homer, I am informed of the various achievements, history, and pride of the ancient Greeks. To add to that, it is safe to state that I have learnt of the multi-faceted culture as well as the values of the ancient Greek Caste. I have learnt that compared to today or rather my customs, the Greeks had a lot of customs and values. Thus, the values and customs can be said to be some primary principles that are some mental qualities of a person. These primary principles have also taught me about the past times and recreations that the Greek enjoyed, the physical attributes of a person, the way the people treat their guests, the Greek’s view on life, and finally, the religious aspects. All this is perfectly portrayed and revealed on The Odyssey that defines and shows their culture.

To add to that, it is vital to note that something else I have learnt concerning culture and values from The Odyssey is that one of the most significant and prominent of the mental characteristics that the ancient Greeks used to value was surprisingly the wit and cleverness of a person. These characteristics are displayed by Penelope throughout the story. For an example, Penelope put the suitors off with the weaving of the burial shroud and she also remained loyal to her husband. Compared to today, I can state that this is completely different because not a lot of cultures appreciate a person’s wit or even cleverness. The Odyssey perfectly shows this wit when Odysseus goes ahead and uses his brain’s wit and a couple of other tricks to get out of a very risky situation. An example of such an occurrence is when Odysseus goes out and tells Polyphemos the Cyclopes that his name is without a doubt, Nobody. Also, from The Odyssey, I can state that I learnt that the religious aspects and beliefs of the ancient Greek were mostly strict and defined. Finally, it is evident from this literal viewpoint, the Greeks technically believed that the world was always over by both the Olympian Gods and Zeus. Indeed, due to these strictness, these people believed the gods decided their future. It is safe to state that the culture and the values the Greek had in The Odyssey differ in some ways from the culture we have today. Overall, after hundreds of years, the learnings and customs from The Odyssey can be compared with some similarities to the people of todays time.