Essay Prompts- The Odyssey
1. Examine the ways in which it can be said that Homer’s The Odyssey is a heroic
journey that is both physical and spiritual in nature. Specifically, what is the purpose of
the journey, and what lessons are learned on it? What is Homer’s message?
2. Explain Homer’s presentation of women in The Odyssey. What characters represent
which of the archetypes of faithful wife, temptress, disloyal wife/ destroyer, and monster?
What is the purpose of these depictions?
3. What is the nature of man’s relationship with the gods as it is depicted in The
Odyssey? What overall message or lesson does this depiction serve to support in the
work?
4. Discuss the value of loyalty within Odysseus’ world. To what extent are our main
character’s loyal to one another. What are the consequences of disloyalty? How does
Homer develop his message?
5. Examine Homer’s ideas about the nature of Heroism. What is it that is most valued by
the Greeks in their heroes? How does the nature of Odysseus’ heroism change after the
battle of Troy as he tries to make his way home?
5. Free topic. You may address an aspect of the work of your choosing. CAUTION:
Please note that you will be graded at least in part upon the significance of the topic you
choose. Resist the temptation to give yourself an easier task by writing on an aspect of
the work that is simplistic or superficial.
Note: Please Remember the Following:
1. Your work should be organized around a focused and interpretive thesis statement.
Avoid generalities and interpretations that are statements of fact.
2. Avoid generalizations that are unexplained or unsupported. Be sure to provide specific
examples from the text and provide detailed commentary to explain your selections
3. Provide citations for all of your quotes
4. The titles of novels are underlined in written work and italicized in