Examples Of Hospitality In The Odyssey

Words: 855

Pages: 4

Open Document

The Odyssey of Homer, translated by Allen Mandelbaum, is the story of a Greek hero, Odysseus, who struggles to return home after the Trojan War. Odysseus experiences many hardships and obstacles along his journey. Among his many journeys, he encountered many forms of hospitality. In this epic poem, hospitality is crucial; its purpose is to provide aid to those who need it, a method used by the gods to test individuals. Awful hospitality, in which the gods do not, shows disrespect from the host and/or the guest. Exceptional hospitality must show the kindness and respect between the host and the guest.
There were many displays of terrible hospitality throughout the Odyssey. The suitors, for example are rude and disrespectful guests in the halls of Odysseus. Telemachus complains to Antinous that he “cannot feast in peace / or be content. What more do you [Antinous] require? Through all those years / when I was still a boy, you suitors squandered / the riches that …show more content…
Homer characterizes the suitors’ impropriety and disregard of Odysseus and his family. He also used poetic justice to show the gods will punish the suitors with death after their many years of pillaging through Odysseus’ wealth. Another example of cruel hospitality is Polyphemus. Odysseus had begged for hospitality, but rather than giving it to Odysseus and his men, Polyphemus had sprung up and “stretched his hands and snatched two of my [Odysseus] men / at once and smashed them to the ground like pups: / their brains gushed out and wet the earth” (Homer, Odyssey 9.281-313). Homer characterizes Polyphemus’s negligence and cruel treatment towards Odysseus, a traveler in need of hospitality. Due to Polyphemus’s antipathy, Odysseus is rejected and faces death when Polyphemus retaliated cruelly

Examples Of Hospitality In The Odyssey

The Odyssey, an epic poem written by Homer, is set in an ancient Greek era when hospitality was considered one of the most important components of life. One can assume that the reason Odysseus took so long to return home is not only because of the great battles he fought, but also because he was obligated to accept and return hospitality that was shown to him by the gods and others he met along his journey. In The Odyssey, being hospitable towards others is an important quality to have because nobody…

Words 732 - Pages 3

Hospitality In The Odyssey

One of the themes that is being showed in the Odyssey is hospitality, hospitality tends to bond personal relationship, friendships and also shows loyalty. For an example a new neighbor moved across the street from you, a good way to show hospitality is to invite your new neighbor into your and get to know them and establish a friendship so they can feel safe in the new neighborhood. In the Odyssey Telemachus and Odysseus receives warm hospitality throughout their journeys from others, without even…

Words 210 - Pages 1

Hospitality in Corinth Essay

English 2301-N1 April 25, 2013 “Hospitality Contained in The Iliad and The Odyssey” Hospitality is one of the main themes in the great works of The Iliad and The Odyssey by the poet Homer. Merriam-Webster defines hospitality as “generous and friendly treatment of visitors and guests : hospitable treatment or the activity of providing food, drinks, etc. for people who are the guests or customers of an organization — often used before another noun” (“Hospitality”). In basic terms, the love for strangers…

Words 1647 - Pages 7

Xenia In Homer's Odyssey

Xenia is the concept of hospitality towards guest, commonly seen in ancient greek history. Considering that the Odyssey is a epic poem based on real life, it constantly relies on the perception of xenia that it might not have occurred without it. Then on to been written without it. In the Odyssey, Xenia plays a huge role in the way you act and treat your personal guest. Xenia is shown through a man by the name of Eumaeus, so if a god ever confronted him in a human form, he will be prepared. Eumaeus…

Words 840 - Pages 4

English Essay The Odyssey

epic poem, The Odyssey, the panels of images and text reflect on many poetic devices and dialogues used to illustrate the story of Odysseus and his ten year journey to Ithaca from the Trojan War. Gareth Hinds not only perfectly demonstrates the extreme importance of hospitality to guests, but also shows the consequences that come with the belief that everyone shows generosity towards strangers. There are many themes that tie between books eight and nine. Honour and grief is an example of two major…

Words 1208 - Pages 5

Respect For The Gods In Odysseus In Homer's Odyssey

Throughout The Odyssey by Homer, our hero faces many difficulties that influenced him strongly. From a six headed monster to singing sirens, Odysseus sees it all. After almost 20 years at sea, our hero finally returns home to find his house in a pandemonium. Odysseus survives the tragedies by sticking to his values. In The Odyssey, respect for the gods cleverness, and hospitality were greatly valued and helped develop the myth of Odysseus. Respect for the gods was very important and effective in…

Words 653 - Pages 3

Generosity And Xenia In Homer's The Odyssey

In Homers The Odyssey, many acts of hospitality and kindness are shown. This is seen throughout the book but especially in the Greek culture and customs. Another way to express hospitality is the term Xenia, which means generosity and kindness. In the novel, the characters treat each other with lots of respect, kindness, and hospitality. One example of this theme is when Athena arrived in the land, Nestor and all his sons were waiting for her as if she was a great queen."As soon as they saw the strangers…

Words 122 - Pages 1

Essay about xenia classics

Xenia is the ancient Greek concept of hospitality, the generosity and courtesy shown to those who are far from home and/or associates of the person bestowing guestfriendship. The rituals of hospitality created and expressed a reciprocal relationship between guest and host expressed in both material benefits (such as the giving of gifts to each party) as well as nonmaterial ones (such as protection, shelter, favors, or certain normative rights). Xenia is portrayed in Homer’s Odyssey , a famous epic poem believed to have been in the 8th century…

Words 1003 - Pages 5

Argumentative Essay: The Odyssey

12/04/17 The Odyssey Argumentative Essay The Odyssey is a novel by Homer. It is about a Greek king’s journey on his way home from a long war. His son, Telemakhos, is born right as the war starts so he has to leave him and his wife Penelope, until he can return to Ithaka, his home and kingdom. The war lasts 10 long years, but on his way home he finds some very hard obstacles that make it 20 years until he can finally return home to his wife and child. The theme of the Odyssey is that loyalty is…

Words 573 - Pages 3

Xenia In The Odyssey

Xenia, the Greek concept of Hospitality, was an ancient and powerful institution in Greece, which formed alliances and created relationships with people through and the guest host relationship. Xenia was more than just being polite to strangers. It was a custom that defined how the guest and the host would act. It is expected of the host to treat their guests with the utmost respect, hospitality, and warmth even when the guest is a complete stranger. An example of this is the Phaeacians, who let…

Words 844 - Pages 4