The Odyssey story review

The Odyssey story review

The Odyssey is the story of Odysseus, who, after the fall of Troy is not seen for ten years. His kingdom is in Ithaca, and a large mob of suitors is in the palace ready to ask for his wife’s hand in marriage. They are out to court his wife Penelope and pillage his land (Homer, 2015).  Among the suitors, Antinous strategizes on how to kill the young prince and eliminate him since he is the next possible leader. Unknowingly, Odysseus is alive, and Calypso had captured him, who is obsessed with love. Although he longs to see his wife and son, he has no one to help him. A strong supporter among the gods named Athena decides to assist Odysseus by disguising himself as the prince’s grandfather’s friend. Telemachus and Odysseus later find each other and instigate a plan to destroy the suitors and gain control of the land. In the end, they are both able to kill all the suitors and reunite the family.

Beowulf, on the other hand, is a story told by an Anglo-Saxon poet. The poem describes the story of a brave and strong soldier who fights monsters and turns out to be king. He fights many significant battles, including Grendel, who terrorized the people (Chambers, 2018). In the land of king Hrothgar of Denmark, there was a horrible demon named Grendel that terrorized the people, and Beowulf sails to Denmark to defeat him. Later, When Beowulf becomes an older man, an enraged dragon emerges and begins to unleash fiery destruction. He manages to kill the beast and the mother too.

These two pieces of literary work have several factors that unite and distinguish them. To begin with, there is the aspect of revenge in both works. In Beowulf, Grendel seeks revenge against man for the heritage that he has had to endure. He hates the fact that man has joy, success, and favor before God. On the other hand, Grendel’s mother seeks revenge for the death of her son. She is determined to kill the murderer of her child. Beowulf’s final battle is also motivated by hate. A dragon is enraged because a precious cup was stolen by a slave and went on about burning villages, including Beowulf’s kingdom. In return, he decides to face the dragon by himself to repay. Likewise, in Odysseus, several actions have been encouraged by the spirit of vengeance or revenge. For example, the god of the sea sends a storm to destroy Odysseus’s ship since he blinded his son during his past travels. Odysseus also murders all the suitors that caused riots in his palace. He was angered by the fact that his servants were not loyal to his home, family, and office. They also lacked respect towards him. He started by inserting a sword into Antoniou’s throat and continues to kill all the rest, ensuring they suffer slow deaths.

Another theme that unifies these two works is hospitality. For example, in Beowulf, King Hrothgar shows hospitality by providing weapons, land, and treasure to his soldiers as a reward for their support. The king’s kindness and generosity are among his most exceptional traits. Additionally, when Beowulf manages to defeat Grendel, a festival is planned in honor of him, and rewards were given. In Odyssey, there are also instances where hospitality has been displayed. For example, his house has been raided by suitors who do not want to leave his palace. The suitors here are taking advantage of Odysseus’s hospitality. Then again, Odysseus receives a lot of help from the Phaeacians and Aeolus.

In both works, there are also themes of homecoming, battles, recognition, and identity. Beowulf faces several fighting throughout his life. He faces so many obstacles, but he is determined to defeat the monsters to ensure that peace reigns. As we have seen in the story, Beowulf fights all these battles by himself, receiving help here and there. When he reaches king Hrothgar palace, he is already recognized by everyone due to his good deeds and strength, and after winning the fight, a reward is given. Also, in the odyssey, Odysseus is challenged by the God of the sea. He defeats him and goes back home safely.

Besides, the theme of loyalty can also be identified in these two books. In the odyssey, we see that despite the suitors that fill the palace asking for the queens hand in marriage. She vows to remain faithful and loyal to her husband despite not knowing if he was alive or dead. The suitors disturb them and refuse to leave the palace until Odysseus came and killed them all. Thus the king’s family displayed loyalty towards their father by standing by him. Moreover, in Beowulf, the main actor is focused and loyal to his calling. He travels to Denmark after hearing that there is a monster who is causing turmoil. He is determined to bring back the peace. Heroism is a primary attribute of Beowulf that is central to his life.

In conclusion, the most significant theme in these two works is heroism. Odysseus is determined to ensure that he gets back to his family and recover his kingdom. No challenge that he faced deters him from reaching his goal. When he comes back and reunites with his son, he kills all the suitors beginning with Antonius, who led the group. To his family and other members of his kingdom, he was considered a hero. Secondly, in Beowulf, we see that there are many fights between monsters and Beowulf. He is strong-minded and displays strength, thus winning the battles. The king Hrothgar considers him a hero and even puts a festival in his honor. Heroism is the central theme in these two books.

References

Chambers, R. W. (2018). Beowulf. BoD–Books on Demand.

Homer, H. (2015). The odyssey. Xist Publishing.