Illustration of Odysseus tied to a ship's mast

The Odyssey

by Homer

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Student Question

What behaviors are approved and condemned in The Odyssey?

Quick answer:

The Odyssey is a story about a man's journey home, and how he learns to respect the dead and keep his promises. 3) Summary of The Iliad:

Expert Answers

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Approved behaviors include treating guests with honor and respect, acting as a good guest when one in in another's home, honoring the gods, and standing up for what one believes is right.  Hospitality was a religious duty to the Greeks because one never knew for sure whether or not a stranger begging for food was actually a god in disguise testing the owner of the house.  All guests were to be treated with respect, which is one of the reasons why Telemachus doesn't tell the Suitors that they have to leave, even when they are behaving poorly.  Telemachus behaves honorably when in the home of Menelaus, and so acts as a proper guest.  When Odysseus sacrifiices the ram in the Land of the Dead, he shows proper respect to the gods and to Tieresias.  As for standing up for what is right, Telemachus is only showed a modicum of respect when he stands up to the Suitors who then say, "Now he talks like a man!"

Condemned behavior would include arrogance, angering the gods, and behaving as a poor host or guest.  Odysseus was arrogant when he told Polyphemus his name only after blinding him, and then threatened to kill the Cyclops if he came back to the island.  His arrogance led Polyphemus to pray to his father Poseidon to curse Odysseus and his crew.  Odysseus' men paid the ultimate price for angering Helios by eating his cattle.  Also, the Suitors were punished for being very bad guests.

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