Dr. Seuss

"Always say what's on your mind. 'Cause those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind." Dr. Seuss

This is quoted from Dr. Seuss, a kind of kooky writer, who displays examples of this quote throughout his works. Dr. Seuss shows this is his different children's books, that the only people who matter are the people who care enough to read his works.

I think that this quote is striking because I agree with it. The only people who should care about what you say are the people that really of are importance in your life, and those people who care about you don't mind if you say exactly how you are feeling. Yet those people who put down your thoughts or simply do not care, thus they do not matter and are a complete waste of valuable time!

"Only the insecure strive for security."

"Only the insecure strive for security."

This quote says a lot to me and defines several people in my life. Those who are unhappy with themselves or who are just insecure, constantly find themselves trying to be secure with different people who really could care less about them. It shows when people try too hard! This is why I truly believe that you must be happy and confident with yourself before you can be happy with anybody else!

An Epic Hero

"Epic Hero"

An epic hero is never shown better anywhere else than in the Odyssey. Homer uses Odyseus as an example of an epic hero,as he demonstrates bravery, dignity, brawn, smarts and determination throughout the story. Odyseus regullarly faces adversaries that try to bring him down on his journey aswell as making allies along the way. In many ways Odyseus brings about certain morals that can teach people proper ways to live by in their given society. Epic hero's are also regular people with fears like everyone else, but in the end they overcome them to accomplish whats best. Some examples of Odyseus proving to be an epic hero is when he escapes the cave of the Cyclops in Book 9 showing bravery, smarts and determination or when he navigates away from scylla in Book 11 showing smarts and bravery.

Odysseus: Hero of Suffering

"...So now they writhed, gasping as Scylla swung them up her cliff and there at her cavern's mouth she bolted them down raw - screaming out, flinging their arms toward me, lost in that mortal struggle ... Of all the pitiful things I've had to witness, suffering, searching out the pathways of the sea, this wrenched my heart the most."
The Odyssey, Book 12, Lines 275-282

Odysseus is a man who has suffered the most vexatious, extreme, excruciating pain over the course of 20 years; fighting bravely and better than most in one of the most epic wars in history in addition to being away from his beloved family and battling the endless obstacles on his way to native land. This quote is just from one of those many interferences, during the voyage through the man-eating monster Scylla's territory. Odysseus tells the story of this voyage, in which he lost six men to each of the Scylla's six lethal heads, and mentions that of all the physical and emotional pain he has had to suffer, "this wrenched my heart the most". The fact that he describes this event as the most pain he has experienced in these twenty years says a great deal about his character. He is someone who would choose themselves to die over any other, and it pains him most to see his men dying than it did to, for example, fight off the deadly Cyclops. Odysseus is a hero to be valued not only for his immense strength, but also for his chivalrous amiability.

Remember Me, I Beg You!

"Remember me, I beg you! Don't sail off

and desert me, left behind unwept, unburied, don't,

or my curse may draw god's fury on your head."

The Odyssey, Book 11, Line 79

This quote just goes to show the importance of kleos and being remembered. Every Greek man wants glory, he wants his tale to be passed on forever, and therefore be immortalized through his deeds. This is something that Odysseus strives for throughout the novel, even when it puts him in danger as it did with the Cyclops. Odysseus' nostos is also just a quest for eternal glory. If he does not make it home, he cannot have his tale passed on by his family and friends.

This quote also emphasizes the importance of a proper burial . Ceremony in general is very important to the Greeks, as one can see in their elaborate sacrificial rights, the greeting of guests, and during meal time.

Sidetracks

Odysseus is on a epic journey to his native land. Along the way there are many sidetracks whether he is defeating a cyclops or watching his men go under the spell and turn into pigs. We can relate this to our own lives. We ourselves are on a odyssey. Between the transition of becoming the miner niner to finally grade 12 with new responsibilities and so to be our next step to university. I'm curious to see what our sidetracks will be and where they will take us.

Homer the Feminist

"Come Eurycleia,
move the sturdy bedstead of our bridal chamber-
that room the master built with his own hands.
Take it out now sturdy bed that it is,
and spread it deep with fleece,
blankets and lustrous throws to keep him warm."


Book 23 serves the purpose of tying together the whole novel. It brings the main plotline to a close with the reunion of Odysseus and his family. It also brings the story back to many of its main themes. Obviously, there is the theme of nostos with the return of Odysseus to his home and his family. There is also one last clever bit of metis in this chapter with the above quote.
This quote also emphasizes the forward-thinkingness of Homer. He had some very modern feminist views. He gives women a lot more power in the story than they are normally give. He also portrays women such as Penelope as being very strong, clever people, different from men but clearly able to match them in a conflict. He makes it seem like women and men are often incredibly different, but equal. A man like Achilles could clearly beat Penelope in a battle of the flesh, but Penelope could destroy Achilles in a battle of the wits, as she proves with her quick thinking in the above quote.

What do you get from greatness?

“But you, Achilles,
there’s not a man in the world more blest than you—
there never has been, never will be one.
Time was, when you were alive, we Argives
honored you as a god, and now down here, I see,
you lord it over the dead in all your power.
So grieve no more at dying, great Achilles.”

I reassured the ghost, but he broke out, protesting,
“No winning words about death to me, shining Odysseus!
By god, I’d rather slave on earth for another man—
some dirt-poor tenant farmer who scrapes to keep alive—
than rule down here over all the breathless dead.”
Book 11, pg 265, line 547

This is a conversation between Odysseus and Achilles during Odysseus's time talking with various people in the underworld. Both wish for the lives each are living or have lived, according to Achilles he is longing to live again as Odysseus is now. But on the other hand Odysseus wishes to be just as great as Achilles is now, and wants to be as celebrated a hero as he. I believe this conversation shows how suffering once again arises in The Odyssey. Achilles may be dead and suffering but at the same time his accomplishments are still remembered and glorified by all. To Achilles though, he would rather be suffering on earth just for the chance to live again and give up all his greatness. In this case greatness may just give you suffering in the end, unlike earlier instances in the book were they show suffering gives greatness.

Bright Eyed Athena

Throughout the Odyssey, Athena, the daughter of Zeus and Metis, is often referred to as "bright eyed". This is because she is known to have had bright silvery coloured eyes. It's said that the city of Athens was owned by Posiedon however he was ruling it poorly and Athena, being the warrior that she was decided to take over Athens. She planted the first domesticated olive tree, which is known to always symbolize Athena and her bright eyes, for when the olive leaves blow the under side of them is a bright silvery colour, just like Athena's eyes. Posiedon challenged Athena to a mortal combat, and Athena would have really hurt Posiedon, after all, fighting is her specialty! So the Gods all voted instead, the males all voted for Posiedon, and the females voted for Athena, however Zues refused to vote, causing Athan to win. She named Athens after her and that is where the first domesticated olive tree originated.

Athena Inspires the Prince: Telemachus wears the pants with his Mother

"So mother, go back to your quarters. Tend to your own tasks, the distaff and the loom, and keep the women working hard as well. As for giving orders, men will see to that, but I most of all: I hold the reins of power in this house" Telemachus, line 410, page 89.
At this point, Telemachus has already met with Athena and she has inspired him to take on an Odyssey of his own. After meeting with Athena aka. Mentes, he feels more powerful, for example, when he says this to his mother he is taking the reins of the household. Telemachus is making this clear to his mother that things are going to change now, that she best go to her room while he gets the suitors out of their home and he takes control of the house.

Odyssey

"When young Dawn with her rose-red fingers shone once more"

- The Odyssey, Page 216 Line 190

Throughout this novel this line is repeated over and over. Why? I believe it is because Dawn represents rebirth, the "dawning" of a new time. By using this in the Odyssey Homer is almost starting a new chapter within a chapter - he is stating a beginning. Dawning, the beginning, it all comes back to that. To see Dawn is to start a new day, to begin fresh - to start over. Odysseus is trying to start over, trying to erase the years of absence, and everytime he sees the Dawn he begins anew.

Quick and painless vs. slow and painful

The Odyssey
BOOK 12: CATTLE OF THE SUN
pg. 282

Eurylochus - "All ways of dying are hateful to us poor mortals,
true, but to die of hunger, starve to death--
that's the worst of all...
I'd rather die at sea, with one deep gulp of death,
than die by inches on this desolate island here!"

Kurt Cobain (from Neil Young song "Hey Hey, My My", in his suicide note) -
"It's better to burn out than to fade away."

Eurylochos is speaking of the temptation to not suffer, if the same fate is inevitable either way. It's ironic because his fate is sealed once he kills one of Helios's cattle. There is always temptation to "just get it over with", so the slow decline of whatever the case may be, either fame or life, isn't being endured. In both cases, they chose the indulgent way out, something fundamentally selfish, but somewhat understandable in desperate situations.

Food Before Thought

"Help yourselves to food, and welcome! Once you've dined we'll ask who you are."
Book 4, page 126, line 68, The Odyssey

Hospitality seems to be a very significant issue that arises whenever a stranger is welcomed into one's household. Most evidently, food is the preliminary way to welcome a visitor since this is shown when Telemachus reaches the palaces of Menelaus and Nestor. Homer repeats a phrase again and again to show that the need for food is no longer necessary; "and when they'd put aside desire for food and drink," on pages 82, 109, 122, and 126.
This level of welcome is unheard of in our society but in their time, it seems as though it was expected from a host. Even in Ithica where the suitors are showing an abundant lacking of dike, they show that they expect hospitality by helping themselves to the crops and meat of the land.
This quote does an excellent job at displaying how key hospitality is to their society.

Harry Chapin's odyssey: Story of a Life

This is a ballad song by Harry Chapin called "Story of a Life". The song reminded me of The Odyssey in that it considers life as "story"; Odysseus also seeks to have his life told as story both by him and by minstrels. The Odyssey is, essentially, a "story of a life".

Like The Odyssey, Chapin's song progresses from the narrator's boyhood to adulthood, where the narrator of Chapin's song undergoes a "nostos" journey. Ultimately, he finds the consummation of his life and story with his Love---a "Penelope"---in the last stanza. The music is folksie but solid. Listen to the YouTube clip while reading the lyrics.

Wisdom,Courage and Knowledge...Kings greatest powers?

These three attributes are the gods/kings greatest powers. Its not all about strength which most people believe when they think of gods/kings. We find out why these are so important , In The Odyssey Book 10 , Odysseus shows us why. an example is When the One eyed giant asks him what his name is and he replies as "nobody" which would later on come into effect and save his life along with his crew members. But the greatest example of knowledge is when Odysseus gets the giant drunk in order to blind him and therefore leading to his escape . Therefore without these three attributes Wisdom,Courage and knowledge , Odysseus probably would of died an not have been remembered.

Brains over Brawn

"so, Cyclopes, no weak coward it was whose crew you bent to devour there in your vaulted cave- you with your brutal force! Your filthy crimes came down on your own head, you shameless cannibal, daring to eat your guests in your own house- so Zeus and the other gods have paid you back!" - page 226, line 531-536


-At this part of the story Odysseus tricks the beast multiple times. First he told the beast that his ship was wrecked in a storm so that Cyclopes couldn't kill the rest of his men. He also gets Cyclopes drunk so he could easily hurt the beast without having to fight. Then he tells the beast that his name is no body because he knew that it would buy him some time for his escape. This quote is Odysseus's victory speech. Odysseus shows us that your brain can be your best weapon. He knew that he couldn't out fight Cyclopes so he used his mind instead of his muscle. In this quote he also says that what he has done is Cyclopes punishment from the gods for all the filthy crimes he has done.

A symbol that sets a new beginning

"Beneath two bushy olives sprung from the same root, one olive wild, the other well-bred stock."- Book 5, p.167, line 527, The Odyssey

The constant reference to olives by Homer can be related in many different ways towards the importance of them in their culture. But this quote refers both to the olives as a Greek symbol and also as reference to the change for Odysseus from an uncivil life to finally reaching civilization. This turning point in Odysseus's life is no more apparent here then it is any were else in the text. Odysseus must feel here more than ever that he has finally over come what he has left. Even though his journey home is not yet complete, his new beginning must make it seem like a successful campaign thus far. Likewise, it is somewhat like arriving home (civilization), the olive, no better a symbol for a Greek man than this.

Heroes Aren't Perfect

"Cyclopes- if any man on the face of this earth should ask you who blinded you, shamed you so- say Odysseus, raider of cities, he gouged out you eye, Latertes' son who makes his home in Ithaca!"
- The Odysseus, book 9 pg. 227, line 558

- Odysseus is a great example of a hero. He is very intelligent, strong and fearless. in this quote Odysseus shows that he isn't perfect. now that the beast cyclopes knows who Odysseus really is and where to find him he will travel to Ithaca to seek revenge on Odysseus. This is putting his people in great danger. He had the beast fooled by using the name "nobody" but Odysseus wants to be known as a hero that tricked the great Cyclopes. He doesn't realize that Cyclopes will come to Ithaca to get revenge on Odysseus and will kill or eat anyone that gets in his way. This is a great example of how heroes aren't perfect.

being at the top

"You've got to climb Mount Everest to reach The Valley of the Dolls. It's a brutal climb to reach that peak. You stand there waiting for the rush of exhiliration. But it doesn't come. You're alone and the feeling of loneliness is overpowering."
- Jacqueline Susann, Valley of the Dolls

A metaphor for the terrible thing that is show business. You climb and climb, but once you're at the top, you're completely beaten down. Your life has become fame and fortune, nothing else. All of your relationships disintegrate, and you crawl closer and closer to losing your mind. This is why many who are at the top turn to dolls (pills). You need a doll to wake up, and a doll to fall asleep again. They work faster if you take them with vodka. Your fame becomes infamy, you are referred to as "outrageous", "scandalous" and "messed up". You crack under the pressure and withdraw. Then you slowly fall into obscurity, into the Valley of the Dolls, never to rise again.
Terribly depressing book/movie.

Grief

"What good can come of grief?"
Said at least a couple of times in the tenth book of the Odyssey.

"Only pain makes it grow stronger. Only sorrow makes it kind. Contentment makes it wither, and joy seems to build walls around it. The heart is perverse, and it is cruel."
The Gum Thief - Douglas Coupland, page 63.

The first quote reminded me of the second, which again brings into play suffering, and how it is required to achieve greatness. Suffering is healthy for us to grow up, to become wise, to get from point A to point B.
It is not only required for the great, but for the simple. There is no good without evil, there is no appreciation of life without suffering.

To Feast...

"The tables, heaped with bread and meats, and drawing wine from a mixing-bowl the steward makes his rounds and keeps the winecups flowing. This, to my mind is the best that life can offer."
-Odysseus (The Odyssey, page 211)

This quote shows that Odysseus enjoys the simple pleasures of life, such as eating and drinking in excess, much like the common man does. Perhaps there is a message that Homer is trying to convey; that conversing with friends and family over food is one of the greatest, if not the greatest joy in life. It certainly shows the importance of hospitality and food, for without hospitality there is no community and without food there is no sustenance. These are the most important aspects of ancient Greek culture-along with work and suffering- so when both fuse together a celebration of sorts commences. There is also a message that relaxation, pleasure, and enjoyment can only take place after hardship has befallen a man. The fruits of one's labour become exponentially sweeter after one returns from a fulfilling day of toil and labour.

The Greatest Joy in Life

“No finer, greater gift in the world than that… when a man and woman possess their home, two minds, two hearts that work as one” – Homer, The Odyssey

What makes one civil?

The Odyssey
BOOK 6: THE PRINCESS AND THE STRANGER

"Man of misery, whose land have I lit on now?
What are they here - violent, savage, lawless?
or friendly to strangers, god-fearing men?"

This was spoken by Odysseus, about Nausicaa and her friends, as they are playing ball near the riverbank in which he sleeps. It's interesting to know that religion was, at the time, the number one basis of what would be considered civilized.
Then again, religion, in this story, was a shocking reality. Athena actually might help you if you prayed and sacrificed to her - Zeus actually would make sure you get home safe. In this case, the logical choice would have to be to face the facts and believe in these gods.
Religion, also, made a lot of sense. It really is good to be hospitable, because it helps carry out the golden rule in a much more beneficial way. Religion and respect for the gods is a must in the Odyssey.

Aristocracy is facial

The Odyssey
BOOK 4: THE KING AND QUEEN OF SPARTA

"... Once you've dined
we'll ask you who you are. But your parents' blood
is hardly lost in you. You must be born of kings,
bred by the gods to wield the royal scepter.
No mean men could sire songs like you."

This might suggest that Telemachus and Pisistratus are clean-looking, not unkempt like peasants might be. Then again, I took from this that the aristocracy in Greece at the time was facially apparent, be that a good or bad thing. It's interesting that "blood" can be recognized.

A true hero

"Ah, great goddess,"  

worldly Odysseus answered, "don't be angry with me.

All that you say is true, how well I know,

Look at my wise Penelope. She falls far short of you,

your beauty, stature. She is mortal after all

and you, you never age or die...

Nevertheless I long-I pine all my days-

to travel home and see the dawn of my return.

And if a god will wreck me

.........................

This quote shows what it really means to be a hero. You must sacrifice pleasure and resist temptation to achieve 
a higher ideal, even if it means immense suffering and sorrow on the part of the hero. This is what Odysseus does, 
more than any other man, her suffers, spending decades away from his wife and child, fighting constantly to see 
them again and being faced with barrier after countless barrier. Yet he still faces them with a steady courage, 
taking every opportunity he can to make it home, even when it means leaving a paradise with a gorgeous goddess 
willing to make him immortal with his only hopes resting in  small boat that he had to build himself, and knowing 
full well that as soon as he was at sea, the gods would harass him further.