Ithaca by C.P. Cavafy

Figurative Language cont.

• The poet uses repetition in this poem.
• In stanza one, lines four, five, ten, and eleven the names Poseidon, Cyclops, and Laistrygonians occer twice.
• "Laistrygonians, Cyclops, and Poseidon," (stanza one, lines 4,5,10,11) in order to emphasize how they might be avoided throughout Odysseus' journey.

Theme

• The theme of this poem is Life is a Journey.
• It is better to have the experience than to arrive. The point of going on a trip is to have fun and to enjoy the journey. Everybody becomes obsessed with getting to the final destination, than actually enjoying getting there.

Tone

• The tone of this poem is hopeful and positive.
• In the beginging of the poem, the poet is very hopeful that Odysseus has a safe and enjoyable journey home. The whole poem was positive because the poet was talking about how wise and experienced Odysseus is.

Ithaca by C.P. Cavafy

Time Period

• This poem was written in the Romantic period, 1911
• The poem states, "... Phoenician trading stations..." (Stanza 2, line 5)
• Phoenicia was the coastal district of ancient Syria and is now the of modern Lebanon.
• The poet talks about Poseidon and Laistrygonians and cyclopses. These were all Greek figures.

Author Background cont.

• As a result, him and his family had to move back to Alexandria. Egypt in 1880.
• Two years later, they moved again to Constantinople where Cavafy wrote his first poems.

Author Background

• C.P. Cavafy was born on April 29, 1863 to April 29, 1933 in Alexandria, Egypt
• Cavafy was a Greek citizen himself and has eight siblings.
• After his father died in 1870, his mother and siblings moved to England and developed a business.
• At the age of nine to sixteen, Cavafy developed a love for William Shakespeares writing.
• Business was not going well in England.

Analysis of Poem cont.

• Stanza four: The poet explains that Ithaca has given Odysseus this amazing journey. The poet also explains to Odysseus that the prize is in the experience of the journey, not the destination.
• Stanza five: The poet explains to Odysseus that if he finds her(Ithaca) poor, she won't have foolded him. Now that he has become wise and full of experience, Odysseus will finally understand what the Ithacas mean.

Symbolism

• Cavafy uses Ithaca, to symbolize all destinations.
• The poet uses Ithaca because Odysseus was traveling to Ithaca and it symbolizes his journey as well as others also.

Analysis of Poem

• Stanza one: Odysseus is setting out on a journey to Ithaca and his journey is going to be full of adventure and new discoveries. The poet is telling him not to be afraid of anything or anyone that comes his way.
• Stanza two: The poet is imagining places where Odysseus might stop throughout his journey, such as Phoenician trading stations.
• Stanza three: The poet is telling him to always keep Ithaca in mind because eventually he will get there. The poet also tells Odysseus not to hurry because when he finally reaches Ithaca, he will be wealthy from all that he has collected throughout his journey.

Structure of Poem

• This poem has 5 stanzas and it has different numbers of lines in each.
• This poem does not have a rhyme scheme in.

Ithaca by C.P. Cavafy

Figurative Lang.

• The poet uses metaphor.
• Ithaca is a metaphor for all destinations. It represents all the goals humans reach for and all the expectations for a reward to be received.

Presented by Valentina Privetera