The Odyssey: Telemachus' Journey

Epic Hero- Telemachus

Ordinary World

Trickster

Herald- Athena

He is the protagonist in the story who is the center of the conflict and is the one to eventually solve it.

"I'll go to Ithaca and urge his son

to be more active, put courage in his heart,"

( Book 1, Page 11, Line 116-117)

The herald is Athena, because she is the one who prompted the journey to Telemachus. Athena helped Telemachus to get into the special world.

"But I'd encourage you

to think of ways to force these suitors out"

(Book 1, Page 18, Line 367-369)

Telemachus is among the suitors in his fathers house.

Call to Adventure

They Return with the Elixir

The suitors are using all of Odysseus' resources, and the fear of running dry of these resources pushes Telemachus into action. Athena tells Telemachus he should go on an adventure. To get rid of the suitors, and find his father Odysseus.

There is not a trickster in this book that Telemachus encounters, because The Odyssey is more of an adventure without comedy. In the Odyssey Telemachus' journey is to find out information of his father, and come back home. Telemachus encounters characters, who want to help him out though out his journey.

"God-like Telemachus

observed Athena first, well before the others.

He was sitting with the suitors, his heart troubled,

picturing in his mind how his noble father

might get back, scatter the suitors from his home,

win honour for himself, and regain control

of his own household."

( Book 1, Page 12, Line 147-153)

They are RELUCTANT at first or REFUSE THE CALL.

"If you hear reports your father is alive

and coming home, you could hang on a year

still wasting his resources. But if you hear

that he is dead and gone, then come back here,

to your dear native land, build him a tomb,

and carry out as many funeral rites

as are appropriate. Give your mother

over to a husband. When you've done that

and brought these matters to a close, then think,

deep in your mind and heart, how you might kill

these suitors in your home, either openly

or by some trick." ( Book 1, Page 19, Line 393-404)

Telemachus feels that his father already passed away. So he thinks that he should stay home with his mother as the man of the house. He doesn't want anything to happen with his mother. Also doesn't want to lose any of the possessions pass down to him.

Telemachus doesn't bring back a treasure to Ithaca. What he does do is back in Ithaca he restores back peace in the kingdom with his father. Also everything is on its way back to normal when Odysseus was king.

"Once Athena spoke, Odysseus obeyed,

joy in his heart. And then Pallas Athena,

daughter of aegis-bearing Zeus, in shape and form

looking just like Mentor, had both parties swear

a solemn treaty designed to last forever."(Book 24, p.485, line 701-705)

They cross the third threshold and experience a RESURRECTION

"All the best young men who rule the islands,

Dulichium and wooded Zacynthus,

and Same, as well as those who lord it here

in rocky Ithaca—they are all now

wooing my mother and ravaging my house.1

She won't turn down a marriage she detests

but can't bring herself to make the final choice." (Book 1, Page 18, Line 334-340)

Encouraged by a Mentor

Mentor- Athena

"Now, as for yourself,

if you'll listen, I have some wise advice.

Get yourself a crew of twenty rowers

and the best boat you possess. Then leave here—

set off in search of news about your father,

who's been gone so long. "

( Book 1, Page 19, Line 381-386)

"Now, as for yourself,

if you'll listen, I have some wise advice.

Get yourself a crew of twenty rowers

and the best boat you possess. Then leave here—

set off in search of news about your father,

who's been gone so long. Some living mortal

may tell you something, or you may hear

a voice from Zeus, which often brings men news.

Sail first to Pylos—speak to noble Nestor.

After you’ve been there, proceed to Sparta

and fair-haired Menelaus, the last one

of all bronze-clad Achaeans to get home.

If you hear reports your father is alive

and coming home, you could hang on a year

still wasting his resources. But if you hear

that he is dead and gone, then come back here,

to your dear native land, build him a tomb,

and carry out as many funeral rites

as are appropriate. Give your mother

over to a husband. When you've done that

and brought these matters to a close, then think,

deep in your mind and heart, how you might kill

these suitors in your home, either openly

or by some trick" (Book 1, Page 19, Line 381-404

Telemachus becomes a wiser and man. Not only physically, but also mentally. He is a well rounded person. Also he has become strong as an individual through everything that he has been through with his family, and also his journey. He might not be completely like his father, but he is his own Hero.

“Telemachus, now you've reached

the field of battle, where the finest men

are put to the test. " (Book 24, pg.483, Line 650-652).

Athena encourages Telemachus to stand up against the suitors, and to go on a journey to learn about his father. When he came back home, Athena was there to tell him what actions to take with the suitors. She fought the suitors with him and his father as well.

Athena tells Telemachus what he needs to do (set off to look for Odysseus) and how he should go about doing it (get a ship and a crew).

THE ROAD BACK to the Ordinary World

The Odyssey: Telemachus' Journey

CROSS THE FIRST THRESHOLD and enter the Special World.

There lives have changed greatly, for each of them Odysseus, Penelope, and Telemachus. The parents of the suitors try to get revenge of Odysseus for killing their children. Athena steps in, and makes everyone forget of the incident. The peace is restored in Ithica.

"Do as you wish. But I'll lay out for you

what I think is right. Since lord Odysseus

has paid back the suitors, let them swear

a binding oath that he'll remain their king

all his life, and let's make them forget

the killing of their sons and brothers.

Let them love each other as they used to do,

and let there be wealth and peace in plenty.”

(Book 24, Page 482, Line 617-626)

"Once Athena spoke, Odysseus obeyed,

joy in his heart. And then Pallas Athena,

daughter of aegis-bearing Zeus, in shape and form

looking just like Mentor, had both parties swear

a solemn treaty designed to last forever."

(Book 24, Page 485, Line 701-705)

Threshold Guardian- Telemachus

"All the best young men who rule the islands,

Dulichium and wooded Zacynthus,

and Same, as well as those who lord it here

in rocky Ithaca—they are all now

wooing my mother and ravaging my house.

She won't turn down a marriage she detests

but can't bring herself to make the final choice." (Book 1, page 17, Line 334-340)

He sets off on a ship towards Pylos to see the noble Nestor and then towards Sparta to speak to Menelaus.

The Threshold guardian is Telemachus fear of leaving his mother behind in Ithaca, with the suitors. This fear held him back on his journey for a bit of time.

"With these words, Pallas Athena

quickly led the way, and Telemachus followed

in her footsteps. Once they'd come down to the sea

and reached the ship, on shore they came across

their long-haired companions."

( Book 2, Page 41, Line 545-549)

Works Cited

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(1812)." Pinterest. N.p., 2013. Web. 02 Nov. 2014. <http://www.pinterest.com/pin/92394229828345876/>.

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%2Fhessemythology.wikispaces.com%2FThe%2BGoddess%2BAthena>.

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Ithaca>.

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To..." Art Institute of Chicago. The Art Institute of Chicago, n.d. Web. 02 Nov. 2014. <http://www.artic.edu/aic/collections/artwork/17964>.

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www.majorolympians.com/athena03.html>.

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The+Suitors>.

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2014. <http://louisecharente.wordpress.com/2013/05/06/the-odyssey-books-one-to-eight/>.

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Web. 2 Nov. 2014. <http%3A%2F%2Fhistoryofbooks.wikispaces.com%2FIllustration_Odyssey>.

Encounter TESTS, ALLIES, AND ENEMIES

TESTS

• Telemachus is tested by Menelaus to survive the journey home. "But stay until I bring some fine gifts here 100and set them in your chariot, where your eye scan see them, and I can tell the women to prepare a meal inside the palace from the plentiful supply of food there.For a traveler to feast before he leavesto journey on the wide unbounded earth brings double benefits—it gives him help and gives me fame and honour. If you wish to go through Hellas and middle Argos, then I'll accompany you by person" (Book 15, pg 293, line 100-110)
• He must remain calm once he is back in his home, and wait for the right time to kill the suitors.

They take possession of their REWARD

Shapeshifter- Telemachus

ALLIES

• Telemachus meets Helen of Troy and Menelaus (married) on his journey. They give hospitality and gifts to Telemachus. ( Book 15, Page 293, Line 88-116)
• Eurycleia is the oldest of the servants, and is the most loyal. She helps both Telemachus and Odysseus on their journeys by keeping their secrets. ( Book 2, Page 40, Line 502-512)
• Odysseus is also an ally to Telemachus not only for being his father, but fighting on his side against the suitors.
• Eumaeus and Philoetius are the servants who are the most loyal to Telemachus.
• "Once he'd said this, he put his lovely amour on,around his shoulders, and roused Telemachus,Philoetius, and Eumaeus, and told them all to get weapons in their hands to fight a war."( Book 23, p.463 ,line 464-467)

Telemachus and Odysseus kill all the suitors, and the servants who were unloyal. So they will be to take everything under control again. Also Odysseus becomes king again, and has his home.

“Start carrying those corpses outside now,

and then take charge of the servant women.

Have these splendid chairs and tables cleaned,

wiped with porous sponges soaked in water.

Once you've put the entire house in order,

then take those servants from the well-built hall

to a spot outside between the round house

and the sturdy courtyard wall and kill them.

Slash them with long swords, until the life is gone

from all of them, and they've forgotten

Aphrodite and how they loved the suitors

when they had sex with them in secret.”

(Book 22, p.445-446, line 540-553)

Tests, Allies, and Enemies continued

They APPROACH THE INMOST CAVE, crossing a second threshold

Telemachus changes throughout the book by becoming wiser and more experienced. Telemachus matures into a man who can fight with his fathers people

“Telemachus, now you've reached 650

the field of battle, where the finest men

are put to the test." (Book 24, pg.483, Line 650-652).

ENEMIES

• Antinous is the most arrogant suitor, and is always rude. He is the suitor that tries to kill Telemachus, and becomes the first suitor to get killed. He is the leader of the group, and is devious.

"As Odysseus spoke,

he aimed a bitter arrow straight at Antinous, 10

who was just about to raise up to his lips

a fine double-handled goblet he was holding

in his hands, so he could drink some wine. In his heart there was no thought of slaughter. "

(Book 23, Page 429, Line 9-14)

• Eurymachus is the most ignorant, and rude. He always speaks to much, and tries to portray himself as a good person. (Book 23, Page 431, Line 53-77)

They Endure the ORDEAL

Shadow- The Suitors

Telemachus returns home, only to see the suitors. The inmost cave, is that the suitors have occupied his house. They made a mess of everything, and have no respect for his mother. Which enrages Telemachus, but through out everything he remains composed.

"The arrogant suitors

thronged around him, making gentle conversation,

but deep in their hearts they were planning trouble."

(Book 17, p.333, line 83-85)

The suitors are the shadow, because they are who Telemachus despises and is fighting against the entire time.

“You suitors of my mother, who all have

such insolent arrogance, "

(Book 1, p.22 ,line 495-497)

The ordeal that Telemachus must face is to fight the suitors, but he has his father on his side to help him. Telemachus makes a mistake when he leaves the weaponry room open.

“Father, I bear the blame for this myself.

It's no one else's fault. I left it open—

the close-fitting door of that storage room.

One of them has keener eyes than I do.

Come, good Eumaeus, shut the storeroom door. "

(Book 23, Page 435, Line 197-199)