Epic Element In Media Res example essay topic

What is an epic? An epic is an extended narrative poem recounting actions, travels, adventures, and heroic episodes and is written in a high style. The Odyssey, by Homer, is definitely one of the greatest classic epics known to man. This tale contains numerous epic elements such as in media res or "in the middle of things" to grab the reader's attention and make the reader keep reading to get the full story. Throughout the story, Homer included the epic element of divine intervention where the gods play a role in the outcome of actions of mortals.

The theme of hospitality to strangers is also present in this celebrated epic. The Odyssey is worthy of being an epic because of these three conventions. Homer uses the epic element in media res to pull the reader in by starting in the middle of the story. The reader is then filled in by flashbacks or the main character re-telling his tale. By using this convention, Homer keeps the reader curious and interested and makes the reader keep reading until he or she finishes understanding the whole plot.

In The Odyssey, the reader does not know half of Odysseus' journey until he enlightens Alkinoos and Ar^ete as to what events took place before he was washed ashore on Kalypso's Island. The reader always expects for the story to go directly to Odysseus, but instead the story follows the gods. Homer used in media res to show respect to the gods by starting the story "In the bright hall of Zeus... ". (I. 42). The author depicts conservation between Zeus and Athena about the fate of Odysseus to show that the gods always come first even before the main character. Homer uses the curiosity of the reader to his advantage by starting out Odysseus' long journey home in media res.

Divine intervention is another major component of this epic. At the beginning, Homer placed the role of the gods to determine the fate of Odysseus. "With this Athena left him / as a bird rustles upward, off and gone. / But as she went she put new spirit in him, / a new dream of his father... ". (I. 368-371). Without the involvement of the grey-eyed goddess Athena, Telemakhos would never have gain the courage to journey out into the world to find the fate of his father. Throughout the epic, Athena appears on earth disguised as everything from a little girl to Odysseus's old friend Mentor to spin Odysseus's long journey home.

When Odysseus was following Nausicaa to the city, "the grey-eyed goddess came to him, in figure / a small girl child" to guide him to Alkinoos' palace (VII. 22-23). Homer also emphasized that mortals must listen to the gods' warnings or awful things would take place. This was also expressed when Zeus and Athena discussed the story of Agamemnon. Since Aigisthos did not heed the warning of Hermes when he "stole Agamemnon's wife and killed the soldier [Agamemnon]", he was killed by the hand of Agamemnon's son, Orestes (Fitzgerald 2). In the end of the story, the suitors suffered a cold fate when they did not take the warning of Halitherses to drop their attempt to court Penelope when he saw the pair of eagles sent down by Zeus.

Because the suitors did not respect and take the warning of Zeus, they were all slaughtered by Odysseus and Telemakhos. Homer reminds the readers to fear gods and always know that, whatever you do, the gods are watching and taking action. The theme of hospitality has been deeply embedded in The Odyssey. Even at the beginning, hospitality to strangers is second nature to the characters. When Athena set foot on It haka, Telemakhos got sight of Athena and said "Greetings, stranger! Welcome to our feast.

/ There will be time to tell your errand later" (I. 154-155). Without knowing who Athena was, for she disguised herself as a mortal, Telemakhos offered food and drink to this complete stranger. This kind of hospitality and generosity towards strangers was also shown by Alkinoos. When Alkinoos saw Odysseus in need of help, he said "Our banquet's ended, so you may retire; / but let our seniors gather in the morning / to give this guest a festal day, and make / fair offerings to the gods" (VII.

203-206). Alkinoos cancelled his feast to make accommodations for a nameless stranger. However, many assume that all individuals are hospitable because it is a custom to honor strangers, but that is not in fact true. When Odysseus asked Kyklopes Polyphemus to help and give him gifts, Kyklopes' response was far from giving help or gifts. "Neither reply nor pity came from him [Kyklopes], / but in one stride he clutched at my companions...

Then he dismembered them and made his meal" (IX. 312-316). In an epic, hospitality to strangers is a custom that has both benefits and catastrophe. In conclusion, The Odyssey is truly an epic because it contains certain conventions. Homer uses in media res to start this epic in the middle of things to grab the reader's attentions as well as to show respect to the almighty gods.

Divine intervention is clearly illustrated throughout The Odyssey showing that the gods always play a role in both helping and hindering mortals. Finally, the practice of hospitality is a common theme in The Odyssey that makes the characters more than just one-dimensional..