The Odyssey Begins With A Supplication Of The Muse By Homer (Essay Sample)

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Odyssey- the Muses
The Odyssey begins with a supplication of the Muse by Homer. The Muse is responsible for epic poetry works, and Homer requests for her assistance in telling a tale about a man who has undergone various experiences and has overcome many difficult situations. The story has to be interesting, and Homer seeks advice to achieve this end. The story as details the story of the Odysseus, who is the only remaining survivor of the Trojan war. However, he has not come back home as he is imprisoned on an islandCITATION Vic11 \p 55 \l 1033 (Hanson and Heath 55). Homer takes advantage of the beginning to introduce the plot, characters, and theme.
The Muses are the daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne. Thy is nine in number and rule over the sciences and arts. Additionally, they are a source of inspiration in the two subjects. Their father, Zeus, is considered as the Lord of all lords. On the other hand, their mother is the representative of memory. The muse considered memory as an important thing, especially during the ancient times. Through memory, they were able to carry on beliefs, customs, and thoughts. Additionally, this was a period without written work. In this case, the best way to share and store information was through knowledge. The Muses have been evolving over the years. Their names changes before the Greeks chose to name them the nine muses. The Muses are considered as nymphs. They protect the mountains, springs, and rivers, and are considered as a natural spirit. These were later known as the goddesses of the sciences and arts. They were thought to reside on the mountain tops of OlympusCITATION Vic11 \p 77 \l 1033 (Hanson and Heath 77). The Muses were considered spirits that inspired creativity. Many people relied on them to improve their creativity in various aspects of their lives. The Muses were considered in leaders on various attributes such as astronomy, music, song and dance, comedy, hymns, poetry, epics, and tragedy.
Many artists, poets and any individual who was involved in entrainment relied on the Muses for their art and skill. The inspiration from the Muses leads to many new creations by individual that were unique. The use for heroism is known as Calliope. The name is symbolic for musical, artistic and creative expression. It can also be used to mean patience. Calliope is often popular as the Homer Muse, or even Homer’s mother. The Muse is also an inspiration to the Odyssey and Iliad. In the case of Odysseus, the theme of revenge emerges. In this scenario, the suitors do not have offensive behavior when Odysseus is around or when he is about to return. Most of the time, they have bad behavior. They think he has passed on. Calliope, in many cases, has a roll of paper of a writing tablet in her handCITATION Vic11 \p 79 \l 1033 (Hanson and Heath 79). She is also depicted with a gold crown or even a lyre in some art. She is the chief of the muses, and he is often called upon by the people. Her power is considered great, and many people rely on her influence and power. Calliope is a popular Muse for princesses, kings, and any royalty. She is considered as the muse of confidence. She was also considered as a popular choice for royalty who wanted protection as they were traveling.
Homer calls upon the Muse to ‘sing in him’ and make his talent better. Essentially, he relies on the Muse as he makes the Odyssey. Before the introduction of Odyssey, the narrator calls upon the Muse. Moreover, the narrator relies on the Muse to tell the story of Odyssey and his adventures. The Muse do not receive and analyses the information they receive like humans. They do not rely on the five senses such as hearing sight and smell. Instead, they depend on the wisdom of the Muse and the medium in which t s ...