Ancient Greek Literature Essays Examples For College & High School Students in PDF

2035 total results

A Personal Account of Stoicism, the Philosophy of Living Long and Prospering (1517 words, 5 pages)

Living Long and Prospering A Personal Account of StoicismMy path towards practicing stoicism started in the summer of last year. I was on a discussion website reading about various philosophies. As I was reading the forum, a comment was made about stoicism. Intrigued by its description, I went to the ... Read More

The Theme of Fate in the Play Antigone by Sophocles (1840 words, 3 pages)

FateAntigone is just one of the classic plays writtenby Sophocles. It tells the story of one girl who rises up and stands alone for what she believes in and because of this, dies young. She would not let anything or anyone stop her from achieving her goal and never back ... Read More

The Differences between the Portrayal of Gender Roles through the Characters of Antigone and Ismene in Sophocles’s Play Antigone (830 words, 3 pages)

08Fall08FallAntigone GenderAncient Greece was entirely a male-dominated society however, in Sophocless Antigone, women are portrayed as both independently strong-willed and timid subordinates to men. Antigone and Ismene both show the different roles and characteristics women play in society. Ismenes portrayed as being weak and subordinate, but Antigone shares her views ... Read More

The Inferiority and Submission of Women to Men in Ancient Greek Culture in the Play, Antigone by Sophocles (647 words, 2 pages)

Ismene, Antigones lone surviving sibling in the Greek tragedy Antigone, mentioned some interesting aspects of ancient Greek culture regarding women. Throughout the drama, she insinuates that women are inferior to the power of men. She is quite passive and wants to obey the laws because of that, Antigones rebellious behavior ... Read More

An Analysis of Oedipus’ Last Days in Oedipus the King by Sophocles (625 words, 2 pages)

The last days of Oedipus the KingOedipus the King is one of the successful plays done by Sophocles. Since its publication in 420 BC, the book has been viewed as with high regards as the most tremendous appearance of the Greek disastrous drama. Even though Oedipus was a foreigner in ... Read More

Based on Homer’s Oddysey; Odysseus’ Speech (686 words, 3 pages)

Odysseus SpeechMy fellow Ithacans, I have come a long way to get to where I am now. I have traveled for the past 10 years, and have learned a lot about other lands and cultures. I have met new people, and I have formed alliances with them. I am a ... Read More

An Analysis of the Behavior of the Suitors in the Epic and Movie The Odyssey (401 words, 2 pages)

In the movie and book, The Odyssey, a hero named Odysseus was lost at sea for a long period of time after a great war against the Trojans and was trying to get back to his home Ithaca. While he was gone, many suitors were trying to claim the throne ... Read More

An Analysis of of the Scene of the Discovery of the Cyclops Polyphemus in The Odyssey by Homer (279 words, 1 pages)

In a section of the world renowned epic, The odyssey, A Cyclops named Polyphemus has been discovered by Odysseuss crew. How does this scene, if it does at all, reflect the social culture of ancient Greece? Does it hint towards some sort of cultural trait that the Greek people believed ... Read More

A Personal Examination of the Life and Lifestyles of the Ancient Greeks in the Play Oedipus Rex by Sophocles (385 words, 2 pages)

Cultural and contextual considerations of Oedipus Most writing on Oedipus comes from the 5th century BC. The play is set in Greece thousands of years ago and so obviously in comparison to this day and age. Ideas, values and morals would have been very different. Throughout reading the play and ... Read More

The Role and Influence of the Greek Gods in Homer’s Iliad (1013 words, 3 pages)

One of the great questions Homers Iliad presents is that of humanitys capacity to act autonomously, or to act with agency. The influence of the Greek Gods in The Iliad makes such a question difficult to answer, as the gods play a notable role influencing mortal decisions. One such instance ... Read More

An Analysis of the Inability to Escape Fate in Oedipus Rex by Sophocles (784 words, 3 pages)

In Oedipus Rex, a play by Sophocles, Oedipus is the current king who attempts to solve the mystery of the plague in his city by questioning those around him. The mystery is that the previous king of Thebes was murdered years ago before Oedipus came into power. After Oedipus took ... Read More

A Contrast between Antigone’s Faith in the Gods and Creon’s Neglect of the Gods in Antigone, a Play by Sophocles (1188 words, 5 pages)

Live by The Gods and Die by the Gods In Sophocle's Antigone, one woman's respect for the gods underminesKings negligence to uphold heavenly laws. The understanding of heavenlyauthority throughout the play shapes he fate of these two juxtaposed anddetermined characters. Antigone's and Creon's fates are direct results ofthe Antigone's respect ... Read More

An Analysis of Homer and Atwood’s Depiction of the Sirens in the Odyssey (647 words, 2 pages)

Through different speakers, Homer and Atwood create different images of the Sirens. Homers depiction of the Sirens is given from the point of view of Odysseus, one of the men the Sirens are attempting to lure towards them, while Atwoods depiction is from a Siren herself demonstrating how she lures ... Read More

The Importance of Athena to the Characters of Odysseus and Telemachus in the Odyssey, a Poem by Homer (755 words, 1 pages)

In Homers The Odyssey, Athena helps Odysseus become a better leader by overcoming his hubris by forcing him to get help from a child when in an unfamiliar city. Athena also helps Telemachus become a better leader, overcoming his immaturity by directing him to people who help him learn how ... Read More

The Important Traits of Oedipus That Make Him a Tragic Hero in Oedipus Rex, a Play by Sophocles (646 words, 2 pages)

Imagine one who has so many varying characteristics such as being cursed, having ignorance, and doomed to a shameful death, yet still acts valorous and heroic. These are the mighty and important traits which define a tragic hero. In Sophocles tragic drama Oedipus Rex, there are many noticeable tragic heroes. ... Read More

Tyrants in Sophocles’ Theban Plays (892 words, 3 pages)

Tyrants in the Theban Plays Tyrants are made, not born. No tyrant just woke up one day anddecided that today was the day to rule a city with an iron fist, killingall who disobey. A tyrant emerges from a king step by step, first appearingin the form of pride as ... Read More

A Character Analysis of Penelope in The Penelopiad, Margaret Atwood’s Spin-Off of The Odyssey (350 words, 1 pages)

In her spin-off of The Odyssey, Margaret Atwood employs a dead Penelopes perspective to fill the gaps left by the classical epic and to push a righteous feminist agenda. Atwood uncovers an entirely different Penelope than the empty paragon of wifely goodness and loyalty from Homers epic. Atwoods Penelope, although ... Read More

The Flaws of a Hero in Odyssey, a Poem by Homer (653 words, 2 pages)

In The Odyssey, Homer addresses the question of whether a hero can be flawed and to what extent heshe is capable of recognizing these flaws. This question is proposed and answered throughout the novel in the dialogue and symbolism presented during Odysseus journey home from the Trojan War. Odysseus is ... Read More

The Pillars of the Greek Myths in Odyssey, a Poem by Homer (1447 words, 2 pages)

Odyssey EssayThroughout Greek culture, Odysseus has become an idol for the stature and character of the four functions of myth and codes of behavior. Homers The Odyssey lays out his life story as a blueprint stating the consequences and the rewards that ensue based on conduct pertaining to the myths. ... Read More

The Definition and Implications of Gender in The Odyssey, a Poem by Homer (1354 words, 3 pages)

Gender in The OdysseyThroughout The Odyssey, the implications of gender extend far beyond its superficial presence in various scenes of the poem. The myriad examples of situations in which women figuratively and literally pull men away from their destinations, disrupting the path of Odysseus and his men, serve to create ... Read More

An Analysis of Oedipus Seeking Goodness Through Truth in the Play Oedipus the King by Sophocles (575 words, 2 pages)

Seeking Goodness Through Truth OedipusThroughout Sophocles Oedipus the King, the protagonist, Oedipus, ruthlessly perseveres to discover the reality of his past. As the plot develops, he begins to understand that the truth will inevitably lead to his downfall. Despite this, he persists on his journey. A human truth developed in ... Read More

The Factors that Evoke a Tragic Response in Oedipus Rex by Sophocles and Prometheus Bound by Aeschylus (1537 words, 5 pages)

Do audiences experience fear and pity in tragedies because of the works shared themes of fate or as Freud hypothesised, because other factors are at work to evoke a tragic response? Sigmund Freuds hypothesis boldly disregards the idea that tragedies powerfully affect their audience because of their strong emphasis on ... Read More

A Review of the Film 2001: A Space Odyssey (569 words, 2 pages)

Sometimes the idea of approaching something new or different can be scary. That is how many people (including myself) feel about nonlinear film. The difficulty of making sense of abstract ideas, unfamiliar techniques, or unconnected time or place sequences is certainly a daunting prospect. I felt, and still feel this ... Read More

The Symbolism of Pomegranate Seeds in Homer’s Hymn to Demeter (1030 words, 4 pages)

Greek myths often embodied idealist beliefs of ancient Greek culture, including the institutionalization of separate spheres for men and women. Marriage was also an important topic, as can be seen, for example, in Homers Hymn to Demeter. The pomegranate in Hymn to Demeter can symbolize sterility and, in relation to ... Read More

Fate as the Impetus Behind the Hero’s Journey in Homer’s Odyssey and Virgil’s Aeneid (1679 words, 6 pages)

Fate The Impetus Behind the Protagonists JourneyCommonplace in literature, especially in epic poems, the protagonist is bound by an assured fate. This theme of fate and prophecy is used by authors to foreshadow later events. Fate, in both the Odyssey and the Aeneid, was the supernatural force that drove the ... Read More

An Analysis of the Importance of the Rituals of Mourning to the Greeks in the Iliad by Homer (826 words, 3 pages)

The most heated battles in the Iliad often are fought, not to protectthe living, but to determine who possesses the dead, specifically deadkings and heroes. Heroes and common soldiers alike risk their lives merelyfor a cold corpse, pushing aside all thoughts of self-preservation andtactical victory. Possessing the physical body drives ... Read More

An Analysis of the Theme of Revenge in The Odyssey by Homer (480 words, 2 pages)

In the beginning of the book it shows Odysseus hopeless and stranded on Ogygia with Calypso, and ends with him powerful, ruling as a king alongside his wife, Penelope as a queen, and his now matured son, Telemachus. As we read along, we notice the different tactics Odysseus and the ... Read More

The Role and Influence of the Gods on the Conflict in The Iliad by Homer (711 words, 4 pages)

A Brief Respite from BarbarismFrom the very first book of the Iliad, the Gods are the drivers of conflict. It is Zeus will that Achilleus and Agamemnon should quarrel and Heras and Athenas wills that Troy should fall. In Book 24, however, the Gods all put aside their anger and ... Read More

The Intriguing Characters in the Greek Play, Phaedra by Jean Racine (1103 words, 3 pages)

Greek mythology is a world with many wonders and interesting characters. The play Phaedra by Jean Racine is no exception. It tells the story of a woman who crosses the line of motherly love and womanly love. There are a handful of characters who this play revolves around. Phaedra, of ... Read More

The Understanding and Concern of the Character of Telemonian Aias in Homer’s Iliad (957 words, 3 pages)

There is no doubt that Achilles is the main character in Homer'sIliad. At the beginning of the epic, the muses are asked to sing of hisanger, and the story builds up to his great victory over Hektor. However,is Achilles the true hero of the story? Although most of the heroes ... Read More

Ancient Greek Literature Essay Examples