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

2035 total results

The Greek History of Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey (757 words, 1 pages)

Biography of Homer (?-? BC)Beyond a few fragments of information, historians and classicists can only speculate about the life of the man who composed the Iliad and the Odyssey. The details are few. We do not even know the century in which he lived, and it is difficult to say ... Read More

A Literary Analysis of the Search for the Truth in Oedipus the King by Sophocles (1135 words, 2 pages)

The Search for TruthIn Oedipus the King, Oedipuss relentless search for the cause of the citys plague leads to his inevitable misery. Unknowingly, Oedipus had slain his father, married his mother, and was the cause of the citys misfortune. Mid way through his search, Oedipus is warned that his search ... Read More

Plato’s Argument That Just Life Is Better than Unjust Life in the Book “Republic” (804 words, 2 pages)

"The Unjust Life Is The Most Profitable Life"Plato argues in his book the "Republic" that the just life is better that the unjust life. Although, Glaucon has legitimate arguments, Plato refutes them effectively by showing that the just life is better. Glaucon elaborates on Thrasymachus's argument stating that the unjust ... Read More

The Themes of Nature in the Odyssey by Homer (2553 words, 12 pages)

In The Odyssey written by Homer and translated by Richard Lattimore, several themes are made evident, conceived by the nature of the time period, and customs of the Greek people. These molded and shaped the actual flow of events and outcomes of the poem. Beliefs of this characteristic were represented ... Read More

The Portrayal of Odyssey’s Heroism in Homer’s Odysseus (477 words, 1 pages)

In Homer's Odyssey, the main charater, Odysseus, emerges as a heroic figure. How ever, in order to be a gero Odysseus must face and overcome numerous emotional, physical and mental hardships. The challenges he endures start at the begining in Ithaca before he went to war at Troy. He had ... Read More

A Character Analysis of Jean-Paul Sartre’s “The Flies” (507 words, 2 pages)

Title The Flies (Les Mouches)Author Jean-Paul SartrePublisher Vintage International Edition, October 1989Genre Dramatic playSetting City of Argos, GreeceMinor charactersAegistheus- He overthrows Agamemnon, makes Clytemnestra his wife and takes rule of Argos. He invents lies in order to make his people fear him. This only proofs that he is poor when ... Read More

The Portrayal of the Knowledge of the King in “Oedipus the King” (844 words, 1 pages)

Knowledge in Oedipus the KingIn Oedipus the King the knowledge that some characters in the play possess is very crucial in developing the plot. The knowledge in the play is the basic foundation of Oedipus future, either to remain as the King of Thebes or to be sentenced to death ... Read More

The Description of the Tenth Year of the Trojan War in Homer’s Poem “The IIiad” (720 words, 2 pages)

He Wore Honor on His SleeveThe poem The Iliad written by Homer is the story of the tenth year of the Trojan War. It depicts the nobility and honor given to a slayer in warfare and the humanity that warriors show to the slain. It also illustrates the Greek code ... Read More

The Subtlety in the Differences Between the Aeneid and the Iliad (1119 words, 6 pages)

The subtlety in the differences between Aneas and Turnus, reflectthe subtlety in the differences between the Aeneid and the Iliad. Althoughboth characters are devout and noble, Aneas does not possess the ardentpassion of Turnus. Unlike Turnus, Aneas is able to place his beliefs inthe fated establishment of Latium before his ... Read More

A Critical Analysis of the Movie Space Odyssey (465 words, 3 pages)

2001- SPACE ODYSSEYAfter watching this movie, a lot of it is veryconfusing to me and is really hard for me to understand. You really have to think about what is being said in themovie to get a good understanding of the points that thedirector is trying to get across. I ... Read More

Understanding the Suffering of a Man as Described in Aeschylus’s Play Agamemnon (1646 words, 3 pages)

Understanding of SufferingThe suffering of man is a very complicated matter that is most likely impossible to understand completely. It is a subject that people have grappled with since the dawn of recorded history. In fact, suffering is evident in every form of art man has created. Suffering is in ... Read More

An Analysis of the Homer’s Approach in the Illiad (1585 words, 3 pages)

There can be a numerous amount of reasons that an author decides to write a particular work. However, the common goal of all authors is to catch the attention of the reader and eventually make an impression of some sort on the reader. There are many different approaches that the ... Read More

An Evaluation of the Tangible Symbolism Found in “The Odyssey” (884 words, 2 pages)

"Symbolism of The Odyssey"Throughout Homers The Odyssey, many tangible symbols are used to represent abstract ideas. Each symbol that Homer uses has two meanings. The double meanings of these symbols are used to represent Odysseus and Telemachus as they strive to meet each other. While each symbol has a meaning ... Read More

An Analysis of the Issues for the Main Character Antigone in Antigone, a Play by Sophocles (1145 words, 2 pages)

In Sophocles Antigone, the struggles the main character, Antigone, faces concerning the burial of her brother, Polyneices, evoke a wide array of emotions towards Creon. Antigone is portrayed as a woman acting out of obligation and duty, to the gods, her family, and her conscience. She faces overwhelming odds and ... Read More

An Analysis of the Character of Agamemnon “The Oresteia” (299 words, 1 pages)

ORESTEIA AGAMEMNON FATES AGENTIn the Oresteia, instead of being a victim of fate, Agamemnon is its agent, because of the way he is shown in the story. He is its agent because he doesnt fully come into play that he is a full victim that he is a man of ... Read More

Plato’s World of Ideas and Its Influence on Greek Art and Culture (2225 words, 8 pages)

In Greek culture around the time of Plato, the perfect ideal person was considered.Platos idea that there was a perfect world of ideas affected this pieces subject and thesubjects action. Many works of his time period were sculptures that were meant to beviewed from all angles, attempting to be a ... Read More

An Analysis of ‘Allegory of the Den’ by Plato (515 words, 2 pages)

In the Allegory of the Den written by Plato. In his writing he explains human beings live in an underground den, here they have been from their childhood, and have their legs and necks chained so that they cannot move. Being prevented by the chains from turning round their heads. ... Read More

An Analysis of Plato’s The Allegory of the Cave (446 words, 2 pages)

Plato was born 427 BC and died 347 BC He was a pupil under Socrates.During his studies, Plato wrote the Dialogues, which are a collection of Socrates'teachings. One of the parables included in the Dialogues is "The Allegory of theCave". "The Allegory..." symbolizes man's struggle to reach understanding andenlightenment. First ... Read More

An Analysis of Oedipus’s Tragedy in Sophocles’ “Oedipus the King” (769 words, 4 pages)

Sophocles' "Oedipus the King" is a tragic play which discusses the tragic discovery of Oedipus that he has killed his father andmarried his mother. The story of Oedipus was well known to the athenian's. Oedipus is the embodiement of the perfect Athenian. He is self-confident, intelligent, and strong willed. Ironically ... Read More

Characters That Reveal the Whole in Reality (892 words, 2 pages)

Characters That Reveal the"Whole of Reality"In Sophocles' Oedipus the King, Kalidasa's Sakuntala and the Ring of Recollection, and Shakespeare's King Lear, there are characters that help the hypothetical figure see the "whole of reality". In Oedipus the King the characters Jocasta and Tiresias allow Oedipus realize his tragic flaw. The ... Read More

An Analysis of Oedipus Rex, a Play by Sophocles (2567 words, 6 pages)

Oedipus the King by Sophocles is more than just a plain tragedy. This play is a suspense thriller, where every character involved with Oedipus learned that fate is determined only by the gods. In this specific play, Apollo was deciding god that predicted the fate of every person in the ... Read More

The Contracting Themes of Blindness and Sight in Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex (714 words, 1 pages)

Blindness and SightBlindness and sight The effects of these contrasting themes help emphasize the impetus of many stories. In Sophocles Oedipus Rex, blindness and sight can be seen as a central theme. Blindness and sight are referred to by the characters in the story many times, and are shown to ... Read More

An Analysis of Homer’s Odysseus as Mere Mortal, But Purely Moral (1079 words, 2 pages)

ODYSSEUS A MERE MORTAL, BUT PURELY MORALIn Homer's Odyssey, he uses the stories of Calypso and Circe to give a reader a glimpse at Greek values. Odysseus is a perfectly moral man by Greek standards. In the Calypso episode, Odysseus demonstrates the value of faithfulness, and in the Circe episode, ... Read More

The Tragic Flaw in Character Leads to the Demise of Oedipus (664 words, 1 pages)

Oedipus has a "tragic flaw" that leads to his demise, and efforts to attribute one to him to him seem forced . In his quest to uncover the truth and rid Thebes of the plague, he exhibits all the heroic qualities that made him the savior of Thebes during the ... Read More

A Discussion of Revenge as a Cause for Murder (654 words, 1 pages)

Revenge - A Cause for Murder?Is revenge a reasonable cause for murder? Medea gives her whole soul and life to the devotion of the man she loves so dearly only to be betrayed by him. Medea said, "Come, flame of the sky, Pierce through my head! What do I gain ... Read More

An Analysis of Odysseus and His Comrades in the Play Odyssey (550 words, 1 pages)

Odysseus and Circes Meeting Odysseus and his comrades arrive at the island of Aeaea, the home of the beautiful Circe, a formidable goddess, with a mortal womens voice. (Homer10.135-137). Following the transformation of Odysseuss crewmembers being turned into pigs. Odysseus travels through the forest towards Circes home, where he meets ... Read More

An Analysis of a Part of the Odyssey, an Epic Poem by Homer (2552 words, 4 pages)

Book 5-6Scroll V returns to Olympus, where the gods debate Odysseus' fate. We again see them decide that it is time for him to get home and send Hermes to tell Calypso to let him go. Hermes goes to the beautiful island on which Calypso lives, and tells her of ... Read More

The Contrast in Characters of Medea and Lysistrata (429 words, 1 pages)

Medea vs. Lysistrata Contrasting two strong Greek femalesBoth Medea by Euripides and Lysistrata by Aristophanes illustrate the injustices that women suffered. Each author uses strong-willed characters to protest social situations. Medea is the victim of divorce. She had no say in her situations, since in ancient Greece men could divorce ... Read More

The Changes in the Personality of Achilles (429 words, 1 pages)

How does Achilles change? Why does the change take place? Which personality is the true Achilles?Initially, Achilles is selfish and petty. He refuses to fight in the war because Agamemnon takes Briseis. His selfishness causes the death of many Argives. Without the strength and power of Achilles, no other Greek ... Read More

A Literary Analysis of Iliad and the Odyssey by Homer (783 words, 2 pages)

HOMERThere is no question that the writer of the Iliad and the Odyssey was one of the greatest poets in the history of Western Europe, but aside from this, very little can be said about him. Ancient Greek tradition, as well as a study of language and the style of ... Read More

Ancient Greek Literature Essay Examples