For centuries, the art of literature has been used as a means of entertainment. Beyond entertainment, texts serve to preserve a particular culture for future generations. These old texts not only entertain, but also provide readers with a glimpse of the values and morals past societies deemed important. With that being said, it is important to realize that each piece of work along with each author is different and should be read accordingly. For instance, the roles of women in literature have transformed along with the changes of societal views. In the stories Lanval by Marie de France and The Odyssey by Homer, women are portrayed very differently, and yet they still play significant roles within each plot. Throughout The Odyssey women are continuously considered inferior to men, yet in Lanval women are shown respect. For example, each interruption throughout The Odyssey involves a woman attempting to discourage Odysseus from completing his journey. However, in Lanval, the roles of women are reversed. In fact, women actually have the ability to influence the fortune of men. The roles of women in the two stories differ by the types of characters they represent, their status in society, and also by the level of control they have over their own destiny. .
When examining the following texts it is obvious to see that not only are the storylines different but also the ways in which women were portrayed. The Odyssey is an epic poem, written by Homer, which illustrates the god-like Odysseus' returning voyage from the Trojan Wars back to Ithaca. Along the way, Odysseus is constantly faced with outlandish interruptions, most of which seem to have derived from a woman such as: Circe the nymph, the spellbinding Sirens, and the monstrous Scylla and Charybdis. Each of these female characters is portrayed as viscous creatures, only interested in distracting Odysseus from his journey. For example, this passage clearly illustrates the impact that Circe's disturbance had on Odysseus' voyage.
Beowulf and Lanval; Heroes of their Time There are many differences in Beowulf and Lanval. ... Lanval is a knight. ... Lanval, on the other hand lives a much more calm and peaceful life. ... Lanval's battle can not be compared to Beowulf. Lanval struggle is one one of conscience and morality. ...
Aspects of these tensions can be seen in Lanval and in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, in which the central speakers, Lanval and Sir Gawain, are shadowed and challenged by the maintenance of their faith to women. As a result, the value in these characters' faith is complicated by the relationships that they each established with the women of whom they encountered; in a sense, the concept of women, through the value of loyalty and faith, can be looked at as the good and evil of Lanval and Sir Gawain. The story of Lanval responds to this tension of faith when it first introduces the rela...
But The Odyssey is truly identified as one thing, an epic. ... The hero in The Odyssey is obviously Odysseys. ... Odysseys conquers this characteristic in several ways. ... Circe was saying she wanted Odysseys to be her lover, and you need to be good looking to have a beautiful women say that to you. ... The Odyssey is packed with them. ...
Young women would learn from Penelope to manage the household, cultivate their physical beauty and to resist the advances of other men. ... Husband and wife discuss why men fight wars and how women and children seem to always be the victims. ... The Odyssey is a true love story. The Odyssey celebrates the love of a husband and wife. ... Homer wrote the Iliad and the Odyssey in the eighth century B.C. ...
The gods in The Odyssey are who held Odysseus captive for over eight years. ... In The Odyssey both free will and fate occur. (Sparknotes) The Odyssey represents free will in that it gave choices. ... Works Cited Odyssey. ... (teacher) 2001 Odyssey Class Discussion Odyssey Plot Summation. ...
Hospitality in the Odyssey Hospitality has played a large role in ancient Mycenaen society and is even evident in the writings of the time, as witnessed in Homer's Odyssey. Hospitality reveals itself as a domineering factor in the way characters act and the way characters are treated in the Odyssey. One instance of the role of hospitality in the Odyssey occurs early on in the epic when Telemachus secretly set off to find Nestor. ... In the Odyssey, the good offered hospitality, and the bad fed off of the hospitality of others. ... Among all cultural elements of ancient Greek so...
The Odyssey vs. ... In The Odyssey women were treated as slaves. ... A difference is that in The Odyssey the women were known as whores. The reason why is because there were many times when Odyssey slept with other women or when they tried to throw themselves at him throughout his journey. ... In conclusion, The Odyssey and Beowulf focus on the themes of women, character style, and religion. ...
In the ancient Greek society, like the society present in the book "The Odyssey," hospitality is exactly what was anticipated from the people. You can say that hospitality is kindness and hospitality is an important part of Homer's "The Odyssey." Homer's epic poem "The Odyssey" contains a reoccurring theme of hospitality. ... Not everyone is a gracious guest in "The Odyssey." ...
Homer wrote the classic epic The Odyssey more than 2,500 years ago. ... Does Homer writing in The Odyssey support or refute the common belief of his time regarding women? ... The Odyssey is not misogynistic. ... In The Odyssey Homer shows us the different ways women were looked upon through female characters, such as Penelope, Naussica, and Anticlia. ... In the Odyssey, dominating male roles were evident. ...