Heroic Stature and Education and the Continuity of the Supernatural and Natural Worlds

[Tonia Tong]

Stature, as defined by Princeton University, is the elevated
reverence achieved through extraordinary advancement, success or
accomplishment. Therefore, heroic stature would be the zenith or the
highest level of the great reverence a person will gain through his/
her epic journey where he accomplishes something extraordinary.

The following is a couple of examples of heroic stature:
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IX.19-20 (pg 110)

“‘I am Odysseus, Laertes’ son. The whole world talks of my
stratagems, and my fame has reached the heavens.’”

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Here, Odysseus refers to the stratagems that he had used during his
battles in the past (such as the war in Trojan). His successes in
these battles are known by all who revere him as a great hero, worthy
of their praises. The phrase, “my fame has reached the heavens,” shows
that even the gods have acknowledged Odysseus great feats. For
example, Pallas Athene has demonstrated a special attachment for
Odysseus since she always helps him out. This quote is also connected
to the very first stanza of the poem where the invocation to the muse
is written. (Odysseus is called a “resourceful man”.)

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X.408-420 (pg 135)

“‘I found my good companions by the ship, lamenting pitifully, with
the tears streaming down their cheeks. But as soon as they caught
sight of me they were all round me in a weeping throng. It was like
the scene at a farm when cows in a drove come home full-fed from the
pastures to the yard and are welcomed by all their frisking calves,
who burst out from the pens to gambol round their mothers, lowing
excitedly. My men were as deeply moved as if they had reached their
homeland and were standing in their own town in rugged Ithaca, where
they were born and bred.
“‘Favorite of Zeus,’ they said between their sobs, ‘we are as happy
to see you back as we would be to set foot on our own island of
Ithaca.’”
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As you can see, the men are showing a great respect towards Odysseus,
regarding him as a guardian figure. (Odysseus had proven that he was
worthy of their trust during their journeys together.) They feel
comforted simply by his presence and they were moved to the extreme of
tears. “Favorite of Zeus” is an epithet that depicts the status that
Odysseus has gained among the mortals as well as the immortals. It
shows that Odysseus even has the gods on his side.


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XIV.139-147 (pg 185)

“‘For I shall never find so kind a master again wherever I may go,
not even if I return to my parents’ house, where I was born and bred.
And much as I grieve for them and long to be back in my own country
and set eyes on them again, it is for the lost Odysseus that my heart
aches and yearns. Even in his absence I can hardly bring myself to
mention his name. He cared for me and loved me dearly. But even though
he is far away, I still call him my beloved master.’”
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Once again, we see the accomplishments Odysseus has made in the
hearts of his people. He treated people with his standards and in
return, the people vow their loyalty. They respect Odysseus out of
love and not fear. By calling Odysseus his “master”, even “beloved
master”, the connotations that the swineherd uses prove Odysseus’
great importance. This would be another example of an epithet. To be
named a master meant that Odysseus was a recognized authoritative
figure, and, here especially, a hero.



Heroic education refers to the development of a character in a story
who eventually acquires the status of a hero. In the case of the
Odyssey, Telemachus is the character in question.

The following quotes reveal the development of Telemachus starting
with quotes from the earlier books and ending with the later ones.

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I.294-303 (pg 10)

“‘You are no longer a child: you must put childish thoughts away.
Have you not heard what a name Orestes made for himself in the world
when he killed the cunning Aegisthus for murdering his noble father?
You, my friend – and what a tall and splendid young man you have
grown! – must be as brave as Orestes. Then future generations will
sing your praises.’”
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This quote is found in the very first book and therefore the audience
is first introduced to Telemachus. This is where his journey began.
Pallas Athene, disguised as usual, encourages Telemachus to understand
the hero blood that flows in him. She starts off with: “You are no
longer a child: you must put childish thoughts away.” This tells us
that Telemachus probably wasn’t very adult-like – or hero-like – yet.
But the audience can perceive that this would change. (A vision is
given here.) Pallas Athene also predicts at the end of this quote that
future generations will sing Telemachus’ praises if he becomes braver,
like Orestes.

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III.119-124 (pg 30)

“‘And all the time there was not a man that dared to match his wits
against the admirable Odysseus, who in every kind of strategy proved
himself supreme – your father, if you really are his son. Indeed, I
cannot help looking at you in awe: you talk exactly as he did, and I
should have sworn no young man could so resemble him in speech.’”
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Nestor, the Gerenian charioteer, said all this about Telemachus when
he had set out on a journey to find news of his father. Although the
development of Telemachus’ character is not a large one, we can still
see that he is slowly gaining reputation with the important figures
outside of Ithaca. The people can see Odysseus in Telemachus: “You
talk exactly as he did, and I should have sworn no young man could so
resemble him in speech.” This is especially effective because Nestor
talks about Odysseus’ heroic greatness first before comparing
Telemachus to him. A change is happening with Telemachus. He is no
longer that weak little boy who is waiting for his father to come
home. He is able now to journey with his own crew in search of
answers.

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XV.526-534 (pg 208)

“As he spoke a bird flew by on his right. It was a hawk, Apollo’s
winged herald, holding a dove in its talons, from which it plucked out
feathers that fluttered down to earth half-way between the ship and
Telemachus himself. Theoclymenus beckoned him away from his men,
seized his hand, and said: ‘Telemachus, it was by a god’s will that
this bird flew past on your right. Directly I set eyes on it I knew it
for a bird of omen. In all Ithaca there is no more royal house than
yours. Yours is the power for all time.’”
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This quote is interesting because Theoclymenus sees a sign, or omen,
regarding Telemachus’ future. The bird represented power and of
course, the dove represented the prey. It seemed to show that
Telemachus would be able to get his “claws” on his targets.
Theoclymenus prophesies that the gods have decided to bless Telemachus
and his household, making it the most royal house in all of Ithaca.
Like his father, Telemachus also has the favor of the gods. Also,
“yours is the power for all time” is a very definite phrase. It shows
that Telemachus will soon have great authority – that of a great man
and a hero. Now, notice that Theoclymenus did not say “Odysseus’ is
the power for all time.” He said “yours” to Telemachus. Therefore, we
see an indication of Telemachus’ rise to heroism as well as his
development as a hero.

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XXI.432-435 (pg 287)

“As he finished, he gave a nod. Whereupon noble Odysseus’ son,
Telemachus, slung on his sharp-edged sword and gripping his spear took
his stand by the chair at his father’s side, armed with resplendent
bronze.”
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This quote here is from the latter part of the story and Homer paints
a radiant picture of Odysseus with his son, Telemachus. We can see the
triumphant moment when Odysseus and Telemachus finally avenge
themselves by slaughtering all the suitors. They have accomplished
their final battle. We can almost see Odysseus sitting on his throne
with the now wiser and braver Telemachus standing behind him with his
“sharp-edged sword”, “his spear” and armor of “resplendent bronze”.
Telemachus has reached the stage where he is able to stand on equal
grounds with his father, both courageous and strong, but more
importantly, heroes.



The continuity of the supernatural and natural worlds plays a large
part in the story of the Odyssey because it gives the characters,
especially Odysseus, the qualities of immortals. Homer makes a very
clear connection of the divinity and human characteristics in
Odysseus. We all know that Odysseus is human yet he does not act like
one. He is much more courageous, he has the support of the gods and he
was blessed with great intelligence.

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XXI.73-75 (pg 278)

“‘I shall now place the great bow of godlike Odysseus in front of
you.”
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Emphasizing the adjective that Penelope used, we see that “godlike”
certainly described Odysseus. No one else could string Odysseus’ great
bow. It was his great bow. Odysseus had a special ownership to it.
This shows Odysseus’ divine strength.

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XVIII.312-313 (pg 246)

“But it was Odysseus himself, the favorite of Zeus, the master-
strategist, who now spoke to them.
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I.65-67 (pg 5-6)

“‘How could I ever forget the admirable Odysseus? He is not only the
wisest man alive but has been the most generous in his offerings to
the immortals who live in the wide heaven.
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The audience will see the description, “favorite of Zeus”, throughout
the entire story. Odysseus found favor in the eyes of the mightiest
god in Mount Olympus. The emphasis of these two quotes is placed on
Odysseus’ relationship with the gods. For example, Pallas Athene, also
a mighty goddess, has always been Odysseus’ guardian goddess. She
strengthens and guides him. When she tests Zeus in the beginning to
see if he had forgotten his favorite, he replies strongly, saying that
he could never forget Odysseus. Zeus called Odysseus “admirable”. A
god called a mortal being “admirable”. This made it seem almost as if
Odysseus was even above the ranks of Zeus. He also called Odysseus the
“wisest man alive”.

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III.466-468 (pg 39)

“When she had bathed him and rubbed him with olive-oil, she gave him
a tunic and arranged a fine cloak round his shoulders, so that he
stepped from the bath looking like an immortal god.
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II.1-14 (pg 15)

“As soon as Dawn appeared, fresh and rosy-fingered, Odysseus’ son got
up from his bed and put his clothes on. He slung a sharp sword from
his shoulder, bound a stout pair of sandals on his glistening feet and
strode from his bedroom looking like a god. He at once gave orders…
Telemachus himself set out for the meeting place, bronze spear in hand…
Athene endowed him with such supernatural grace that all eyes were
turned on him in admiration when he came up. The elders made way for
him as he took his father’s seat.”
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Not only does Homer attribute godlike characteristics to Odysseus, he
also does so for his son, Telemachus (“looking like an immortal god”).
In the second quote, Homer allows us to visualize the young hero as he
is about to address a crowd. Again, his divinity is emphasized: “…
bound a stout pair of sandals on his glistening feet and strode from
his bedroom looking like a god.” “He at once gave orders” gave
Telemachus an image of authority. When Athene gave him supernatural
grace, he was admired. “The elders made way for him as he took his
father’s seat” alludes to the fact that Telemachus will one day be
worthy of taking over his father’s throne.