Why Is Xenia Such an Important Theme in the Odyssey

Why is Xenia such an important theme in the Odyssey? Explain your views and support them with details from the poem. (45 marks) The concept of guest hospitality was extremely important in ancient Greece. Evidence that Xenia was integral to Greek society can be found in the fact that Zeus, the king of the Gods, was also portrayed as the God of Xenia. Xenia created an obligation for the host to be hospitable to their guests, and conversely, the guests had their own responsibilities too. If either the host or the guest was to break a Xenia rule, there would be severe penalties dealt by Zeus and also by society. Some basic Xenia rules were that the guest could not insult the host, make demands, or refuse xenia. Additionally, the host could†¦show more content†¦The xenia gifts characters give are also a statement of wealth, as well as a way of acquiring wealth, for example, when Telemachus acquires a silver krater, a wedding dress, a golden cup and other elaborate gifts from his stay in Sparta. In the Odyssey, Xenia is also shown to be one of the hallmarks of a civilised society, allowing us to judge the societies that Odysseus visits by their attitudes to xenia. For example, the Cyclopes are well informed about Xenia, yet disregard it because they have no fear of the God’s retribution. This tells us that the Cyclopes live in a formidable and amoral society. Even the Gods are shown to respect Xenia rules, for example in Book 5 when Calypso gives hospitality to Hermes. Good xenia is shown to have good repercussions for both the guest and the host: for example, Odysseus’ stay on the island of Calypso, where he is met with exceptional hospitality. Odysseus received this hospitality well and continued to please Calypso. Only at the end did he ever try to refuse her hospitality and leave, and even this caused no serious problems. Here we have an example of the guest-host relationship working well. Calypso is provided with a companion, even if it was not perman ent, and Odysseus was provided with shelter, provisions, and protection for his men. In the end it proves to be a beneficial situation for them both. Xenia also provides a system ofShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Homer s Epic Of The Iliad And Odyssey903 Words   |  4 PagesWith this personal narrative, I will analyze two themes from Homer’s epic’s pertaining to the Iliad and the Odyssey. I have chosen hospitality (Xenia) and shame (Aidos) as the subject of interest, and will focus on these as a main source of the topic. Xenia is the ancient Greek word for â€Å"hospitality†, which is the consideration and kindness shown to those who are far from home and/or associates of the person bestowing xenia upon them. The rituals of hospitality created and conveyed a reciprocalRead MoreThe Epic Poem The Odyssey 1459 Words   |  6 PagesHospitality has been around and important to cultures for almost forever. In the epic poem The Odyssey by Homer, there are many themes, but the theme of hospitality reoccurs throughout the entire epic. This epic takes place in Ancient Greece after the Trojan War. The main character, Odysseus, is on a journey back home to Ithaca after being away for ten years. Along the way, he must make stops and stays in the homes of the different people during his journey. The individuals that are hosting the strangerRead MoreGift Giving in The Odyssey1007 Words   |  5 PagesGift Giving in The Odyssey Everyone loves to receive gifts. For some it makes them feel special or important. In the Odyssey gift giving can be seen as sign of respect. Xenia, an important aspect to Homeric society, can be described as the guest-host relationship. It was of importance in Homeric society because it was something that could make or break the relationship you have with someone. Throughout the Odyssey xenia influences those who Odysseus comes into contact with impacting the plotRead MoreEssay Homers Hospitality1386 Words   |  6 Pagesthat arose during1600 BC. It was during this time that Ancient Greece began to take form, in both cultural and religious aspects. Historians often refer to this period as Mycenaean, but due to the culture and values embodied in Homer’s poem, The Odyssey, it is also known as the Homeric Age. In Homer’s world, society consisted of city-states controlled by well-respected Kings. The Homeric Age also focused on the importance of religion where all regi ons participated in sacrificial tributes to the GodsRead MoreFamily Reputation And Continuing The Patriarchal Characteristics Of Their Fathers1171 Words   |  5 Pagespatriarchal characteristics of their fathers. In Greek literature, this role is a major theme in many texts. In The Odyssey, by Homer, Telechamascus strives for his father’s approval, while protecting his father’s status. However, in Aristophanes’ Clouds, this goal is not as appealing to Pheidippides as he clearly shows by disrespecting his father throughout the play. In ancient Greece it was extremely important for a boy to have his father present as he grows up. For Telechamascus, who was just aRead MoreOdysseus Appearance And Reality Analysis1488 Words   |  6 Pagesvariety of themes. The one that stands out most is the theme of appearance and reality. It encapsulates the whole text, wither by literal transformations or by the actions and opinions of characters. This essay will look at three different scenes and how they show the themes in different ways. First by looking at Athene and Telemachus, then at Athene and Odysseus in Ithaca and finally at Penelope and the suitors. These three scenes will be used to show how broadly and effectively the themes are usedRead MoreThe Mythology Of The Mesopotamian Civilization1233 Words   |  5 Pagesconnect the dots between nature and a higher power than themselves. Mesopotamians saw gods at work in every aspect of nature and believed every human effort was meant to serve the gods. Zeus was the god o f hospitality and expected all people to exude xenia. In Mesopotamia, religion was the principal unifying and inspiring force which had a much more complex nature than the Neolithic religion. Mesopotamian rulers were seen as extraordinary beings that the gods had appointed. The kings and priests hadRead MoreClassics Essay1953 Words   |  8 Pagesdiscussion of what he says and how he says it. One of the primary ways Odysseus tries to gain Nausicaa’s pity in this passage is through flattery. He says he thinks she might be ‘Artemis’ a powerful goddess. It appears to be a high compliement in the Odyssey to say someone is ‘godlike’ but mistaking a human for a goddess must be even more flattering. This also shows that Odysseus is covering his bases – if Nausicaa were a goddess she would not be offended. Lastly the mention of gods reminds NausicaaRead MoreThe Odyssey By Homer s Odyssey2866 Words   |  12 Pagesâ€Å"Homer’s Odyssey is the only surviving poem from a cycle of poems called the Nostoi (â€Å"the Returns†), which told of the returns home of the various Greek heroes at Troy† (Norcott, 2012). The Odyssey is one of many accounts of the Greek heroes that took part in the Trojan War. Odysseus’ story was just one that survived after all of these years. The story came out as an Epic only because of how the people revered the heroes as they started many trends, such as Odysseus’ Trojan horse. â€Å"These epics lieRead MoreOdyssey Historical Background6500 Words   |  26 PagesThe Odyssey ~ Background Information * The novel covers a 10 year period. * The novel was written approximately in 720 B.C. * The novel takes place in 1230 B.C. ~ during the Bronze age. * The Iliad (written first) and The Odyssey are based on historical events that took place about 1230 B.C. * Both novels are considered epic poems * The Odyssey is defined as a journey. This is the story of Odysseus’ journey back home after the Trojan War. From The Odyssey, Homer chose the

Toddlers in Tiaras Free Essays

Moriah Gates 5/3/12 CPC Research paper Beauty, Money, â€Å"Sexy† Too Soon! Young girls are like a sponge, they soak up anything they see or hear. They are vulnerable and young. Mothers are hurting their children by putting them through beauty pageants–they are setting them up for life’s insecurities like, self esteem issues and eating disorders. We will write a custom essay sample on Toddlers in Tiaras or any similar topic only for you Order Now â€Å"Mommy please no†¦. Mommy no it hurts. I don’t want to do this†¦NOO mommy! † â€Å"I don’t wanna dance, I’m not doing that! † These cries come from young girls who compete in beauty pageants. The most recent pageant that has caused a lot fuss with some parents and others is the TV show TLC Toddlers in Tiaras. Toddlers in Tiaras is a show that is centered on beauty and wining the crown. Beauty, clothes, makeup, hair, pretty dresses, long eyelashes, spray tans, Botox, waxing, the list goes on. It’s just the beginning of many of the girl’s list they must fallow become â€Å"pretty enough† to compete. Pageants are where young girls are primped and primed to look pretty and much older than they really are, and are made to dance and parade around on stage. Girls as young as two are being put into these competitions learning how to dance and act and look like a teenager. These pageants are teaching girls at a very young age to dress, look and be â€Å"sexy† the way to win. Parents also start doing pageants for money, and the beauty. When girls start dressing in â€Å"grown up† looking clothes, it is taking away their chance to be a child. Children should be allowed to play in the mud and on the play grounds not made to wear loads of makeup, fake hair, and flippers for their smile, and act like a grown up. Mothers express their desire for their daughters to win, and to be the best. One mother said in an interview, how her daughter is on stage. â€Å"My daughter is the Triple F, five, fearless, and ferocious. Her daughter also chimed with an answer to her mother’s question, asking her about how she like money and modeling. The daughter says she loves money, and money is her favorite thing! With pageants pushed to the side this mother and daughter have been doing modeling and the mother said has made $30,000 in modeling her daughter. The little girl said, â€Å"With modeling, you have to take pictures, be on commercials, and get paid, that’s my favorite part, it’s all about the money! † CNN article wrote, they interviewed a Toddlers in Tiaras, mother who flat out said, â€Å"I love living vicariously through my three year old daughter, Paisley†. That seems to be the common answer for why these mothers are putting their daughters through these pageants. When watching some of the shows, a majority of the mothers of the girls are overweight, don’t have a good job, and have health problems. The mothers use their young vulnerable daughters, to live their dreams of fame and recognition. Some mothers say they will do anything to put their daughter in to competition, some mothers’ say they will take out a second lone if it means having her daughter win. The family somehow finds the money to make the pageant happen for their girls, yet really they see themselves up there in the spotlight doing all the moves not their four year old daughter. What are we doing to our children when we teach them that they have to be â€Å"sexy† to be pretty, and have to look like x,y and z to be pretty. Mothers are putting four year olds into stripper outfits, they dress their girls up as famous actresses like Julia Roberts in the move â€Å"Pretty Woman. † Julia wore a stripper outfit in the movie, and the mother dressed her three year old to be her look alike. † An article, by Fox News says: â€Å"As a treatment of professional sex offenders as well as victims of sexual abuse, I would like the parents of these little girls to assume responsibility for their choices. They are sexualizing their young children. Do not be surprised if your child is preyed upon as a result of this high degree of visibility,† said Dr. Nancy Irwin, a Los Angeles-based psychotherapist. â€Å"Men can pose as agents/managers and track you/your girl down through the show. Further, know that they will be pleasuring themselves while looking at your daughter’s YouTube clip. † We are grossed out by pedophiles and people who take advantage of our kids, yet we are ok letting our kids run around in out fits that are very sexual. Some say that it’s just a title ‘child beauty pageant’ but it’s much more! It’s a sexualization pageant. Young girls are put in skimpy clothes and taught to do dance moves like bumps and grinds, this not looking at beauty, its teaching girls that beauty is highly sexualized and they have to be sexual to be beautiful. Just thinking about the pressure that is put on the girls is hard to imagine, they are four and younger, they should not be worried about how their hair is or how â€Å"pretty† they look, yet mothers stress the very factor of beauty. They get professional photographers to take model pictures and when they get the pictures back the girls are modified so much they look like a china doll. They are photo-shopped to the point where the child begins to like they way they look in photos. When the pictures young girls see are photo-shopped selves, they don’t see their true beauty. Girls already have pressure on them to look a certain way and then, when they start pageants, they are pressured into having beauty treatments done. With pageant shows, there is only one winner, and they are the only ones who get the crown. The others are not rewarded and not recognized for their hard work. The pageant girls grow up with attention fully on her, all the time and then, when it goes away, what happens? These girls are going to grow up with eating disorders and self esteem problems. They are going to feel like they are never good enough, or pretty enough to get the judge’s approval. The judges, judge and score the girls physical features and talent, looking for something that stands out from the rest of the girls. They are not looking at the girl, or how young and venerable she is. Nor do they think of the effects that this pageant will have on her. For example, when the girls forget the dance move and mess up, the mother might berate the child for her forgetting her part. The girls feel hurt and broken because they didn’t do well enough for their mother. Most parents in the show Toddlers in Tiaras tell their children â€Å"If you do really good in this pageant what will this mean? The child, Mommy and daddy will be happy cause I will bring home lots of money. † â€Å"That’s right, mommy and daddy will be proud if you win because it means lots of money! Money is what parents push on them and that they must win. What is it doing to their children when the pressure is money, if they do not the child doesn’t feel love or important to their parents and they feel worthless. Children pick up on things and can read their parents actions; if the parents are not happy with them then the child feels afraid. They soak up anything they hear and see. We should be protecting our children not endanger them by our carless wants. Bibliography (I forgot to do the right way to do the bibliography, I will fix it next essay) How to cite Toddlers in Tiaras, Papers

Role of Computational Support in Decision Making- myassignmenthelp

Question: Write about theRole of Computational Support in Decision Making. Answer: According to Mintzberg, (2009), management is a craft that is based on several sciences. One of these sciences is decision making. Mintzberg suggested that there are three path ways to decision making seeing first, thinking first, and doing first. Doing first refers to trial and error. Seeing first refers to research while thinking first refers to a logical analyses of the steps to be taken. Decision theory is important to help leaders in business, government and all other fields understand a decision completely. The job of managers, essentially, is to take decisions that will drive the organization towards is primary goals.(Turban Aronson, 2001) A variety of computational support tools like statistics, data visualization, heuristics, etc. are available to manager to help them make these decisions. Any organization and leader must have a balance between normative decision making i.e. making decisions based on what ought to be, and descriptive decisions (decisions based on what is). A combination of these two approaches to decision making is prescriptive decision making or decision making that exploits the logical consequences of normative studies by a(McFall, 2015) Decision making requires an evaluation or imagination of the consequences that may occur, in case a decision is made.(McFall, 2015)(Simon, 1979) Computational support, in the form of data, metrics, statistical analyses, heuristics etc. help provide some certainty to this evaluation. Data analyses and forecasts may help validate decisions. As mentioned earlier, Mintzberg suggested that decision making is a craft, the accuracy of which depends on the context.(Mintzberg, 2009) Computational support helps provide this context. In addition, data assigns tangible, real numbers to vague, abstract ideas like utility, consumer satisfaction etc. The predictive power of computational science helps understand and visualize the shape and scale of the environment around us, thus, helping predict various variables such as returns, costs etc. at various points in time or at various points on the curve. They help understand all the risks associated with a decision. Thus, computational data helps validate the arm chair theories or intuitive thinking.(Simon, 1979)(Gigerenzer, 2017) Human decisions are complex and must take into account a variety of factors. No human activity takes place in a vacuum where the consumer is able to make free, fair and rational decisions. In fact, the more information that would be available, the greater would be the odds that humans would suffer from bounded rationality. Bounded rationality refers to the tendency to take sub optimal decisions due to mental fatigue that may be experienced due to making decisions based on too many choices. Theories or normative standards make various assumptions such as rationality of consumers but computational support helps verify the extent to which these are true (McFall, 2015)(Simon, 1979) Computational support utilizes the information provided by the information systems of an organization (human information, accumulated data and research) to process it and provides output in the form of comprehensive answers. Computation support does not only help make smart decisions but also help validate the decisions. This improves the confidence in those decisions.(Gigerenzer, 2017) Bibliography Gigerenzer, G. (2017, January 26). How do smart people make smart decisions? Retrieved April 13, 2018, from Youtube.com: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Lg7G8TMe_A McFall, J. P. (2015). Rational, Normative, Descriptive, Prescriptive, or Choice Behavior? The Search for Integrative Metatheory of Decision Making. Behavioral Development Bulletin 20(1) , 45-59. Mintzberg, H. (2009, October 14). LancasterManagement: Henry Mintzberg on Decision Making. Retrieved April 13, 2018, from Youtibe.com: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DyvXu3lSSG0 Simon, H. A. (1979). Rational Decision Making in Business Organizations. THE AMERICAN ECONOMIC REVIEW , 494-514. Turban, E., Aronson, J. E. (2001). Decision Support Systems Intelligent Systems: 6th Edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ, USA: Prentice Hall.