The Odyssey of Life Writing Assignment
Allegory: The representation of abstract ideas or principles by characters, figures, or events in narrative, dramatic, or pictorial form.
As we complete Homer’s epic poem the Odyssey, I want you to consider the parallels between the story of Odysseus and your own life. Odysseus undertakes a sometimes exciting, sometimes perilous journey over a long period of time to reach his goal (getting home to Ithaca). In this essay project, you will think about where you want to be in ten years. What will you accomplish between now and then? What “monsters” will challenge you and tempt you, trying to keep you from the ultimate goal? How is the Odyssey an allegory for your life? Your assignment is to write a five paragraph essay that draws parallels between Odysseus’s journey and the one you will embark upon. Your essay must explore the following questions:
- In what ways is the Odyssey like a journey through life? How is it an allegory?
- How are some of the challenges and obstacles Odysseus faces and the choices he must make similar to those you have encountered, or expect to encounter, in the future? How are they different?
- What part of Homer’s epic is the most important to you? Why?
Please following the outline (NOTE: A paragraph has no less than five sentences)
Paragraph 1: INTRODUCTION- Explain the basic idea that the Odyssey is like a journey through life (an ALLEGORY). Remember: always introduce the title and author of any work you write about.
I. Intro
A. Motivator
B. Thesis Statement
C. Blueprint
Paragraph 2-4: BODY- Body paragraph should discuss a parallel between the epic poem and your life. Paragraph should include specific examples from both the Odyssey and your life. You may use quotes from the Odyssey, but make sure you indicate the page and line number it was taken from.
II. Body
A. Topic sentence - what is the first obstacle will you face?
B. Support- explain and give details about this obstacle if needed
C. Support- What does it match from the Odyssey?
D. Support- explain and give details about this O. obstacle
E. Support- How are the two things similar?
F. Transition
III. Body
A. Topic sentence - what is the second obstacle will you face?
B. Support- explain and give details about this obstacle if needed
C. Support- What does it match from the Odyssey?
D. Support- explain and give details about this O. obstacle
E. Support- How are the two things similar?
F. Transition
IV. Body
A. Topic sentence - what is the third obstacle will you face?
B. Support- explain and give details about this obstacle if needed
C. Support- What does it match from the Odyssey?
D. Support- explain and give details about this O. obstacle
E. Support- How are the two things similar?
Paragraph 5: CONCLUSION- Here you may discuss which part of the Odyssey is most important to you. Offer some insight on life based on what you have written up to this point.
V. Conclusion
A. Restate/reword thesis statement
B. Review your blueprint (in other words, summarize your key points of evidence)
C. Clincher (a final thought or comment on the topic of your assignment - “you could explain what part of Homer’s epic is the most important to you, and why, or state which of the obstacles will be the hardest to conquer. You could also write about what lesson(s) the Odyssey has taught you, etc.)
outline_explained.docx | |
File Size: | 12 kb |
File Type: | docx |
Download the file below for a worksheet that explains the brainstorming process for this assignment.
odyssey_of_life_brainstorm_sheet.docx | |
File Size: | 14 kb |
File Type: | docx |
Download the file below for a list of generic obstacles and their connections to the Odyssey. This will help you if you are having trouble getting started making connections for your own career or goal.
generic_obstacles_odyssey_of_life.docx | |
File Size: | 11 kb |
File Type: | docx |
Download the file below for a template for the essay with proper formatting.
5_paragraph_template.doc | |
File Size: | 20 kb |
File Type: | doc |
Read below for a portion of a sample outline and essay:
II. Body
A. Topic- What is your first challenge?- Choosing what type of school district to work in: an urban one or a suburban one.
B. Support- What adventure or obstacle does it resemble?- Scylla and Charybdis
C. Support- Why are these two things similar? How do they relate?- Me: each option has positives and negatives. Working in an urban school will place me in a difficult environment, but I may receive loan forgiveness from the state by working in an underprivileged area. Working in a suburban school may be easier, but I will carry significant debt from my schooling. Odysseus: He can select the course towards Scylla, a monster who is sure to devour six of his men, or towards Charybdis, a deadly whirlpool that could kill every crewman.
D. Support- How will you overcome or defeat your obstacle?- I will overcome this obstacle by making a decision. I will pick to work in a more suburban area, as I will still be helping students but will not feel totally out of my element. In order to pay for my schooling, I will simply have to keep paying my loans.
E. Transition- How does the essay get to the next paragraph? - "This is not the only obstacle that I will face on my odyssey to becoming a teacher."
Here is how the above outline section becomes a part of the essay:
...
As I journey towards becoming an English teacher, I will be faced with several difficult decisions. The largest of these will be where to work. I could choose to work in an urban school and be rewarded by the state through the debt forgiveness plan, but have to deal with the difficulties faced in a tough city environment, or I could work for less money in the suburbs, but face a less challenging environment. This clearly relates to Odysseus’ struggle at Scylla and Charybdis because he was also faced with a choice between two negatives. If he chose to sail towards Scylla, six men would die, and if he chose to sail towards Charybdis, all the men could die. Like Odysseus, I will have to choose the option that is least harmful and carries the greatest reward. The path towards a suburban school is the most appealing to me, as I would feel more comfortable in a familiar setting. To offset the financial hardships involved, I will just have to keep paying off student loans , However, selecting a school I want to teach at is not the last stage of my journey.
Once I select a school, I will face another challenge: I will need to convince the school to hire me. . .
Here is a complete sample essay:
Justin Student
Mr. McLean
2/12/13
Period 2
The Odyssey of Life
It may be hard to believe, but the Odyssey by Homer, a 2,700 year old epic poem about gods and monsters, clearly symbolizes my goal to become an English teacher. This is because the Odyssey is an allegory- a story that has hidden, interconnected symbols. While on the surface the Odyssey tells the tale of a Greek general returning home from the Trojan war, it is also a metaphor for the struggles and challenges everyone faces in their lifetime. When the obstacles I will face, including staying focused, passing the MTEL exam and getting hired are examined, it is clear that the epic poem symbolizes my life's journey to becoming an educator.
The first step in to remain focused on my studies in college. While away at school, I am going to face many temptations that will pull me away from my studies, including parties, friends, and the total freedom living away from home brings. This matches with Odysseus’ struggles with the Lotus Eaters. The Lotus Eaters are a peaceful tribe that offer Odysseus and his men a plant that will make them addicted and forget about their journey home. The two obstacles are related because in each case a person could about the important goal they have in mind and instead become distracted and uninterested in furthering their journey. After defeating this first obstacle, I am sure to be challenged again.
The next obstacle I will face as I journey to become a teacher is passing the MTEL exam. This exam, the Massachusetts Test for Educational Licensure, is the last step in obtaining a license to become a teacher. Without it, one cannot become a classroom teacher. This obstacle resembles the challenge of the Cyclops faced by Odysseus. The Cyclops, a huge one-eyed cannibal, imprisons Odysseus and his men and eats them in pairs. The obstacles are similar because in each case, an obstacle keeps the individual trapped somewhere. Without defeating this obstacle, the individual remains trapped where they are. In order to defeat the Cyclops, Odysseus used his intelligence to come up with a clever plan involving misleading the monster with a false name, getting it drunk, and blinding it so they could escape unobserved. I will similarly need to use my intelligence to prepare for the exam and defeat it. Once I pass this obstacle, only one more will remain.
The final obstacle I will face is getting hired. As with many careers, there are fewer jobs in teaching than there are potential teachers. In order to get hired, I will have to show my quality and convince a potential employer that I am a better candidate than another person. This relates to the Test of the Bow that Odysseus faced. Once he returned to Ithaca, he found over a hundred suitors vying to marry his wife. She proposed a challenge to them to see who was worthy to marry her, thinking no one would succeed. The test involved stringing and firing Odysseus' bow, successfully passing an arrow through a series of targets.Odysseus was able to do this, defeating the competition and proving to his wife that he was still worthy of her. The two situations are similar because in each case, competition in the form of other challengers who share the same goal must be defeated in order for a person to achieve their final objective. I will need to show the interviewer that I have interesting and engaging ideas and am a great match for the school in order to defeat the competition.
By examining the obstacles I will face on my journey to become an English teacher, it is clear that the Odyssey is an allegory for the struggles in everyone’s life. I will face Lotus Eaters, Scylla and Charybids, and a Cyclops in the form of staying focused, passing important exams, and successfully interviewing for a job. In reading the Odyssey and exploring Odysseus’ struggles, I have learned the importance of humility and maintaining my composure in the face of difficult times and will use this knowledge to help me on my future adventures.
A. Topic- What is your first challenge?- Choosing what type of school district to work in: an urban one or a suburban one.
B. Support- What adventure or obstacle does it resemble?- Scylla and Charybdis
C. Support- Why are these two things similar? How do they relate?- Me: each option has positives and negatives. Working in an urban school will place me in a difficult environment, but I may receive loan forgiveness from the state by working in an underprivileged area. Working in a suburban school may be easier, but I will carry significant debt from my schooling. Odysseus: He can select the course towards Scylla, a monster who is sure to devour six of his men, or towards Charybdis, a deadly whirlpool that could kill every crewman.
D. Support- How will you overcome or defeat your obstacle?- I will overcome this obstacle by making a decision. I will pick to work in a more suburban area, as I will still be helping students but will not feel totally out of my element. In order to pay for my schooling, I will simply have to keep paying my loans.
E. Transition- How does the essay get to the next paragraph? - "This is not the only obstacle that I will face on my odyssey to becoming a teacher."
Here is how the above outline section becomes a part of the essay:
...
As I journey towards becoming an English teacher, I will be faced with several difficult decisions. The largest of these will be where to work. I could choose to work in an urban school and be rewarded by the state through the debt forgiveness plan, but have to deal with the difficulties faced in a tough city environment, or I could work for less money in the suburbs, but face a less challenging environment. This clearly relates to Odysseus’ struggle at Scylla and Charybdis because he was also faced with a choice between two negatives. If he chose to sail towards Scylla, six men would die, and if he chose to sail towards Charybdis, all the men could die. Like Odysseus, I will have to choose the option that is least harmful and carries the greatest reward. The path towards a suburban school is the most appealing to me, as I would feel more comfortable in a familiar setting. To offset the financial hardships involved, I will just have to keep paying off student loans , However, selecting a school I want to teach at is not the last stage of my journey.
Once I select a school, I will face another challenge: I will need to convince the school to hire me. . .
Here is a complete sample essay:
Justin Student
Mr. McLean
2/12/13
Period 2
The Odyssey of Life
It may be hard to believe, but the Odyssey by Homer, a 2,700 year old epic poem about gods and monsters, clearly symbolizes my goal to become an English teacher. This is because the Odyssey is an allegory- a story that has hidden, interconnected symbols. While on the surface the Odyssey tells the tale of a Greek general returning home from the Trojan war, it is also a metaphor for the struggles and challenges everyone faces in their lifetime. When the obstacles I will face, including staying focused, passing the MTEL exam and getting hired are examined, it is clear that the epic poem symbolizes my life's journey to becoming an educator.
The first step in to remain focused on my studies in college. While away at school, I am going to face many temptations that will pull me away from my studies, including parties, friends, and the total freedom living away from home brings. This matches with Odysseus’ struggles with the Lotus Eaters. The Lotus Eaters are a peaceful tribe that offer Odysseus and his men a plant that will make them addicted and forget about their journey home. The two obstacles are related because in each case a person could about the important goal they have in mind and instead become distracted and uninterested in furthering their journey. After defeating this first obstacle, I am sure to be challenged again.
The next obstacle I will face as I journey to become a teacher is passing the MTEL exam. This exam, the Massachusetts Test for Educational Licensure, is the last step in obtaining a license to become a teacher. Without it, one cannot become a classroom teacher. This obstacle resembles the challenge of the Cyclops faced by Odysseus. The Cyclops, a huge one-eyed cannibal, imprisons Odysseus and his men and eats them in pairs. The obstacles are similar because in each case, an obstacle keeps the individual trapped somewhere. Without defeating this obstacle, the individual remains trapped where they are. In order to defeat the Cyclops, Odysseus used his intelligence to come up with a clever plan involving misleading the monster with a false name, getting it drunk, and blinding it so they could escape unobserved. I will similarly need to use my intelligence to prepare for the exam and defeat it. Once I pass this obstacle, only one more will remain.
The final obstacle I will face is getting hired. As with many careers, there are fewer jobs in teaching than there are potential teachers. In order to get hired, I will have to show my quality and convince a potential employer that I am a better candidate than another person. This relates to the Test of the Bow that Odysseus faced. Once he returned to Ithaca, he found over a hundred suitors vying to marry his wife. She proposed a challenge to them to see who was worthy to marry her, thinking no one would succeed. The test involved stringing and firing Odysseus' bow, successfully passing an arrow through a series of targets.Odysseus was able to do this, defeating the competition and proving to his wife that he was still worthy of her. The two situations are similar because in each case, competition in the form of other challengers who share the same goal must be defeated in order for a person to achieve their final objective. I will need to show the interviewer that I have interesting and engaging ideas and am a great match for the school in order to defeat the competition.
By examining the obstacles I will face on my journey to become an English teacher, it is clear that the Odyssey is an allegory for the struggles in everyone’s life. I will face Lotus Eaters, Scylla and Charybids, and a Cyclops in the form of staying focused, passing important exams, and successfully interviewing for a job. In reading the Odyssey and exploring Odysseus’ struggles, I have learned the importance of humility and maintaining my composure in the face of difficult times and will use this knowledge to help me on my future adventures.
Hints/Tips/Etc.:
For the body paragraphs, your basic pattern will be as follows:
Topic- What challenge or obstacle is this paragraph about?
Support- What obstacle or monster from the Odyssey does your challenge most closely resemble? Briefly explain the details of Odysseus' challenge as well as your own.
Support- Explain why your challenge and Odysseus' challenge are similar.
Support- How will you defeat or overcome this challenge? What must you do do achieve your goal?
Transition- Include a transitional sentence in order to keep the paper and the reader focused. See below:
Although your paragraphs will be self-contained, they must interlock effectively to produce a strong overall argument. Transitions both between and within paragraphs are essential because they signal changes in direction and help the reader follow those changes. Simple words like however, in addition, for example, although, whereas and finally tie sentences together effectively. The most important transitions come between paragraphs. Try to establish a connection between the first sentence of a new paragraph and the last sentence of the preceding one. Again a linking word may be the easiest way:
. . . Thus the pattern established by Dickens in the first chapter is consistent throughout the rest of the first volume.
However, Volume Two offers a new approach to the narrative. . .
The echo of a key phrase or word can also be effective:
. . . Whatever Lear's faults, it cannot be denied that he loves his daughters.
Unfortunately, love counts for little in the realm of Regan and Goneril. . . .
However, echoing the preceding sentence too closely will result in repetition rather than transition. This example was an attempt to link the introduction to the body of the essay:
. . . The other important function Bottom has is his major contribution to the humorous aspect of the play.
One of the major functions of Bottom is his contribution to the play's humour. . . .
The transition may require more than just a word; a transitional sentence may be called for:
The evidence thus suggests that there is no other option.
And yet there may still be a solution. If you disregard . . .
The transitional sentence does not indicate what will come next in the paragraph, but it establishes that this paragraph is a negation of the last. Note that this kind of sentence displaces the topic sentence you would expect to find at the beginning of the paragraph; the topic sentence should follow it.
Sentences must follow one another in a logical pattern. If thoughts follow one another without sufficient connection, the essay will make no sense. Within each paragraph you will be using transitions almost continuously.
For the body paragraphs, your basic pattern will be as follows:
Topic- What challenge or obstacle is this paragraph about?
Support- What obstacle or monster from the Odyssey does your challenge most closely resemble? Briefly explain the details of Odysseus' challenge as well as your own.
Support- Explain why your challenge and Odysseus' challenge are similar.
Support- How will you defeat or overcome this challenge? What must you do do achieve your goal?
Transition- Include a transitional sentence in order to keep the paper and the reader focused. See below:
Although your paragraphs will be self-contained, they must interlock effectively to produce a strong overall argument. Transitions both between and within paragraphs are essential because they signal changes in direction and help the reader follow those changes. Simple words like however, in addition, for example, although, whereas and finally tie sentences together effectively. The most important transitions come between paragraphs. Try to establish a connection between the first sentence of a new paragraph and the last sentence of the preceding one. Again a linking word may be the easiest way:
. . . Thus the pattern established by Dickens in the first chapter is consistent throughout the rest of the first volume.
However, Volume Two offers a new approach to the narrative. . .
The echo of a key phrase or word can also be effective:
. . . Whatever Lear's faults, it cannot be denied that he loves his daughters.
Unfortunately, love counts for little in the realm of Regan and Goneril. . . .
However, echoing the preceding sentence too closely will result in repetition rather than transition. This example was an attempt to link the introduction to the body of the essay:
. . . The other important function Bottom has is his major contribution to the humorous aspect of the play.
One of the major functions of Bottom is his contribution to the play's humour. . . .
The transition may require more than just a word; a transitional sentence may be called for:
The evidence thus suggests that there is no other option.
And yet there may still be a solution. If you disregard . . .
The transitional sentence does not indicate what will come next in the paragraph, but it establishes that this paragraph is a negation of the last. Note that this kind of sentence displaces the topic sentence you would expect to find at the beginning of the paragraph; the topic sentence should follow it.
Sentences must follow one another in a logical pattern. If thoughts follow one another without sufficient connection, the essay will make no sense. Within each paragraph you will be using transitions almost continuously.