Part one of term paper
Gender and sexuality are major issues in our world. They have been areas of study, observation, and discussion throughout history and continue to be so today. The Odyssey, written by Homer, is an epic poem that puts emphasis on the importance of gender through its vivid descriptions of various male/female encounters. Homer portrays many di ...

Part two of term paper
... journey home to Ithaca. This journey, however, is not the only test in the poem. In fact, the characters in the poem can be defined by their individual tests. These tests determine levels of power either through physical strength or through other traits equally as important. For example, some men have higher levels of virtue and respect than others, and the same is true for the women in the poem. Penelope and Odysseus are two idealized characters that fit these descriptions. They are tested ...