Prompt: Penelope's Beauty through an Excerpt from Ulysses' Return
I. Detailed Outline
II. Sample Essay
Beauty of Penelope's Character in the Excerpt from Ulysses' Return
I. Outline of Penelope's Beauty in the Excerpt from Ulysses' Return (Standard)
1. Introduction
- Introducing the context of the excerpt
- Outlining Penelope's beauty not only in appearance but also in character and soul.
2. Body of the Article
* Context of the excerpt.
* Penelope's Beauty
- Penelope's unwavering love and determination portrayed through her delaying of remarriage.
- Her intelligence demonstrated by devising the strategy of weaving the tapestry at day and unraveling it at night - never completing it and thus avoiding remarriage...(Continued)
>> See detailed outline of Penelope's beauty in the excerpt from Ulysses' Return here
II. Sample Essay Exploring Penelope's Beauty in the Excerpt from Ulysses' Return (Standard)
The excerpt 'Ulysses Returns' is found in the twenty-third canto of the epic 'Odyssey' authored by Homer. This passage not only extols the intelligence and prowess of Ulysses but also emphasizes the beauty of Penelope, his wife. Through this excerpt, the author portrays Penelope's beauty not only as external charm but also as intelligence and virtue.
The setting presents Ulysses still unable to return home, held captive by the goddess Calypso. Other gods beseech Zeus to allow Ulysses to reunite with his family. Meanwhile, Penelope and their son face 108 suitors. Calypso is compelled to release Ulysses. After encountering a storm and drifting to the land of King Alcinous, he is aided by the king. Another 10 years pass before he can return, only to confront cunning suitors. He and his son then punish those who harmed their family.
Penelope is a woman of great beauty, attracting numerous suitors during her husband's prolonged absence. However, she proves herself faithful and steadfast, patiently awaiting her husband's return despite pressure from her parents to remarry. Her love for her husband is demonstrated in the strategy of weaving the tapestry during the day and unraveling it at night to delay remarriage.
The most poignant moment is her confession to her nursemaid that even if Ulysses never returns, she will find a way to postpone remarriage, even if she has to wait twenty more years. Not a day passes without her dreaming of a day when her family is reunited.
Ulysses managed to return in time, disguising himself as a wandering beggar, infiltrating the household, and annihilating all 108 detestable suitors. He encountered the nursemaid who relayed the news of his return to Penelope.
One can imagine Penelope's immense joy, but after enduring the ghastly suitors and familial betrayals, she couldn't help but remain cautious and skeptical. Her cautiousness was evident not only in her thoughts and actions but also in the author's narration of her 'guarded speech.' Penelope even presented logical arguments suggesting that the likelihood of Ulysses' return was almost non-existent, speculating that perhaps some divine force had punished the detestable suitors, and as for Ulysses, after 20 years of wandering, he might have perished and could never return to Ithaca.
The astute and cautious woman refused to readily accept her husband, despite the nursemaid's explanation about the scar from the boar hunt that wounded Ulysses. She decided to confront the beggar herself, studying him intently, constantly torn between the ragged appearance unlike the former Ulysses, yet still hoping deep down for his survival. Even her own son accused her of cruelty, and though Ulysses was angered by her doubt, she remained resolute that if he truly was Ulysses, they would recognize each other.
Therefore, Penelope, with her intelligence and perceptiveness, quickly devised a test for the beggar claiming to be her husband. She tested him on the secret of their marriage bed, known only to the two of them.
In addition to analyzing the beauty of Penelope in the excerpt from Ulysses Returns, it's crucial not to overlook other exemplary analyses such as: Exploring the passage of Ulysses Returns, Penelope's emotional journey in the excerpt from Ulysses Returns, delving into the emotional dynamics of Ulysses in the excerpt from Ulysses Returns, and Telemachus recounting his father's return.