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Metaphors
Definition of Mood
The mood of a piece of writing is its general atmosphere or emotional complexion—in short, the array of feelings the work evokes in the reader. Every aspect of a piece of writing... read full definition
The mood of a piece of writing is its general atmosphere or emotional complexion—in short, the array of feelings the work evokes in the reader. Every aspect... read full definition
The mood of a piece of writing is its general atmosphere or emotional complexion—in short, the array of feelings the work evokes... read full definition
Book 7
Explanation and Analysis:
For all of the exciting adventures undertaken by Odysseus and his men throughout The Odyssey, the mood of the poem is often melancholy. Odysseus is driven from his home and family for many years due to forces beyond his control, and he frequently speaks about his deep feelings of homesickness, yearning for his wife and son and mourning those loved ones who have passed away in his absence. When Odysseus finds himself in a Phaecian city, for example, King Alcinous wonders if Odysseus is a god in disguise, which prompts a sorrowful meditation from Odysseus:
I’m nothing like the immortal gods who rule the skies,
[...] I’m just a mortal man.
Whom do you know most saddled down with sorrow?
They are the ones I’d equal, grief for grief.
And I could tell a tale of still more hardship,
all I’ve suffered, thanks to the gods’ will [...]
How much I have suffered . . . Oh just let me see
my lands, my serving-men
and the grand high-roofed house —
then I can die in peace.
Here, Odysseus remarks upon his lack of power relative to the gods, characterizing himself modestly as "just a mortal man" who is not "equal" to the gods, but rather, to those who are "most saddled down with sorrow." Further explaining himself, he notes that he could "tell a tale of still more hardship" and emphasizes how much he has "suffered" due to the "gods' will." In this passage, he suggests that he no longer has any ambitions of fame or glory and simply wants to "see" his property, servants, and home one last time before he dies. Here, as elsewhere in the poem, the mood of The Odyssey becomes dark and somber as Odysseus reflects upon the passage of time and the limitations of mortal life.
Related Themes:
