Question

Several of the characters in The Odyssey experience conflicts. List three characters, state their conflicts, and briefly tell how they resolve them.

Answer 1

Odysseus - conflict: trying to get home after the war; pride or hubris is his flaw which gets him cursed by the gods and makes it difficult to get home (takes 20 years); Athena helps him when he finally does get home. She helps him because she sees how cunning he is and a great warrior. Kills all of the suitors in his house. Gets his wife and kingdom back.

Telemachus - conflict: not respected in his home of Ithaca and waiting hopelessly for his father to come home; he is young and the suitors are taking over his household, he can do nothing because is not yet strong enough; resolution: dad comes back and they kill everyone.

Penelope - conflict: waiting for Odysseus to return and trying not to have to choose a suitor, though it is her job as the queen of Ithaca; holds off suitors by weaving a funereal tapestry by day and unwinding it by night. Once she finishes it, she must choose a suitor (but she doesn't want any of them). resolution: Odysseus returns, but she still tests him to make sure it is him (since he's been gone so long). he passes and gains her back.

You should read the major stories from there. This is just a brief overview, but you can get the point from it. :)