Gems in Homer's "Iliad" and "Odyssey"

Even when someone battles hard, there is an equal portion for one who lingers behind, and in the same honor are held both the coward and the brave man; the idle man and he who has done much meet death alike. – Homer, Illiad


Dreams surely are difficult, confusing, and not everything in them is brought to pass for mankind. For fleeting dreams have two gates: one is fashioned of horn and one of ivory. Those which pass through the one of sawn ivory are deceptive, bringing tidings which come to nought, but those which issue from the one of polished horn bring true results when a mortal sees them. – Homer, Odyssey



Iliad and Odyssey, the masterpiece of a Greek writer named Homer, is renowned around the world because of its mystical story and exciting adventure. Also, each line showcases how the Greeks live in the ancient times.


As a read ‘The Iliad’ and ‘Odyssey’, I found out many things that about them regarding their tradition, culture and lifestyle.

The first priority of the Greeks especially in their everyday decision-making is the favor of their gods and goddesses. Before they settle on something, they desire to have the approval and guidance of their gods. They gave sacrifices and offerings so the gods will support them.

For instance, in Iliad, Agamemnon sacrificed his daughter so that the goddess Artemis could give him good winds for their voyage to Troy. Also in Odyssey, Odysseus offered something to the statue of Athena before heading to Troy. He asked for the guidance of the goddess in his journey.

They also believe in fate and destiny, that everything they do is written by their gods and goddesses before they are born.

The Greeks are also people who give importance to men but less significance to women. In their time, women are treated like lower beings who only follow the whims of the men. They are never given right to oppose or to decide.

As depicted in Iliad, Paris’ mother, who was objecting on the choice of King Priam, was disregarded and neglected. Also, Clytemnestra was overlooked by his husband Agamemnon because she was just his wife.

Like any other, in the two books, this shows that the Ancient Greeks are not an exemption to greed. They desire to have everything such as money, kingdom and heart.

Example is how Agamemnon desires to have Helen as his wife. He always has his eye on the childish-lady even he is married to Clytemnestra. In ‘The Odyssey’, many men like Antinous wishes to have Penelope as their wife so that he could get Odysseus wealth and kingdom.

Besides these characters, there are still some good things that the Ancient Greeks possess as to what the book describes.

In the Odyssey, there is an evident scene that Greeks have strong family ties. They long for their loved ones and wait for their return, even how long it would take them.

This is shown by Odysseus’ family. Penelope still remained faithful even though there were many men who courted her while his son, Telemachus, did everything just to see his father. Odysseus, on the other hand, still thought of his family even he was in a dreadful journey.


Having this is mind; I realized that there are still many things that are hidden in works of men that can solve many mysteries in life such as the culture of the ancient Greeks. There are some that I don’t favor like their belittling on women, and their worship to false gods. But still, I admire those characters especially in the Odyssey that holds a good quality of a family member.

And these are some of the things I understood and saw as I read ‘The Iliad’ and ‘The Odyssey’ by Homer.

A WARRIOR WHO THEY THINK HAS EVERYTHING

He was coming closer, like Enyalius the warrior god of battle with a shining helmet(22.173.223). These are some of the words Homer used to describe Achilles, the strongest Myrmidon fighter.

Brutality, slaughter, death and fear are some of the common words connected to Achilles as a warrior.

He was known to his enemies as a godlike who kills everyone in his way. Many were frightened with how he slays victims like they are animals. An example is what he did to his main enemy, Hector in “The Illiad”, Book 22 portrayed in these lines.

Achilles finished. Then on noble Hector’s corpse
he carried out a monstrous act. He cut through
the tendons behind both feet, from heel to ankle,
threaded them with ox-hide thongs, and then tied these
onto his chariot, leaving the head to drag behind.
he climbed up his chariot, brought on the splendid armour,
then lashed his horses. They sped off eagerly.(22.512-518.231)


Don’t whine with me, you dog, about my knees
or parents. I wish I had the heart and strength
to carve you up and eat you raw myself (22.447.449.230)




Like any other warrior, Achilles also desires for great glory and power. As godlike- half-mortal, half-god, he desires to be a full-blooded god who has the infinite of strength and free of weakness. In the chase of Apollo and Achilles in the chapter’s first part, the latter was very angry with the former because he couldn’t defeat him. This proves that he wishes for something ordinary people even a godlike couldn’t have.

You’ve robbed me out of glory, saving them
with ease, since you don’t have to be afraid
of future retribution. I’d make you pay
if only I am powerful enough. (22.26-29.220)


He also grabs the chance to have the glory he wants when he decided to fight the strongest Trojan warrior, Hector. And so, when they met and chased him, as said in these lines, he…

Godlike Achilles, with the shake of his head,
prevented his own troops from shooting Hector
with the lethal weapons, in case some other man
hit Hector, robbed him of glory (22.264-267.225)


He’s also a warrior who doesn’t agree on treaties and agreements. He believed that it was just for coward hearts. Instead, he favors battles to settle the score.

Hector, don’t talk to me of our agreements.
that’s idiotic, like a faithful promise
between men and lions (22.337-339.227)

In addition, he seeks for revenge for his companions especially his best friend Patroclus who was killed by Hector. This enraged Achilles’ anger as depicted by what he said.

Right now you’ll pay me back,
the full price of those sorrows I went through
when you slaughtered my companions.(22.351-353.227)

But why’s my fond heart discussing this?
by our ships lies a dead man- unwept,
unburied- Patroclus (22.500-502.231)

Achilles is a brutal and strong warrior because of his god-like abilities but still he desires for more power and glory. He also believes that death and battle are the only way to settle scores.


Ramirez, Veronica, E. English Across Continents. Makati City, Phils.
Diwa Learning Systems Inc. 2010 Print.

The Magic of a Woman's Word

“The light is so beautiful”
said the little firefly. His eyes glittered as he looked at the lamp’s flame. He was very amazed, he forgot what his mother told him, not to go near the shimmering flame or it would burn his wings. But he was hypnotized… he moved closer and the flame touched his wings. He was turned into ashes.

This story is entitled, “The Little Firefly”, a story associated with the effects of a child’s disobedience to his mother. Commonly it is narrated to those children who are closing their ears when their mother orders them to do things.

But before it became one of the most remembered plots in a Filipino household, it was first told by a mother who wanted to relate a lesson to his stubborn son. As he was showing dismay on reading books his mother gave him… his mother thought that telling this story is a solution to the problem

And as this kid grew up, bearing the words of the most important lady in his life, he turned out to be a remarkable person and a celebrated Filipino indeed… and now he was known as our national hero, named Jose Rizal

Like they say, that in behind every successful man is a great woman. And so looking back, we could see a person who would fit this saying well… Rizal’s mother, Teodora Alonzo

Being a child born in a rich and influential family, Teodora Alonzo grew up loving the life of simplicity. She desired to study and live well and be a good daughter and woman in the eyes of her family and the people around her. She grew up differently to the materialistic woman of her time, she maintained being simple and a decent woman even she’s married.

She was also known as a person who looks at all races equally. She received her guests well even they are Spaniards or Filipinos and treated them like there’s no racial barrier.

Other than that, she was also a good mother to her sons and daughters. Encouraging the child to do things by himself is one of her principles. This may be the reason why her children grew up as people who can be considered as great Filipinos.

Her mindset and principles led to the development of the creative mind of a man who ignited the nationalism of the Filipinos. How she shows regard to her fellow Filipinos strengthen the characteristics and love of country of her offspring.

A Filipina with substance and a good point of view in life turned out to be one of the key to our independence.

TEODORA ALONZO

THE SOUL OF THE SCHOOL

The school is the body and the student is its soul

Soul as defined in the dictionary is an essential part of the body. Thus the former truly requires the latter.

Like that, you, a student contribute highly to the uplifting of your school. Knowing TUMCS, it holds a lot of recognition because of the quality education it gives. The living evidences are the alumni who successfully raised the school’s dignity in their colleges.

Hence, the performance of a student is the reflection of the school’s name. In whatever you do, it is at stake. That’s why, let us do our best and be a worthy representative of our renowned body, the school.

Just like this saying goes by G.K Chesterton, the real great man is the man who makes every man feels great.

Remember that without your remarkable cultivation, there is no TUMCS that everyone looks up to.

A convenient truth

“Employ your time in improving yourself by other men's writings so that you shall come easily by what others have labored hard for.”

This is how Socrates, a known and remarkable man of all times, described improvement.

Our 4th quarter task was to write and express ourselves in writing entries on a blog. She said that it is for us to sharpen our grammar skills and creativity, also to develop our interest in writing

She reminded us that we should be careful with our grammar and organization. But still, there are mistakes in our works that we overlook.

After some time that I enter and make my entries, I found out that there are many refining to do... not just with my thoughts but with my grammar.

When I was reading my work, I realized that even I listened and knew some of the grammar rules… I couldn’t avoid making careless mistakes. Grammar is not an easy idea that can be just cultivated when listening; its development is faster and efficient when applied and revised for further refining and improvement.

Also, as essential as words and thought, correct grammar
is important in relating one’s message. Like a sailboat which needs strong wind to make it move smoothly, so as an article that needs a vivid and smooth execution of ideas to be read and understood clearly.

With this how can I make up with grammar? This is what I think the answer to my question.

Grammar is not something to be ignored. So revising and checking are advisable. Next, there are many reference and books like dictionary and grammar books for rules, do’s and don’ts etc. Then, asking someone about mistakes is a strong backbone for young writers. Asking others is not a humiliation… in my opinion it is better for one to know his mistakes than others laughing at his work when he looks behind.


And lastly… continue to write… practice and practice hard, but learn from the past mistakes.

Committing mistakes is not unavoidable, but the rough part is that when one stays there and never moved.

Like Socrates, an intelligent and respected person in the world, knows the word IMPROVEMENT. He still looks at others’ work and learns from it.

In the end… one’s works should be able to break its on record. Letting it be stationary is not healthy especially for a writer. Instead, making the best in all the works is the greatest way one can serve literature and writing its purpose and definition.

I Peeped on the Secrets of Victory

The peaceful cover court on 8 am... the sound of the students as they babble in their seats and the teachers as they teach their daily lessons. And when you look around, students with their uniforms are cheering for someone in a board exercise in math. If these are the description you will tell me, I will just sigh and say… “What a normal and peaceful day is it…”

After all those bloody months of academic exercises… That time of February came...I realized that I was in the middle of an overwhelming crowd. Their shouts spell the names of their sections, the teachers are also cheering for their students... The students ran on the covered court- their destination, victory… Now I can say it is INTRAMS.

Intramurals, formerly known as Foundation Week...is still the same even the term changes... There are still the regular events like Field Demonstration, Basketball, Volleyball, Badminton and Chess.

Even though it still the same and no additions to stir a new feeling and excitement... I can say that this is THE BEST INTRAMS THAT I HAVE WITNESSED

Why did I say this?

First is with the field demo. This is the first time that I am in a team that garners 1st. But not only that, I went with them on the road of challenges, pain and darkness and I learned to be strong and endure. And all of these pay of as I see the smiles pf all the people watching us. I appreciated and saw the determination of each as we show all of them what has been the fruit of the past few practices.

Next are the games, I was also happy that I have entered a chess tournament... though I didn’t win... I am glad to see the talents and battle with amazing minds in strategy and deception.

Even a player myself... I am still proud to say that I am a water girl (this term for us means the person who gives water and support to the players)…

Sometimes, my mom asks me... “Why do you want to be a water girl?” I just replied that “Seeing the replenished faces of those players who give their best to the glory of our section and year makes me feel happy and accomplished in a game.”

I may say that I also risk my life because sitting on the ring side just to wait for players puts me in danger as one of them bumped me and we fall on the stony corner (3-Leah’s viewing area). But as I said earlier it’s just nothing as long as I know I have a part in boosting their confidence and energy.

As a water girl, I am one of those who look at their injuries. The part that seeing them injured is the hardest. But still they continue to fight and endure the pain just to continue the play.

The breathtaking scores are just as exciting as those emotions, as they continue to throw the ball and tie the score, especially with the fight of 3-leah and 4-David. There I saw that there is something like fairness and also the determination and chill when watching a ball game.

In the end, I have seen that Sports fest is not that boring after all, and it is not just paving way for others to win. The determination defines all the events that took place, the desire to win makes each contest colorful... but still those people still know their limitations and the fair way of winning.

I wish that all of the people believe on what Harriet Woods said, “You can stand tall without standing on someone, You can be a victor without having victims.”

And these are the reasons why this is the best sports fest I have seen.

BEHIND THE SMILES

A smile according to the internet means:

• To express amusement, pleasure, moderate joy, or love and kindness, by the features of the face; to
• To look gay and joyous; to have an appearance suited to excite joy;

As these meaning goes there are evident words like HAPPINESS, JOY AND KINDNESS. So in general, smile is just an expression of beautiful feelings in the world.

But as time goes by, these meanings enter many revisions. The dramatic changes and additions like- smile could be used as a curtain, a veil of hidden feelings like SADNESS, AGONY, FEAR AND PAIN.

Behind all the smiles, there are many things going on... There are many words unsaid and many feelings not released. Nowadays, many people are still smiling even in tough times, but behind all these the real story unfolds.

One of the examples of these hardships is discrimination. This is one of the leading problems that students have.

For me, discrimination is a term that pertains to harmful words either said verbally or from behind. Also, when the people around someone are judging him because of his physical characteristic or capabilities is a form of discriminating. There is also the feeling of uneasiness and being shy and quiet. The common effects of this are sadness, pain and isolation. There is also a tendency for that person to hide what he can do and would not excel in school or would have an emotional problem.

And with this trend... I AM NOT AN EXEMPTION

I remember that the most common discrimination I had is the “back-stabbing”. This is when people talk badly behind someone. There is one in my school, when I beat a girl in a social quiz, she let her mother came to school and told stories to my teachers that I should not win a competition. Next one is a guy, his friend told me that he’s saying that my grades and efforts in studying are useless and my correct answers are just a matter of luck. As a person who give importance to studying and fighting fair and square, I am offended, I was hurt…because he is a person who always ask me about things. I never thought that he would say something like that. That’s why I confronted it and I became angry…The emotions rushed that time..

All the people that I mention above are my friends… I don’t know to them but I treat them as friends. I know that there are still many, but even just those few words hurt me… how about if it’s many??

I am hurt and also to others that experience harder words. But having the people who are dear to you, say those awful words hits the hardest.
When I came home, my mom said that I should control my emotions because I am in a rush, she said that maybe he’s just a victim of lies. As I breathe and think about it, I realized that my mom is right… I am not the only victim of back-stab and lies.

I learned that the world is not that perfect and we can please all the people. And that we should save something only for ourselves because we cannot predict a human’s mind. But still I put this is mind…

That no matter how many people discriminate me, they do not have my life so I can live it the way I want to... I can do my best and be happy even in their existence. And I believe that God would be blessing them for them to understand the people around them.

^ anger turns into love ^

When I thought I was in heaven

My eyes were shut but I can still see a light. A ball of light that was so bright. It leads to a path that was not known to me. This is when I thought I was in heaven.          When I opened my eyes, first thing I saw was a television turned on. July 13, 2009, the clock’s hands also indicate that it was 6 pm, an earth time. At last, the operations done. I think I am back to my world... I am alive for the second time.

           

I was brought back to a room , I saw my mother and the rest of my family looking at me. They were smiling, I thought they were my angels that welcomed me to heaven and their face were just borrowed from my memory… but my mom cried so I just told myself, “ she’s really my mom ”. I couldn’t stop myself to say something. But they waved their hands meaning I should not talk.

           

Time stopped for me. I don’t know what happened I guess I was knocked out and my consciousness was also taken. My mind is not functioning. That time I don’t know if I dreamt something. It was just a plain black image. I was awakened by the sudden pain I felt. I held on my pillow so hard. My mom suddenly called the doctor.

“I’m done with this right but why it comes back” those are just words that I am thinking.

 The nurse came and she saw me. She got something, it was a pain reliever. It was injected on the dextrose. She said that the anesthesia’s effect was gone. The pain subsided. Maybe that’s the trigger for my consciousness to come back. Suddenly the memories of my experiences rushed out, my soul felt all those different feelings again. It’s like nostalgia, a flashback of my life.

When the world welcomed me on the 30^th of October, when my mom and dad, Connie and Hidulfo held me in their arms, The childhood days when I felt joy and contentment because I think I could not ask for more. Things I need are all lying in front of me, the time that I joined and triumphed in competitions and so much friends, recognition and lessons I have encountered and treasured. All the things that I experienced were pleasant and perfect.

 I never thought that after those sweet fairytales, I will bump into something this hard and everything is at stake.. I continue to ask myself…why?? Why?? It ended like this?

That time I felt like crying and the sad setting of the hospital added to this solitude the opposite of trees, cool wind, colorful images and smiling faces.

I was thinking that time, what will happen to me when I come out. Would I change school? Can I still join competitions, Will I still have the confidence and the intelligence I have before?

It was after 6 days I can go home, I hope that I would never come back again. We rode our tricycle and my father started driving. I am looking outside, feeling the air, I realized that before it was just so normal to me, but now, I feel that I am longing for it. The pictures of houses are still the same but I enjoyed viewing them as we travel.

When we got home, my mom fixed my place, so that I could sleep well. She took care of me properly. She always does. Out of the blue, I asked my mom. “Ma, why do you think this happened to me?”

She jus smiled and said. These are challenges; God is just making the strong out of you. He would never forsake you, he sent many guardian angels to help you out. You just don’t notice.

I suddenly remembered the people who suddenly came like the doctors that were unexpected to pass the corridor and check me up. The people who before stayed with me, helped me smile and be myself. They are my angels on earth.

The saying is true that when the thing is gone, that’s when you will realize its worth. I was dumbfounded of the simple beauties of my life. In this I recognize that I always overlook. Even though I have many happy experiences I have found out that if I looked at them with a clearer spectacle, then I may have been happier and understand more the meaning of joy.

Also, God gives many challenges for us to wake up. Imagine this, story of Juan Tamad, because he was not woken up and he’s lazy to stand, he was buried under the ground. If no one will tap us, then our lives will just be useful only as fertilizer in the land.

Now... I have seen the world again but with much improvement, I am doing my best to make everything beautiful and learning on this lessons I have picked. These experiences made me stronger and give importance with my life because He has given me another chance to have rose-colored glasses.

Even now, I can say that I am also in heaven here, even I encounter many challenges I still see many angels and I know the everlasting happiness.

                                           

                                 

                                                              smile!!!