World Literature I: Barrington

1) Zeus: Book I: Athena Inspires the Prince, Page 78 ln 31. It is immediately apparent that Zeus has all the power. It tells how, "the father of men and gods was first to speak" (34). 2) Zeus is king of the gods and father of the Olympians and mortals. He expresses his heroic power through his impressive spheres of influence which include the sky and the weather, with his lightening bolts, hospitality and the rights og guests and suppliants, the punishment of injustice, the sending of omens, and the governance of the universe, controlled to some extent by Fate as well. 3) Zeus here is much like a previous character - Unapishtim. In the epic Gilgamesh, Unapishtim is a God among men. He was turned immortal by the gods. Both act as a paternal figure in their stories. Both are very hands off and try not to interfere too much. While Zeus makes observations and sends other people to carry out his will, such as his daughter, Athena, and his son, Hermes, Unapishtim takes a hands off stance. Gilgamesh reached him to ask him questions and the calloused but still parental character offered the wisdom of the plant. Zeus acts more and gets better results.4) Zeus is definately a hero. While he is a god, he does have selfish pride, but on the other hand, he also has godly strength and power. The physique is not discussed because in the story, we see more about his characteristic attributes. He sent his daughter down to Earth to help Odysseus way back when he was fighting the Trojan war, and in the story of the Odyssey as it is being told, he told her to go back and motivate and lead Telemachus, the shy and meak, to save his father and reunite a family, though it be insiginficant to immortals. Later her tells his son to venture to Earth and free Odysseus from the nymph and give him possible salvation off the island and captivity.