How to avoid the biggest mistake in business writing

How to avoid the biggest mistake in business writing How to avoid the biggest mistake in business writing Mention writing skills to most people and they will roll their eyes before launching into a confession about how spelling/grammar/punctuation/all three have always been their weakest link. Yet, when they do, they’re missing the point. These things matter, for sure. An email full of typos or a poorly punctuated proposal will almost certainly undermine your credibility and potentially leave the people who read it confused. But there are other mistakes that can do far more harm. Chief among these is failing to focus on what your reader needs and wants. Where it all goes wrong The trouble is that too many documents and messages focus on the needs of the writer rather than the reader. This is a big mistake, although it is understandable. After all, when were writing, our primary focus is to get the job done. Think about it for a few seconds. Imagine it’s Monday morning and you’re faced with a to-do list as long as the Great Wall of China. Right at the top is a board report that you’ve been putting off for the last three weeks and it’s due in by 5pm today. Is your primary focus to (a) carefully consider the members of the board and their individual priorities or (b) get the damn thing written so you can cross it off your list and relax again? Congratulations if you picked (a). Treat yourself to a cup of tea or latte from that artisan coffee shop around the corner. You’re on your way to being a business-writing superstar and don’t need to read any further. Probably. (Maybe read on just in case.) If you picked answer (b), congratulations too – for your honesty and for being a normal human being. You vs. the deadline This is because focusing on your own priorities first is a perfectly normal survival mechanism, developed through millions of years of evolution. Our Stone Age brains find it hard to differentiate between a looming deadline and a predator outside the cave that wants to eat us for lunch. Our first instinct is therefore to run away from it (which is why you didn’t write the report three weeks ago). And, when you can no longer run away from it (remember, youve now only got until 5pm, and you’re in a cave), your natural priority will always be just to get rid of the threat. So you muster all your courage and run directly at it, focused solely on your needs (avoiding the disapproval of the boss – although admittedly thats still marginally preferable to a grisly, violent death). Unfortunately, this rarely produces the best results, at least where deadlines are concerned. (If there’s a real predator outside the cave, you’d best go deal with that and come back to this blog post later.) Maybe you finally fire up a board-report template and fill in the blanks under the standard headings. Success soon becomes a word count that rises in fits and starts. And you’re done when you’ve filled enough pages, changed the date on the default title and emailed it to the chief executive’s EA. It won’t be your best work. But don’t worry: it also won’t be in any danger of changing the status quo or standing out from the other 17 board reports that were written in similar circumstances. It will just be another one on the pile. When business writing goes bad Board members are used to struggling through sub-optimal documents that look just like all the rest. Yours will be no different. Unfortunately, it’s also unlikely to mark you out as someone who’s above average and therefore wont advance your career either. To produce something that will do both these things, you need to step into the reader’s shoes. Yet most people don’t, because they’re naturally focused on their own priorities (which is why all those reports look the same). In fact, failure to step into the reader’s shoes is not just normal but usually the chief culprit when business writing goes bad. Nor are we just talking about board reports here. It also produces customer letters or emails that alienate the customer. And it’s why so many live chat helpdesk responses end up being no help at all. Remember that instant-chat conversation with your home broadband provider that took 20 minutes to tell you what you stated in your original question? The person who did so was probably distracted by answer targets and a big, red LED display in the centre of the office showing how many customers they still needed to respond to. This failure to connect with the readers perspective is also why so many proposals to win new business start with page upon page about how great the supplier is. Believe me, the client will only care about this if she thinks you can solve her problem. So focus on her problem first, then on your solution. (Do those things well and shell reach her own conclusion about your suitability. Then its just a case of confirming that view and reassuring her by describing your experience and perhaps giving a few client testimonials.) It can also lead us to give the wrong impression in even the simplest communications. For example, a notice from a store about opening hours that just says, ‘We are closed on Wednesdays’ is stressing the negative and essentially telling customers what the store can’t do for them (ie serve them on a Wednesday). It’s also missing an opportunity to say that they’re open six days a week – including at weekends. Beat your brains default wiring But, as I say, it’s still what most of us do, because it’s how we’re wired. And, given this natural bias towards ourselves, it can take an almost superhuman level of willpower to switch your focus to the person you’re writing for or to. So what can you do? One of the best ways I know is to start by writing down what you already know about your intended reader, including what they need and want most from the exchange, as well as what they know already. In a short communication (such as an email or helpdesk response), this may well be enough to shift your mindset from its default setting. Longer documents need a bit more effort. This is partly because they’re more complex and therefore contain far more traps that can lure you back to the writer-centred mindset. And partly it’s because we tend to put off writing them, so we’re more likely to be under a lot of pressure to finish by the time we do. (In other words, we’re focused again on our needs rather than the reader’s.) The five-step solution So you need to do something to snap yourself out of this mindset. Here’s how: 1. First, download our reader-profile questionnaire here (PDF) and print it out. 2. Then complete it (with a pen, not just in your head). This will start the process of reorientation. 3. From there, plan your document, using your preferred method. (I like mind maps, as they help me to see connections that might not otherwise be obvious.) But – and this is critical – continually refer back to your completed questionnaire so that you avoid defaulting to your needs. As you plan, put a question mark alongside anything you still need to check or find out. 4. Find the answers to any of the questions in 3. This is also crucial, as you need to do most of your thinking and address any uncertainties before you start writing. 5. Then, and only then, write your document. (I’ve explained how to do this quickly here.) Note that steps 1–4 should take most of the pain out of 5. So don’t think of them as wasting time. They’ll actually save you time in the long run. You should now have a document that is much more focused on the person you’re writing for and their needs, rather than on you and yours. That person may even thank you for it. But even if they don’t, you can take comfort from the knowledge that your document now stands a very good chance of being better than the others they’re reading, which can only be a good thing. Now youve definitely earned that latte. Just make sure you still check your document for typos and spelling mistakes. Image credit: Mircea Costina / Shutterstock

Economies, Markets and Strategic Decisions Coursework - 1

Economies, Markets and Strategic Decisions - Coursework Example In fact, China has shown a uniform demand for 40% of the global oil- demand since last four years. Oil demand in India has increased by 75% within last 15years of time. Considering the supply side, a number of oil-producing countries such as Iraq and Venezuela have gone through turmoil that has affected their capability to produce and supply oils at their full capacity. In recent times, OPEC (The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries) which is an association of 13 countries mainly from Middle East has evolved as the single largest entity for supplying oil throughout the world. In fact, the consortium holds the power of increasing or reducing the oil price through altering the oil supply (Perry, 2013). Global oil inventories play an important role in balancing the global supply and demand for oil. If the quantity produced exceeds demand, the excess supplies are stored for future use and when the consumption surpasses the demand for oil, that inventories are used to satisfy the amounting demand. Though the OPEC countries are responsible for only 40% of the oil supply where 60% of the supplies are controlled by non-OPEC countries, the Non-OPEC suppliers are incapable to influence market price of oil due to insufficient reserves holding by them. Ability of OPEC to maintain the largest oil inventories in the world aids the consortium price of oil through adjusting the supply of oil, especially when the supply of oil by non-OPEC provinces declines further (U.S. Energy Information Administration, 2015). The demand and supply of oil directly impacts the oil prices. If the demand for oil increases due to shortage in supply, the price of oil shots up. In contrast, if there is excess supply due to lack of demand, the oil price is likely to go down. However, the demand and supply of oil is instigated by multiple factors which in turn strive to modify the level of oil price. In the

Wireless communication Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Wireless communication - Essay Example Unlike other previous forms of communication, wireless communication networks have increasingly gained popularity especially with the recent mode like 3G and 4G which have continuously improved data transfer and communication efficiency. Recent advances in technology have led to efficient satisfaction of the needs of consumers while ensuring that life is easier. The second generation GSM and its evolutional stages of GPRS and EDGE and third generation UMTS are discussed in detail to pave way in understanding the 4G technology. Wireless communication: 1G-4G cellular communication systems 1.0. Introduction Cellular mobile telephone systems development and deployment was triggered by the operational limitations of standard mobile telephone systems (Brand and Aghavami, 1). These limitations include limited capacity for service, inefficient utilization of spectrum and poor service performance. The communication of mobile phone occurs through a temporary distinct radio channel in order to communicate to the cell site. The cell site is contains several channels and each mobile talks to it through only one of the channels. The channels are characterized by a pair of frequencies which are used during the communication. The forward link transmits from the cell site to the users while the reverse link receives calls from users. The radio signal transmitted in early mobiles dissipated with distance and mobiles had to stay close to the base station in order to secure effective communications. According to Brand and Aghvami (1), moving mobile users were not sufficiently offered with an effective means of communication. Mobile radio service has its operations in a closed network with no access to the telephone system unlike the mobile telephone service that allowed interconnection to the telephone network. Traditionally, the mobile service structure included a single powerful transmitter that was located at a high spot to broadcast signals within a radius of up to about 50 km and the mobile telephones were attached to the transmitter (Brand and Aghvami, 2). Conversely, the introduction of cellular telephone system architecture involves placing numerous low-power transmitters within the entire coverage area and each covers a small area called the cell and using varying channels or conversions. The cellular telephone system allows a user to travel while making a phone call with no interruptions since they can use more than one base station. The application of the cellular concept in mobile telephone systems overcame interference problems and improved the efficiency of communication since the cells size was equivalent to the density and demand of subscribers in a particular area and was flexible to accommodate growing population’s demand and user density. Interference is overcame since a cluster can be reused in other cells while conversations can be handed off from one cell to the other and phone services maintained constantly as one moves between cells through handoff (Brand and Aghvami, 2). Cellular phone systems is characterized by four generations which are first generation or 1G, second generation or 2G, third generation or 3G and fourth generation or 4G. This paper explores cellular mobile system generations in terms of their capabilities, date of introduction, and comparison of inherent features. 2.0. First generation or 1G cellular phone systems The 1G cellular phone systems are characterized by the use of analog frequency modulation to facilitate the transmission of speech, frequency shift keying or FSK for signaling while FDMA or frequency Division Multiple Access for the sharing of assigned spectrum (Patil, Karhe and Aher, 614). The most

Inspirational Speech Essay Example for Free

Inspirational Speech Essay Good afternoon everyone. Today I am here with you, giving an inspirational speech to help you overcome life’s challenges and I wish that this speech of mine is worthy of your time. One day, when I was lying on my bed, some questions about life comes to my mind like, â€Å"What is the purpose of life? †, â€Å"Why we are here in this world? †, and ‘’Why do certain things happen? ’’. I had always kept these questions to myself but eventually pushed them away on my mind because I can’t find any answer and it’s just making me in doubt of everything. After thinking of those questions, I reminisce the times of my life that I experience trials and hardships. Those are the times that I almost given up and I feel like that I can’t bear those problems anymore but I said to myself not to surrender because God will not give us burden that we cannot bear. If you have a problem, don’t say, â€Å"God, I have a big problem†, but instead say this out loud whole-heartedly†¦Ã¢â‚¬Å"Hey problem, I have a great god! ’’ and surely it will lessen the heavy feeling in your heart and it will inspire you to fight those problems. The challenges and difficulties that come into our life will makes us closer to God, makes us stronger and a better person that we should be. Most of the time, we only remember God when we have problems and forget him when we are happy and sometimes or maybe often, we blame him and ask, â€Å"Why me, Lord? †, â€Å"Why you are doing this to me? †,†Did I do something wrong? † We always say that but have we ever question him why we are happy and receiving those many blessing. Have you ever asked â€Å"Why you are giving these blessings to me, Lord? Did I do something right? † and said â€Å"thank you lord? ’. Never, right? Think of this my friend and realize that some things will not be as we want it to be. We should also learn from our mistakes and we should our limitations. If we did not learn from those mistakes, then, there’s no sense in making them. Life has its ups and downs, just always remember that everything happens for a reason. After the hardships we’ve been through, blessings and graces wait. God doesn’t tell us how he’s working out his plans, but in his time and his way, he’ll clearly let us know he’s working out his best for us because He loves us so much.

Let’s Stop Our Trivial Thinking :: Argumentative Persuasive Essays

Let’s Stop Our Trivial Thinking What are the important things in life? Have you ever asked yourself that question? Are we setting a good example for future generations? If you think that we are, then think again. Many Americans today seem to be obsessed with the little things. Trivial thinkers are always trying to cover up issues or find short-term solutions. It is almost as if Americans can't stop and think about the future. We like reading and hearing about things that don't really make a difference. Walking into a grocery store, you can find lots of magazines filled with stories on celebrities, but how many do you find about world events? Can celebrities somehow help this world become a better place? Why do we need to know so much about their lives? Turning on your television, you can find talk shows filled with stories about other people's problems. Will knowing another person's problems help us become better people? Television now has special "news" shows devoted to Hollywood that never even talk about real world issues. How can we call these shows news programs? Trivial thinkers today want to know more about trashy issues than they do about important ones. When Mother Teresa died, how many newspapers and magazines talked about the wonderful things that she had done in her life? Not many. When Princess Diana died, how many newspapers and magazines were filled with stories on her life and her problems? Too many. I don't believe that it bettered people's lives knowing every detail of Princess Diana's life. I'm not a better person now that I know that she had marriage trouble and that she was bulimic. Trivial thinkers today relish knowing every detail of a celebrity's life. Trivial thinking carries over into they way many Americans solve their problems today. Too many Americans today try hard to make issues go away quickly. We find these small solutions that don't really work but look nice. Children going to school today are faced with these issues. School administrators are worried about gangs, but instead of getting to the real problem they tell children to take off their hats and that they can't wear baggy clothes.

Insurance Business in Bangladesh Essay

Acknowledgement We really enjoyed working on this report . At the time of completing different parts of the report like collecting information from different source and working with the group members and then compile different parts of the report and so on. This report is a required term paper of our â€Å"Banking & Insurance† course and our honorable course faculty, Mr. Md. Amdadul Hoque is the person who has guided us throughout preparing the report . We are thankful to him and we have tried to make this report as his instruction. We would like to thank all mighty Allah for keeping everything on right track. Finally, we would like to thank our parents and friends without whose support it was impossible for us to complete the report. OBJECT OF REPORT This study addresses the findings of the prolem of insurance companies in public and private sectors in Bangladesh and to suggest policy measures for improving insurance services delivery process in Bangladesh. The following research questions were addressed: what are the ways of overcoming the problems of Insurance business in Bangladesh? Moreover, this writing will try to highlight the underlying causes behind the non-popularity of the insurance companies in Bangladesh. We also highlights the prospects of insurance business in Bangladesh. BACKGROUND OF THE INSURANCE BUSINESS IN BANGLADESH In Indian subcontenent the insursance come at the period of British. During the tine of Pakistan period there was about 49 insurance company in the country. After independence of Bangladesh, insurance industry was nationalized. Subsequently through the enactment of Insurance Corporation Act VI, 1973, two corporations namely Sadharan Bima Corporation (SBC) for general insurance and, Jiban Bima Corporation for life insurance were established in Bangladesh. SBC was acting as the sole insurer of general insurance till 1984. Between 1985 to 1988 first generation of private general insurance companies were emerged as Bangladesh Government allowed the private sector to conduct business in all areas of insurance for the first time in 1984. A total of 16 private general insurance companies were registered in that phase. In 1996 another 8 private general insurance companies were registered. The third generation of private general insurance companies, which included 18 companies, came into operation between 1999 and 2001. The general insurance market in Bangladesh now consists of 43 private sector insurance companies and 1 state owned insurance company. Insurance Corporation (amendment) Act 1990 provides that 50% of all insurance business relating to any public property or to any risk or liability appertaining to any public property shall be placed with the SBC and the remaining 50% of such business may be placed with this corporation or with any other insurers in Bangladesh. But for practical reason and in agreement with the Insurance Association of Bangladesh SBC underwrites all the public sector business and 50% of that business is distributed among the existing 43 private general insurance companies equally under National Co-insurance Scheme. INSURANCE COMPANIES IN BANGLADESH There are two types of Insurance companies in Bangladesh Genarel insurance companies in our country are as follow : Agrani Insurance Co. Ltd. Asia Pacific General Insurance. East Land Insurance Co. Ltd. Global Insurance Ltd. Home Land Insurance Co. Ltd. Janata Insurance Co. Ltd. Loyeds Insurance Company ltd. Mercantile Insurance Company ltd. Paramount Insurance Company Limited. Pioneer Insurance Company Limited. Provati Insurance Co. Ltd. Pragati Insurance Limited. Phoenix Insurance Company Ltd. Peoples Insurance Co. Ltd. Northern Generla Insurance Co. Ltd. Meghna Insurance Company Limited . Karnaphuli Insurance Co. Ltd. Islami Commercial Ins. Co. Ltd. Green Delta Insurance Co. Ltd. Federal Insurance Company Limited. Eastern Insurance Co. Ltd. Desh General Insurance Co. Standard Insurance Limited. Sonar Bangla Insurance Ltd. Sadharan Bima Corporation ltd. Samata Insurance Company ltd. South Asia Insurance Co. Ltd. Takaful Islami Insurance Ltd. Life Insurance companies in Bangladesh: American Life Insurance Company. Delta Life Insurance Company Ltd. Federal Insurance Company Limited. Jiban Bima Corporation Popular Life Insurance Company Ltd. National Life Insurance Co. Ltd. Progati Life Insurance Limited Rupali Insurance Company Limited Sunflower Life Insurance Co. Ltd. Baira Life Insurance Co. Ltd. Fareast Islami Life Insurance Co. Ltd. Home Land Life Insurance Co. Ltd. Meghna Life Insurance Co. Ltd. Padma Life Insurance Co. Ltd. Prime Insurance Company Limited Progressive Life Insurance Company Ltd. Shandhani Life Insurance Co. Ltd. PROBLEMS OF INSURANCE BUSINESS IN BANGLADESH 1.1) Lack of trustworthiness : Lack of trustworthiness is the most important barrier (71.9% respondents) in case of popularity of the insurance companies where as lengthy process in getting payment after any incident is in the second position with 62% response. It can be seen that both the stated variables are related in the sense that time killing behavior in payment after incidence is reducing the trust of the customers towards the insurance companies 1.2) Low income of the people : It was also found that the low income and purchasing power (43%) doesn’t permit the people of Bangladesh to go for an insurance policy. Practically we can easily relate the above mentioned factors. For example, in one hand the lower income of the people is creating barrier in buying insurance policy 1.3) Unattractive offerings: the insurance companies offer many types of policies but these are not attractive to the peoples for this reasons they did not take policies. They always make same types of offers this is also a reason of demotivation. 1.4) Lack of information about the insurance companies: the insurance companies are not delivering their information (regarding company and insurance policy) properly or evenly which is another problem (42.8%) in case of non-popularity of the insurance companies. 1.5) High service processing cost : The service cost of insurance business are very much higher than other business and this is also a reason of non popularity of insurance business. 1.6) Less convincing sales people: Surprisingly it was found that the sales people are doing well in convincing customers even though still 22% people believe that sales people are not that much convincing. 1.7) Lengthy process to get payment after incidents: The most important barrier in case of popularity of the insurance companies where as lengthy process in getting payment after any incident is in the second position with response. It can be seen that both the stated variables are related in the sense that time killing behavior in payment after incidence is reducing the trust of the customers towards the insurance companies. PROSPECTS OF INSURANCE BUSINESS IN BANGLADESH It is the general belief of common people that Insurance companies are not sincere in making payment and resorts many whimsical reasons for declining claims which are not taken care of while opening policy. Due to the negative attitude,the penetration rate in the industry is still very low (only 0.62% of GDP) even having immense prospects. Overall solvency position of general Insurance companies was found moderate. On analysis, it was found that 15.38% companies have poor solvency position followed by 23.07% marginal, 42.30% above average and rest 19.23% have satisfactory solvency position. Solvency position is usually determined by a good number of indicators likeequity base, exceptional loss reserve, technical reserve, internal capital generation, underwriting leverage etc. The new Insurance ordinance re-fixed the minimum paid upcapital of TK. 400 million which will have to be met within a stipulated timeframe.None in the industry is at comfort zone regarding capital as per new law. A few 1st generation companies together with the listed third generation companies have paidup capital of TK. 150 million or more. However, couple of 1st generation companies enhanced their equity base through generating exceptional loss reserve. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS The demographic trends suggest that as private insurance companies (both local and multinational) have proliferated in Dhaka city, better educated and more affluent people have gravitated to these insurance companies for insurance services. These people/clients are likely to have better information about the quality of services provided by both public and private insurance companies and their inclination to select private insurance companies suggests, implicitly, that the quality of service is better at these private firms even though their (private insurance companies) service cost is somewhat higher. Moreover, many branch operation of private insurance companies help the people to make evaluation among them and making an insurance decision in favor of those which are trustworthy. But between the private local and foreign insurance company choice, clients are mostly considering foreign private insurance companies due to its trustworthiness, experience in operation and wide area cove rage. Less number of branches of the public insurance companies may be another prime reason of not being preferred by the local clients. By definition, it might be more authentic if the clients were inclined towards the public insurance companies from trustworthiness point of view, but as statistics suggests in favor of choosing foreign private insurance firms, probably we have to be satisfied by saying that it is in many respect guided by client’s psychology of getting better and prompt services. The incentive structure must also play a role in ensuring the quality services delivered by the public insurance companies. One solution is to tie part of the compensation of insurance personnel in public companies to services rendered and feedback received from clients. This, of course, is a complex issue and has implications for pay scale administration, since public bank staffs, as government servants, are paid according to certain pay structures. While beyond the scope of this paper, authors feel that compensation flexibility is necessary to reward those who are dedicated to providing quality insurance services. If compensation adjustments can’t be incorporated, benefits-including promotion, transfer in more valued branches, study leave, performance bonus and the like-could be tied to performance evaluation mechanism. There must be a formal procedure of evaluating the employees by the clients through some questionnaire type performance appraisal form. A suggestion, objection or recommendation book in the branch can be introduced where the clients can even complain or appreciate about a specific employee. Public awareness and the transparency of the high official may have a positive impact on that issue. Moreover, clients have rated reference by family and friends as another very important determinant in insurance provider choice. To enhance a positive reputation of the insurance company, they can follow the strategies stated below: – Do a lot of personal selling of services to the clients and encourage existing customers to tell good about your services to the potential customers. Carefully choose personnel who interact with the customers . Positive and societal marketing activities to build and project specifi company image to maximization of popularity. Design facilities to achieve specific marketing or image objectives of the organization . Establish formal system for controlling quality of insurance services to provide specific effort to encourage customers to tell others about your services. From the political and social behavior of the people it can be said that demand for these services will be higher in near future. Even staying more with an insurance company is also dominated by many special services. Insurance companies, especially public one must think about more value added services. BIBLIOGRAPHY 01)Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. 2004. â€Å"Report of Financial Service Providers in Bangladesh†. 02)Berri, Leonard L. (1980), â€Å"Service Marketing is Different 03)www.google.com 04)â€Å"Insurance Principiles And Practice† By M.N Mishra.

The Art of Hospitality - The Greeks and the Odyssey Essay

Each culture treats strangers and guests with distinct differences from every other culture. One of the most hospitable cultures was that of the ancient Greeks, exemplified in Homer’s The Odyssey by both gracious hosts and guests. In Greece and The Odyssey, not only was good hospitality etiquette expected, but the added pressure from the conviction that the gods would punish the host if guests were treated without respect (whether they were poor or rich) further compelled excellent manners. The Odyssey illustrates the proper etiquette when dealing with guests. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Whether friend or stranger, when a guest of any sort arrived the host would greet them and offer them food and drink before any further conversation or†¦show more content†¦In the case of the Phaeacians, no one asks Odysseus’ name until it has become increasingly imperative that they have that knowledge; they don’t ask after days of hosting him, even preparing to take him to his home on Ithaca without inquiring his name, â€Å"Farewell, stranger, sir†¦ May the gods grant you safe passage home to see your wife.† (Book 8, 454-457) This gentle hospitality continues, and may have lasted through if not for Odysseus weeping when Demodocus sings, which will bring Alcinous’ asking for his name, â€Å"†¦ Ever since our meal began and the stirring bard/launched his song, our guest has never paused in his tears†¦ Come, tell us the name they call you there at home.† (Book 8, 606-618) Ironically, the Phaeacians ar e ideal to Greek standards of hospitality, yet do not host many guests due to their isolation. A good host will not keep a guest longer than they wish to be kept, and a guest should not linger beyond the time they are welcome.Show MoreRelatedThree Values of Greek Society in the Odyssey Essay551 Words   |  3 Pagesquote shows that the Greeks valued themselves, but also their intellect in which they know that the world about them is great. The Greeks valued beauty, art, intellect, honor, and truth; the list is long. Some of these values are shown through the story of the Odyssey, which tells of the adventures of Odysseus and his family. In order to understand Greek values and how they are portrayed in Greek society, one must examine how some values are portrayed in the Odyssey: hospitality, intellect, and beautyRead MoreImportance Of Myths In Greek Myths941 Words   |  4 PagesGreek mythology is the myths and legends that the Greeks built their lives around. Hermes is the goddess of herds, flock, traveller, hospitality roads, trade and laws. He was born in a cave at daw n, and his mother wrapped him in swaddling wraps. Sirens were creatures that had a head of a woman and body if bird. Tiresias lived for seven to nine years, and in those years he lived as man and woman. Hermes, Sirens, and Tiresias are important in Greek mythology because they reveal the values of GreekRead MoreThe Odyssey By Homer s Odyssey2866 Words   |  12 Pagesâ€Å"Homer’s Odyssey is the only surviving poem from a cycle of poems called the Nostoi (â€Å"the Returns†), which told of the returns home of the various Greek heroes at Troy† (Norcott, 2012). The Odyssey is one of many accounts of the Greek heroes that took part in the Trojan War. Odysseus’ story was just one that survived after all of these years. The story came out as an Epic only because of how the people revered the heroes as they started many trends, such as Odysseus’ Trojan horse. â€Å"These epics lieRead MoreIliad and Odyssey1825 Words   |  8 Pagesportrayed in the l iterature, art, and cinema of a certain era. The epic poems, The Iliad and Odyssey, give scholars and historians an idea how the Ancient Greek lived their everyday lives. By reading the two novels, the reader is able to experience the three thousand years old society of Homer. The various similarities between our society and the societies depicted in the Iliad and the Odyssey are surprising profuse. To name a few: the superfluous violence in Iliad and Odyssey, the characterizationRead More Iliad And Odyssey Essay1796 Words   |  8 Pagesin the literature, art, and cinema of a certain era. The epic poems, The Iliad and Odyssey, give scholars and historians an idea how the Ancient Greek lived their everyday lives. By reading the two quot;novels,quot; the reader is able to experience the three thousand years old society of Homer. The various similarities between our society and the societies depicted in the Iliad and the Odyssey are surprising profuse. To name a few: the superfl uous violence in Iliad and Odyssey, the characterizationRead MoreThe Odyssey by Homer1316 Words   |  6 Pagesappropriately. This has been a necessary course of action, to ensure their writing conveys the quest and its respective elements in a manner that will be understood by the responder in the relevant time period. The texts ‘The Odyssey (Homer 8th Century BC), In the Shadow of No Towers (Art Spiegelman 2004) and The Picture of Dorian Gray (Oscar Wilde 1890) have appropriated the archetypal quest in their respective time periods to reflect the values of their context. â€Å"The hero ventures forth from the worldRead MoreHomer’S Two Tales, The Iliad And The Odyssey, Are Both1749 Words   |  7 Pagestwo tales, the Iliad and the Odyssey, are both incredibly well known and widely taught across the world and at many different levels of education. Some call Homer the â€Å"greatest poet to ever live† and although this can be disputed his works truly speak for themselves and have braved the test of time quite well. This paper will cover who/whom Homer is as a person, or persons, and the time period of his writings, the truths versus the dramatizations of the Iliad and Odyssey, how the author’s perspectiveRead MoreThe Aeneid Of The Iliad And Odyssey794 Words   |  4 Pagesepic poet, he gave the Roman people a cohesive narrative that tied them to the past and propelled them towards the future. This narrative, The Aeneid, had its basis in local lore as well as ties to the older Greek epics of Homer. The Aeneid almost functions as a n extension of The Iliad and Odyssey, with its protagonist, Aeneas, being a minor figure in the earlier poems, and the work itself academically divided into â€Å"Odyssean† and â€Å"Iliadic† parts. In this relationship Virgil owes a creative debt to HomerRead More Character of Penelope in Homers Odyssey Essay1374 Words   |  6 PagesThe Character of Penelope in The Odyssey My lady, there is no man in the wide world who could find fault with you. For your fame has reached broad heaven itself, like that of some illustrious king.(Page 289,Book 19, The Odyssey) Penelope played one of the most vital roles in Homers timeless classic ‘The Odyssey’, as both Odysseuss patient and loving wife and as the Queen of Ithaca. Her great love for Odysseus is most powerfully shown with her persistence in waiting nineteen years for herRead MoreEssay about Strong Penelope of Homers Odyssey1282 Words   |  6 PagesThe Strong Penelope of The Odyssey My lady, there is no man in the wide world who could find fault with you. For your fame has reached broad heaven itself, like that of some illustrious king.(Page 289,Book 19) In Homers epic, The Odyssey, Odysseus is an epic hero with an epic wife, Penelope. Penelope is also the Queen of Ithaca, a vital role indeed. Penelopes love and devotion towards Odysseus is proven when she waits nineteen years for her husband to return from the wine dark sea, rather