How is Telemachus described in book 1 of the Odyssey?

Answer 1

The significance of people's names in Greek literature is a touchy subject. Academic scholarship has long maintained primly that the names are not significant, partly because in Classical times Greek names clearly had no personally descriptive meaning, but were chosen for the sound or for sentiment. More importantly, though, to hold otherwise would be to admit that great amounts of the literature must have been radically modified at different times for political and religious purposes. In the Classical Theban cycle of Sophocles, for example, the character called Polyneices (much slaughter) is portrayed as nobler and better than his brother Eteocles (shining glory). Renegade thinkers like Robert Graves have suggested that the two roles must have been reversed by Classical times. Likewise, the name Oidipous (club-foot) seems to reflect the suppressed, matriarchal pre-Greek system whereby the old king was ritually murdered and the new king was chosen by the queen and ritually crippled, a suggestion that appalled modern scholars steeped in Bullfinch as much as the actual practice had outraged the utterly patriarchal Greeks. It is more than likely, however, that Greek names from the Heroic Age are intentionally descriptive, in the way that Native American names are - and indeed the Greeks of that time resembled the Plains Indians of the American West in many ways - in which case Telemachus's name is significant, if obscure. It seems to mean "fighting from afar," and is derived from an epithet of the goddess Artemis the Huntress. Perhaps it indicates an archer, since the arrow was the ballistic missile of the age. I prefer to think it indicates something like a distant ally aiding our cause in our absence.

Answer 2

Telemachus is initially described as being a child in his mother's house, not yet having become a man. He is in despair about the state of affairs in his house, and does not yet think he can do anything to change it.

After the visit from Athena, he becomes bolder. He takes his first steps as a real man, and starts to act as if he commands the house. Telemachus tells his mother to not interfere with the bard's singing, when she despairs at the lyrics. Later he tells the suitors that they will be reckoned with sooner or later, and that he too wishes to be King of Ithaca some day.

Answer 3

In Book 1 of The Odyssey, Telemachus is described as a young man who is searching for news of his father, Odysseus. He is often portrayed as frustrated and overwhelmed by the suitors who are trying to marry his mother, Penelope, and take over his household. Despite his youth and inexperience, Telemachus shows moments of courage and determination as he sets out on a journey to find out what happened to his father.