Describe one of the symbols in Books 1-6 of The Odyssey. Explain how the author uses this symbol to convey the theme of the story.

Odysseus and his wife, penelope, are symbols used by the author.

Explanation:

Odysseus represents the spirit, his wife Penelope, matter. The spirit, for the Greeks, is superior to matter, so it rules. What happens when Odysseus gets away from home? There is disorder, for the house is without its king, its ruler. Ithaca and his house are in decay, at the mercy of usurpers and traitors. Matter without the spirit has no strength, so Penelope can not take the reins of her house, can not rule; but matter needs ontologically of the spirit, hence its firm loyalty to Odysseus.

The sea is symbol use in the first book of the Odyssey, it represents danger and superiority and strength of the gods before men. In the Odyssey the sea brings a lot of issues to the story, when the men's sailor they are on the mercy of the wind and the sea and the gods.