Question

Describe how Homer uses food as symbolism to express the importance of hospitality. Identify some positive and negative examples of food being used to represent hospitality and human civility.

Answer 1

In both the Iliad and the Odyssey feasting is something which is constantly taking place for many different occaisons. There is feasting for arriving and departing, to celebrate a heroic act, to celebrate the new day at breakfast and to propitiate the gods. Usually it involves at least meat, often freshly slaughtered and wine. On the negative side, it becomes tedious as it occurs so often, many times a new feast starts barely before the old one finished.