The term for homecoming or longing for home is which of the following?

• A. Kleos
• B. Pietas
• C. Nostos
• D. Arete

Answer: (C)

This term is about returning home in ancient epic poetry. In Greek epic tradition, nostos refers to the hero’s journey back to his homeland after a long voyage or conflict, and it carries the sense of longing to reach that homeland as well as the actual homecoming. Odysseus’s arduous travel home in the Odyssey is the quintessential example of nostos, illustrating both the effort of the journey and the joy or relief of finally returning.

Kleos, by contrast, means glory or fame earned through heroic deeds, not the homeward journey. Pietas conveys a sense of dutiful piety and loyalty to gods, country, and family, focusing on obligation rather than the act of returning home. Arete denotes excellence or virtue, the quality of living wisely and well. None of these capture the specific idea of homecoming or longing for home as nostos does.