1 / 27

The Odyssey

Follow the epic journey of Odysseus's son, Telemachus, as he confronts suitors and seeks news of his father. Discover important themes and motifs such as familial responsibility and divine omens in Books I and II.

davidfcox
Download Presentation

The Odyssey

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. The Odyssey

  2. Books I – II Summary • Odysseus’ trials on his journey home from Troy. • The story then turns to Telemachus interacting with Athena and dealing with the suitors. • Telemachus takes on the role of a leader and openly condemns the suitors and plans to sail for news of his father.

  3. I – II: Important motifs and themes • In Medias Res: in the middle of the journey • Denied Nostos: homecoming • Omens from the gods: promise coming from Athena and the eagles • A crafty family: Penelope’s cleverness • From child to man: Telemachus’ journey

  4. Books III-Iv Summary • Telemakhos sails to Pylos and meets Nestor and his sons. • Hekatombs take place. What is the news that Nestor speaks of? • Meets Menelaus and Helen • Menelaus traveled the world and acquired wealth • Menelaus and Helen discuss Odysseus in stories • What happened after the war? What news of Odysseus? • Penelope laments and the men plan to stop Telemakhos

  5. III-IV: Important motifs and themes • Hekatombs and paying honor to the gods • xenia (hospitality) • Orestes as the example of the avenging son – a FOIL to Telemakhos • Athena’s support and open transformation • Weak freeloaders plotting murder – the unguarded home

  6. Books V-VI Summary • Zeus sends Hermes to tell Kalypso to release Odysseus. • Kalypso complains of the gods’ double standards. • 18 days at sea, sighting Scheria, Poseidon returns • Poseidon’s wrath… Ino’s veil and a river bring safety • Athena’s dream to Nausicaa • Naked pleading and post-bathed Odysseus • Nausicaa’s instructions to Odysseus

  7. V-VI: Important motifs and themes • Odysseus, very self-confident and deliberative… almost to fault. • Different from the Iliad, the man.. not just the hero. • The double-standard in terms of mating. Gods and mortals, men and women.

  8. Books VII-VIII Summary • Alkinoos having a festival to Poseidon • Odysseus appears at his wife Arete’s knees • Alkinoos impressed with Odysseus, thinks he’s a god, offers his daughter’s hand • Odysseus is provided a ship to return home • The minstrel Demodokos speaks of a fight, bringing emotion to Odysseus • Seareach’s accusation and loss • Story of Aphrodite and Ares’ affair • Odysseus cries at tale of Trojan horse, identity is?

  9. VII-VIII: Important motifs and themes • Flings vs. familial responsibility • The adventure-seeking foolish youth vs. the pains of an experienced hero • The meanings of names

  10. Book IX Summary • Sacking the city of Ismarus, loss of men • The Lotus eaters • Killing of goats on the island of the Kyklopses • Try to steal sheep from Polyphemus’ cave • Men eaten or part of the future meal plan • Polyphemus drunk and blinded • “Nobody” and escape under the sheep • One pompous cry

  11. IX: Important motifs and themes • The temptations of the world in a negative light • Horrible guests and hosts • Kleos and Hubris – dooming qualities

  12. Book X-XII Summary • Aeolus and the winds • Antiphates and the giants • Circe, pigs, and a year of rest • HELL – Tiresias’ prophecy, a mother’s tears, old comrades, & questionable women • The Sirens • Scylla and Charybdis • Thrinacria and Helios’ flock

  13. X-XII: Important motifs and themes • Temptation preventing nostos – Odysseus as well • Those diabolical, cheating women • Kleos isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be, but still important

  14. Book XIII-XIV Summary • The Phaiakans send Odysseus home with his gifts, asleep on Ithaka • The Phaiakans are rewarded by having their ship turn to stone • Odysseus awakes and meets Athena, deception vs. deception • In disguise he goes to swineheard Eumaios • A story of a life in Krete and Odysseus still being alive

  15. XIII-XIV: Important motifs and themes • Disguises for the sake of information gathering – patience above all • And you get kleos! And you get kleos! And you get kleos! • Xenia isn’t important when you have family relations to keep happy

  16. Book XV-XVI Summary • Athena urges Telemakhos to return home in secret - Bird omen 1. • Telemakhos bypasses a greeting to Nestor and also brings along Theoclymenus. • Odysseus tests the swineherd’s xenia and shares stories • Telemakhos returns to the hut, bird omen 2, and sends Eumaios out with a message to his mother • Odysseus sheds his disguise and the father and son embrace and discuss plans • The suitors, good and bad, talk to Penelope about the plan to kill Telemakhos

  17. XV-XVI: Important motifs and themes • Meeting in a swineherd’s hut = real, emotional humans • Bird omens • Antinous vs. Amphinomus • Xenia can be bypassed in situations of urgency

  18. BookS XVII-XVIII Summary • Telemakhos gives his mother hope with news of Odysseus, Theoclymenus swears that Odysseus is in Ithaca • Odysseus abused by Melanthius, words with Antinoos, then injured by him • Penelope is told by Eumaios of the beggar’s story and wishes to meet him, which Odysseus will do later • Odysseus kicks Irus’s butt, Amphinomus given the opportunity to leave • Penelope speaks to the suitors with glamour and cunning, Melantho ridicules Odysseus, and more broken furniture

  19. XVII-XVIII: Important motifs and themes • “Of all that breathes and crawls across the earth,Our mother earth breeds nothing feebler than a man.” • Mercy for Amphinomus? Pfft, Athena wants blood! • Worse and worse actions from Antinoos and others. A sign of moral weakness, especially from one highborn. Foils. Encouraging their future slaughter.

  20. BookS XIX – XX Summary • Odysseus has an audience with Penelope. • Proves that he met… himself… and tells her Odysseus shall return within the month • Eurycleia recognizes Odysseus • The eagle and 12 geese • Penelope decides to remarry one who can shoot the arrow… she begs Artemis to kill her • Suitors plot murder, eagle + dove, Athena encourages their arrogance to enrage • COW HOOF!

  21. XIX-XX: Important motifs and themes • All portents, all the time!… all bloody (blood, thunderclap, etc) • The wish for the suitors’ demise. The maid, the herdsman, etc. • Repetition at work.

  22. BookS XXI – XXII Summary • The suitors attempt to string the bow • Odysseus reveals himself to the swineherd and shepherd • Odysseus requests a chance to string the bow • SUCCESS! All is revealed and Antinoos is killed • Odysseus’ party gets weapons and fight, Melanthius gets weapons for the suitors and is trapped, Athena ends it • Ladies clean and are killed, Melanthius

  23. XXI-XXII: Important motifs and themes • The bow brings Odysseus’ story full circle • People “fall” from their own flaws

  24. BookS XXIII – XXIV Summary • Penelope in doubt • Odysseus argues that the olive tree bed cannot be moved • Odysseus recounts his voyage and the prophecy • Suitors in the underworld • Odysseus visits Laertes • Fathers have an uprising, Laertes is a beast, all accept Odysseus as king

  25. XXIII-XXIV: Important motifs and themes • A love through cleverness …no one can move their wedding bed

More Related