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Into the Underworld

Into the Underworld. HUM 2051: Civilization I Fall 2013 Dr. Perdigao September 9-11, 2013. Storylines. Storytellers Book IV: Agamemnon’s story told by Menelaus, Odysseus’s own story retold—models of memory, storytelling within the epic Demodocus

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Into the Underworld

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  1. Into the Underworld HUM 2051: Civilization I Fall 2013 Dr. Perdigao September 9-11, 2013

  2. Storylines • Storytellers • Book IV: Agamemnon’s story told by Menelaus, Odysseus’s own story retold—models of memory, storytelling within the epic • Demodocus • Odysseus: “It goes against my grain to repeat a tale told once, and told so clearly” (355). At the end of Book XII, it returns to bard’s story—from Odysseus as storyteller from bard’s accounts, back to Calypso and homecoming • Weavers • Penelope, Calypso, Circe • Circe weaving at loom—enchanting web (like web of deceit in Agamemnon) (320)

  3. Centering the Journey • Circe (Book X) • Aeaea • Hermes’ guidance • Aeolus • Bag of Wind • Laestrygoians, Antiphates • Eurylochus tries to report what happens to crew (320-321), then cautious about staying; Odysseus impervious to Circe’s charms, her response: “You have a mind in you no magic can enchant!” (322, 365) • Guides to/in the underworld • Circe, Tiresias • Circe tells him what he’ll undergo next, descent into the underworld (326) • Elpenor (329-330) • Burial—sign of courtesy and propriety (Clytaemnestra does not show Agamamenon); “remember me” (330, 78)

  4. Deconstructing the Descent • From Elpenor’s death to the underworld • Book XI: Descent into underworld—hero tires in task and is at moment of exhaustion • Figurative death in descent • Consults wisdom figures, Tiresias, family members • As a result of confrontation with wisdom figures, goes through rebirth in return with new strength, to go back to the quest • Pattern of whole poem in The Divine Comedy

  5. Cast of Characters in the Underworld • Tiresias • Odysseus’s mother Anticleia • Women: wives of heroes • Agamemnon (338-340) • Achilles (340-342) • Ajax (342) • Tityus • Tantalus • Sisyphus • Heracles, as ghost • Desires to see first golden age—Theseus, Jason and the Argonauts

  6. Framing the Hero • Joseph Campbell’s The Hero with One Thousand Faces as story of ritual death, rebirth: separation: initiation: return • Rites of passage— “monomyth” • “A hero ventures forth from the world of common day into a region of supernatural wonder: fabulous forces are there encountered and a decisive victory is won. The hero comes back from this mysterious adventure with the power to bestow boons on his fellow man.” (30)

  7. Stages of Descent • I. Departure: call to adventure, refusal of the call, supernatural aid • II. Initiation: round of trials, meeting with the goddess, woman as temptress • III. Return: refusal of the return, the magic flight, crossing of return threshold, master of two worlds, freedom to live

  8. Framing the Narrative • Sirens • Version of Pandora story, excess, control , like Sirens—desire to hear (curiosity) but control applied—also in Book X with the sack of wind, then story of flood with six nights, seventh day of rest • As bards themselves, enchanting with story (349) • Narrating The Iliad? • Clashing Rocks, Scylla and Charybdis • Six-headed monster, whirlpool • “between a rock and a hard place” (354) • Helios • Sun cattle—hospitality, respect (reverses Sirens episode with his control)

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