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The Odyssey

The Odyssey. Review of the books. Book 5. Summary: Athena advocates for Odysseus; they send Hermes Odysseus is crying when we first encounter him… Calypso points out that gods do not like it when goddesses sleep with mortals

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The Odyssey

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  1. The Odyssey Review of the books

  2. Book 5 • Summary: • Athena advocates for Odysseus; they send Hermes • Odysseus is crying when we first encounter him… • Calypso points out that gods do not like it when goddesses sleep with mortals • Hermes points out that no one can go against Zeus’s wishes or orders and so they must follow them • Odysseus is permitted to build a raft and sail away • Poseidon notices and stirs up a major storm • Odysseus reaches land safely thanks to the gods • Important Points: • We meet Odysseus for the first time!

  3. Book 5 • Questions: • 1. Why does Calypso agree to let Odysseus go? • Zeus has ordained it. • 2. Why is Odysseus weeping and what does this show us about Greek culture? • He misses his family and is alone. Greeks had a different idea of heroism and seeing men emotional. • 3. To what degree do the gods intervene in this book? • 4. Why does Athena continue to advocate for Odysseus? • 5. What kind of a character does Calypso seem to be? How does she treat Odysseus? • She listens to Hermes and seems respectful of Odysseus.

  4. Book 9 • Summary: • Odysseus begins to tell of his exploits • He reflects back to his adventure with the Cyclops • He and his ships land on the land of Cyclops • They get trapped in his cave • Cyclops is a huge, carnivorous monster who eats many of Odysseus’s men • Odysseus comes up with a plan and tricks the monster, giving him a false name (Nobody) • He and 4 others stab Cyclops’s eye and escape • They hide underneath the rams, sheep

  5. Book 9 • Questions: • 1. What about this particular exploit makes Odysseus look even more heroic, brave, and intelligent? • 2. Why does Odysseus yell back and taunt the Cyclops, endangering his men and their escape? • 3. Does Odysseus rely more on brains or brawns in this segment? What does this tell you about the ideal of an Epic Hero? • 4. If Odysseus had not yelled his real name back to the Cyclops, would he have been able to sail right home to Ithaca? Explain…

  6. Book 10 • Summary: • Odysseus lands on a floating island, leaves, returns, and then is kicked out • Then they land on the Laestrygonian land and a few of them get eaten. • Finally, they land on the Aeaean island, home of Circe • Circe uses drugs to change men into to pigs • Hermes helps Odysseus come up with a strategy to get his men back… • He makes her swear that she will be true to her word • They stay for 1 year, before leaving • They must go down to the House of Death (Hell)

  7. Book 10 • Questions: • 1. Odysseus continues to tell his own story; can you tell? Explain… • 2. What flaw do we see appear in Odysseus during this exploit? Is it the same we saw in Book 9? • 3. What does Circe show us about Odysseus? What might she represent? • 4. Does Odysseus rely most on his strength, intelligence, or the gods in this book? Find an example to support your assertion. • 5. What do you think about Circe compared with Calypso and/or Polyphemus?

  8. Book 11 – Kingdom of the Dead • Summary: • Odysseus travels down to the Kingdom of the Dead • He offers sacrifices before he sees any spirits • He sees and talks to the ghost of his mother • He then sees Tiresias… The prophet • Tiresias tells him to avoid the cattle of the sun and that the blood he sacrificed will allow spirits to approach him • He sees lots of older kings and war heroes, including Agamemnon and Ajax

  9. Book 11 – Kingdom of the Dead • Questions: • 1. What is different about this book than any others so far? In other words, what makes it unique? • 2. If this book seems to stray from the plot, why is this it included in the Odyssey? • 3. What does Tiresias tell Odysseus? • 4. What eventually makes Odysseus flee back to his ship and away from the Kingdom of the Dead? • 5. What does Odysseus tell Agamemnon about his son?

  10. Book 12 – Cattle of the Sun • Summary: • After leaving Hades, they go back to Circe’s island to properly bury Elpenor, as promised. • Circe takes Odysseus aside and warns him of what challenges are ahead • They encounter the Sirens, Scylla, & Charybdis. • Then they arrive at the Island of the Cattle and the Sun-god • They get stuck there for a month and run out of food • The men kill the cattle! • As they leave, everyone is killed but Odysseus • He lands on Ogygia(island of Calypso) by himself.

  11. Book 12 – Cattle of the Sun • Questions: • 1. Where do we see the continued importance of religion and emphasis on the gods? • 2. Why is Odysseus the only one left surviving? • 3. After hearing the background, why do you think Odysseus stayed so long with Calypso? • 4. What warnings does Circe give Odysseus? Which ones do they obey? • 5. Which villain is the scariest? Why?...

  12. Books 13 – 17 (not read) • Book 13 – Now that Odysseus is done, he plans to leave Scheria. The Phaecians help him and sail with him to Ithaca. • Upon arriving Athena disguises him so no one will recognize • Book 14 – Odysseus hides with his old swineheardEumaeus and he lies about his identity.Book 15 – Athena goes to fetch Telemachus from Sparta. He returns to Ithaca, with a warning about being ambushed. Odysseus remains with Eumaeus. • Book 16 – While Eumaeus is away, Odysseus reveals his true identity to his son, Telemachus. They devise a plan to overthrow the suitors. • Book 17 – Telemachus returns to the palace but does not reveal anything to his mother. Odysseus shows up disguised as a beggar. The suitors ridicule him and Antinous hits him.

  13. Book 18 – The Beggar-king of ithaca • Summary: • A tramp (Odysseus) encounters another beggar named Arnaeus (Irus for short) • They get into an argument • One of the suitors (Antinous) hears this and promises the winner a sausage • Odysseus easily defeats Irus, but no one knows who he is • Penelope confronts the suitors, insults them, so they all fetch gifts for her • The “stranger” (Odysseus) is allowed to stay for the night

  14. Book 18 – The Beggar-king of ithaca • Questions: • 1. What strengths of Odysseus are evident in this book? • 2. What weakness of Odysseus is evident here? • 3. What does this book show us about Penelope? • 4. Make a prediction about what Odysseus will do in the morning and what will happen in general…

  15. Books 19 & 20 (not read) • Book 19 – Odysseus and Telemachus get the hidden weapons ready. A servant recognizes Odysseus but he quiets her. Penelope hears the beggar tell tales of Odysseus, but declares her intention to remarry. • Book 20 – Odysseus and Penelope have trouble sleeping. Lots of symbols in this book… dreams and birds. The suitors continue to plot to kill Telemachus.

  16. Book 21 – Odysseus Strings His Bow • Summary: • Odysseus, still in disguise, is present for the stringing the bow contest. Penelope does not know who he is. • Telemachus sets up the contest. • Several men try to string the bow and fail. • Odysseus, dressed as a beggar, speaks up that he would like to try • The suitors laugh at him and mock him • He tries anyway and is successful. • Zeus sends a bolt of lightning as symbol!

  17. Book 21 – Odysseus Strings His Bow • Questions: • 1. Who knows about Odysseus? • 2. How does Odysseus test the goatherd and swineherd? • 3. Why does Telemachus send his mother away from the competition? • 4. How do the suitors react when Odysseus asks to compete? • 5. What happens after Odysseus has strung the bow?

  18. Book 22 (not read) • Summary: • Odysseus shoots Antinousfirst… Then the battle rages! • Eurymachus charges Odysseus, but is swiftly killed • Athena joins the battle disguised as Mentor, but only encourages Odysseus at first. • After she sees Odysseus’s strength and bravery, she joins in the fighting and the battle is soon over • Odysseus has Telemachus round up the traitor-serving-women and has them executed as well • It’s a bloodbath, but Odysseus is finally avenged.

  19. Book 23 – The Great Rooted Bed • Summary – • Nurse tells Penelope that Odysseus is home and has slaughtered all of the suitors • Penelope does not believe her. The nurse says she will show her “the scar” but Penelope is still not convinced • Odysseus is bathed and dressed royally… still she doesn’t believe • Finally, she mentions the bed, and Odysseus launches into the story of the bed…This convinces Penelope! • He tells her all of his exploits • He wakes the next morning and heads off to do one last thing (Tiresias told him to do it)

  20. Book 23 – The Great Rooted Bed • Questions • 1. How did Odysseus get the famous scar? • 2. Why does it take Penelope so long to believe it’s actually Odysseus there in the house? • 3. What secret about the bed would only Odysseus know? • 4. Why does Odysseus head off the very next morning? What is he going to do? • 5. Who does with Odysseus on his last part of the journey? Why is this significant? • 6. In what way do gods intervene in this book?

  21. Book 24 - Peace • Summary: • Hermes, the guide, escorts the souls of the suitors away from Ithaca • Amphimedon & Agamemnon trade stories • In the meantime, Odysseus reaches his father’s house and decides to test his father • He ends up breaking out and telling his father when he sees how upset he is • He uses the scar and knowledge of the farm to show his father his true identity • Eupithes tries to incite a battle, but Athena intervenes and establishes peace

  22. Book 24 - Peace • Questions: • 1. What role(s) does Athena play in this particular book? • 2. Why do you think Odysseus didn’t just tell his father, but tried to test him first? • 3. What about this book portrays Odysseus as a hero? • 4. How does this portray 3 generations of men? What delights Laertes? • 5. Are you surprised in the way the Epic Poem ended? Explain…

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