180 likes | 376 Views
The Odyssey. Background on Odysseus. And themes: Hospitality Strengths (wit) and weaknesses (hubris) Disguise Women Life cycle. Form of The Odyssey. Homer and oral tradition Opens with an Invocation of the Muses Epic poem written in dactylic hexameter
E N D
Background on Odysseus • And themes: • Hospitality • Strengths (wit) and weaknesses (hubris) • Disguise • Women • Life cycle
Form of The Odyssey Homer and oral tradition Opens with an Invocation of the Muses Epic poem written in dactylic hexameter 24 books, Book One picks up 10 years after the Trojan War; the journey is told via flashback
Exposition Odysseus is assumed dead In Ithaca, Athena tells Telemachus that Odysseus will return and he must send the suitors home Penelope’s suitors grow restless Odysseus is stuck on an island with the nymph Calypso Athena orchestrates his release by command of Zeus (Poseidon is furious)
Aeolus Aeolus, Keeper of the Winds Gives Odysseus a bag of the winds, and—within ten days—Ithaca is in sight!
Laestrygonians Ulysses loses 11 of his 12 ships
Katabasis Elpenor, who fell off Circe’s roof and wants a burial Tiresias, the blind prophet Anticleia, Odysseus’ mother Agamemnon, Achilles, Ajax, Sisyphus, Tantalus, et al.
The Cattle of the Sun 1) 2) 3)
Calypso Seven years with Calypso
The Last Twelve Books of the Odyssey Phaeacians take Odysseus home (Poseidon turns their boat to stone, and they’ll never help again) With Athena’s aid, Odysseus disguised as beggar in Ithaca Telemachus and Odysseus are reunited and come up with a plan The suitors are abusive to Odysseus (in beggar form) and plot to kill Telemachus Competition and fight (more slaughter, really)