ODYSSEY: FINAL
1) How does the Odyssey start “in the middle of things”?

When we first read the book we hear about Odysseus' journey when he is held captive on Calypso's island. Then we hear the greater part of the journey to the present.




2) What is Odysseus’ tragic flaw and how is it shown?


Overbearing and prideful.





3) Explain the motif of Agammenon and Clytaimnestra.  What theme does it reinforce?


When Agammenon came home from Troy, his wife Clytaimnestra killed him upon arrival. They reinforce the evil of women, and loyalty because in the book, Penelope is the loyal good wife and Clytaimnestra is the disloyal evil wife.





4) Who are seductresses in the Odyssey and what purpose do they serve?


Possibly Helen, Circe and Calyspo. They may or may not actually be women but they try and lure men into forgetting about who they are.







5) Summarizes Books 1-4.  What story do they tell?




Telemachos disides he wants to go learn about his father so he goes to the council and Zeus sends down an eagle (motif alert). The eagle is shown to give him consent to go on his journey. Telemachos leaves and travels to Pylos and meets Nestor , and then he goes to Lacedaimon and meets Menelaos. This story tells how Telemachos went to meet Trojan War heroes to find out if his father is alive or not.




6) Summarize Books 5-8.  What story do they tell?


Zeus lets Odysseus leave Calyspo's island on raft and he lands on a Phaiacian town a few days later. He then meets Princess Nausicaa, who wants to help him return home so she has him meet her family(Arete her mother and her father Alcinoos). They agree to helping him and give him many gifts and send him on a ship.


7) Summarize Books 20-24.  What story do they tell?

Penelope has the suitors play a game, ad whoever wins will marry her. Odysseus wins but she doesn't see. Odysseus kills all the suitors, he also kills the disloyal maids. Odysseus tells Penelope a secret only they know and she finally believes he is Odysseus. In the morning, Odysseus goes and meets his grieving father, and the people find out that the suitors were killed and they start fighting but Athena stops it.




8) Discuss the theme of Loyalty and give three detailed examples from the book.


Loyalty in the book is when you but someone before yourself and always stay true to them. In this book you see loyalty when Penelope doesn't kill Odysseus unlike Agammenon also we can see this them through Eumaios who even after many years is still there to constantly help his master. Lastly, you see through Telemachos, he lets a stranger into his own home and takes care of him.








9) Discuss the theme of Hospitality and give three detailed examples from the book.

Hospitality is shown when Telemachos goes to Pylos and Nestor invites to a feast, and also when Odysseus lands in Phaiacia and Arete and Alcinoo want to help hime return home.




10) Discuss the back-story of Troy, where it appears and what it represents.


The war between the Greeks and the people of Troy. The strife began after the Trojan prince Paris abducted Helen, wife of Menelaus of Sparta. When Menelaus demanded her return, the Trojans refused. Menelaus then persuaded his brother Agamemnon to lead an army against Troy.

Odysseus fought this war. After, on his way back to Ithaca he was held on Calyspo's island until he finally returned 7 yrs after the war.




11) Discuss the symbol of Hades.  What does it represent?  Who is there?  What do they say or do there?

The land of the dead, the final resting place for departed souls. we see Tantalus, Teresias, Achilles, Aias, Agammenon, and Anticleia. Odysseus speaks to his mother Anticleia about her death, the suitors also speak to Agammenon about how they die and Agammenon speaks of how penelope is a much more loyal than his own wife.


12) Discuss the symbol of birds.  What does it represent?  Give three examples from the book?

Penelope sees an eagle killing some geese in a dream, this represents Odysseus killing the suitors. Amphinomos sees an eagle carrying a dove, showing Odysseus is coming to kill them. Telemachos sees an eagle as he is presenting in front of the courts, this eagle means Zeus has approval of Telemachos' 


13) Achilles - A Trojan war hero who died. He had a choice before he died between living a long uneventful life or get lots of glory and then die. He chose the latter. 

14) Antinoos - The most arrogant of the suitors. Antinoos leads the campaign to have Telemachus killed. Unlike the other suitors, he is never portrayed sympathetically, and he is the first to die when Odysseus returns.

15) Emurymachos - Ithacan nobleman and one of the two leading suitors. 

16) Nausicaa - Daughter of Alcinoos and Queen Arete, she finds Odysseus when he washes ashore on Paeicia and expresses and attraction toward him. 

17) Scylla - Immortal sea monster that Odysseus passed in narrow waters. She has seven heads and lives in a cave.

18) Charybdis - Immortal sea monster that Odysseus passed in narrow waters. She sucks up the water like 

19) Aiolos

20) Laertes

21) Orestes


22) Nestor

Books 21 - 24 Summary

Book 21 - 24: Penelope brings down Odysseus' bow and explains the game to the suitors, in which one of them will marry her if they win. All the suitors fail to string the bow. Odysseus reveals his identity in secret to Eumaios and Philiotos. They postpone the game to make a sacrifice and Odysseus asks to take a try at it, but Antinoos refuses. But Penelope lets him and he string the bow and shoots through the axeheads.
Odysseus proves himself by making the shot, and shoots Antinoos through the throat with a bow. The suitors freak out and look for weapons but can't find any, but they threaten Odysseus, and he threatened them back. Eurymachos attacks Odysseus but he kills him. Telemachos collects weapons and armor for his father, Eumaios and Philiotos but he leaves the storage room open and Melanthios took weapons and armor to the suitors. Athena appears in the form of Mentor, and the suitors threaten Mentor not to join Odysseus. After all the suitors die, Odysseus asks Euryclia which of the maids were disloyal. Odysseus makes the twelve disloyal maids clean up the blood and corpses of the suitors. Then, he had Telemachos hang them outside.
Penelope is told by Euryclia that Odysseus is back, but she does not believe her. Odysseus and Telemachos set up a fake wedding plan to make the people of Ithaca believe that the suitors are still alive. Later, Odysseus tells Penelope about their secret bed he maid with a tree trunk and she finally believes he is her husband, the rest of the night they talk. The next day Odysseus leaves to go visit his father with the herdsman and Telemachos.
Hermes lead the suitors into Hades, where they meet Achilles and Agamemnon. The suitor Amphimion tells Agamemnon how they all died. Agamemnon then responds with the comparison of the faithful Penelope to his own murderous wife. At the same time, Odysseus arrives at Laertes house. Laertes doesn't recognize him but Odysseus gives himself a fake identity and speaks of Odysseus. Laertes becomes very sad so Odysseus reveals himself and they reunite and go inside to eat. Meanwhile, in town, the goddess Rumor bandies spreads the word about the suitors death and all hell breaks loose when Eupeithes want revenge for his son Antinoos' death. Eupeithes leads a group of men to Laertes house but, Athena disguised as Mentor commands peace between them.

Book 17-20 Summary

Book 17-20: Telemachos leaves Eumaios to see his mother and takes Odysseus to beg in town, Penelope welcomes her son and hears his stories of when he traveled, he lies and says he is still captive on Calypso's island. When Eumaios and Odysseus get to town, Melanthios taunts Odysseus and kicks him. Odysseus begs from the suitors and they give him bread, but Antinoos turns against him. Telemachos defends his father and the others give him food. Penelope asks Eumaios to bring the beggar to her room to see if he knows anything about Odysseus, and they plan on meeting later on.
Next Iros, an actual beggar enters the palace and demands Odysseus leave, and challenges him to a fight. Odysseus' strong body intimidates Iros, and he takes him out side and knocks him out. The suitors congratulate him with food. Penelope comes down stairs and announces she has no choice but to choose one of the suitors to marry, due to Athena's convincing. One of the maids Melantho, is rude to Odysseus and insults him, she also refuses to listen to him. Eurymachos makes multiple jokes about Odysseus and then throws a stool at him. The suitors think they are wasting their time with the beggar and go to bed. Odysseus meets with Penelope and reminds her that he was once powerful, he also tells her Odysseus will return soon. Penelope questions his origins and he says it's too hurtful to explain. She then explains her situation with the suitors and how she has no strength to resist marriage. Penelope asks for proof and a description of her husband and some of his companions. She begins to cry and believes that he really did know Odysseus. Odysseus reassures her that he is on his way home and will be home shortly. Penelope is certain Odysseus is dead. She tells her maids to take care of Odysseus, and they wash his feet. While the maid Euryclia is washing his feet she sees a old scar that she recognizes as Odysseus'. Odysseus makes her vow not to tell his secret. Penelope asks Odysseus to interpret a dream she had about an eagle that preys on geese and he says it means Odysseus is going to come back and fight the suitors. Odysseus sleeps out side of Penelope's room and sees some maids going to sleep with some of the suitors and is silently outraged. Odysseus prays to Athena and Zeus while he hears Penelope crying and praying to Artemis. Zeus sends down thunder which Odysseus believes means this will be the suitors' last day. Melanthios agian gives Odysseus grief in the morning, but he resists to fight back. The suitors begin planning to kill Telemachos but Anphinomos sees an eagle fly over and backs out. Next, they have a feast and Telemachos tells all of them to leave the beggar alone. They agree, but insist that Odysseus is dead and Penelope should pick a husband. Telemachos tells them that he cannot force his mother to marry, and they laugh at him.

Characters:
Telemachos
Odysseus
Penelope
Zeus
Athena
Eurymachos
Artemis
Melanthios
Anphinomos
Antinoos
Eumaios
Iros
Euryclia

Books 13 - 16 Summary

Books 13-16: Odysseus thanks Alcinoos for his hospitality and him and his crew leave for Ithaca. They arrive in Ithaca and unload his gear. Poseidon angry at Odysseus asks Zeus if he can turn the Phaiacians ship into stone in the harbor of their city Zeus allows him to and Alcinoos observes this. Odysseus wakes up thinking he is in a strang land and Athena comes to him in the form of shepherd and tells him he is in Ithaca. Odysseus lies to her and she turns into a woman and tells him she knows he is lying, and reveals her identity. She tells him not to tell anyone his true identity and plans the suitors death. After, she turns him to a wrinkly old man. 

At the forest hut Odysseus is disguised as a beggar, he runs into his old swineherd Eumaios. Eumaios makes him dinner and tells him about his dead lord, Odysseus. Odysseus reassures him that Odysseus will come back and fight the suitors. Odysseus tells him that he grew up in Crete and told him about the Trojan war and being enslaved in Egypt which made him a beggar. 

Athena finds Telemachos and tells him to return home or his mother will marry one of the suitors. She also warns him about the suitor ambush and instructs him to find Eumaios and have him pass on a message to Penelope informing her that he is home. Telemachos leaves with Peisistratos, but not until a eagle flies off with a goose, which Helen thinks means that Odysseus will get the suitors back. In Ithaca, Odysseus says he will be leaving in the morning to find work with the suitors but Eumaios invites him to stay until Telemachos returns. Odysseus asks about his parents, and Eumaios explains how his mother died and how lonely his father is. Telemachos arrives and avoids death by ambush. Theomachos sees a hawk pick up a dove and believes it is a sign that Theomachos' famiy will stay in power forever. Telemachos finds Eumaios and they hug and they are filled with joy. Eumaios introduces him to his beggar friend. Odysseus tries to encourage him to rally against the suitors but Telemachos is hesitant because he is powerless. Athena comes to Odysseus and tells him to reveal his true identity to his son and she made him young and strong again. Odysseus tell Telemachos he is his father and both hug and cry. Odysseus mentions again they need to fight the suitors but Telemachos doesn't think they can. Odysseus makes a plan which involves the help of Athena that they will conduct the following day. Penelope is informed that her son has returned and the suitor hear of this but do not understand how he made it past them. They decide they must kill him so one of them will marry Penelope. One of the suitors says the should consult the gods to see if killing Telemachos is the right thing and they all agree. Penelope heard the suitors and tell them to stop planing and demands them to stop. 

Characters: 

Alcinoos

Odysseus 

Telemachos

Helen 

Zeus

Eumaios 

Athena

Poseidon 

Theomachos

Penelope

Phaiacians

Books 9 - 12 Summary

Books 9-12:
Odysseus tells Alcinoos where he is from and about how Calyspo held him captive prior to his arrival. He traces his route after Troy and he lost many men on the twelve ships and was in a storm the nest three days. On the tenth day they reach the island of the Lotus eaters, the peaceful people who eat the sweet lotus. A few of Odysseus' men want to stay and eat the lotus but he forces them back on the ship. Next they arrive at the land of the Cyclops, the hermit like, one eyed giants. The next day they feat on live stock and the following day they go to the mainland to meet the Cyclops. Odysseus bring goat skin filled with sweet liquor and they come to his cave. They realize he is not their and Odysseus wants to wait for him, he comes in and they hide. The Cyclops Polyphemos notices them and asks who they are, and Odysseus offers to help him with chores. Odysseus lies to the Cyclops and says his ship is wrecked. Polyphemos then eats two of his men whole in front of them, and they are defenseless. Polyphemos goes to sleep in the door way to to block Odysseus from escaping.
The next day Polyphemos eat a few more men and blocks the entrance with a large stone. Odysseus makes a weapon and when Polyphemos comes back and eats more men he offers him wine. Polyphemos asks for more and for his name and Odysseus says his name is "nobody". Odysseus then blinds him and the Cyclops starts yelling "nobody".. so nobody helped him. Once the men get safely on the ship, Odysseus shouts insults to Polyphemos, and he then breaks off a hilltop and throws it near the ship, creating a giant wave. Odysseus refuses Polyphemos' offer, and Polyphemos prays to his father to never let him come home and loose his companions. Odysseus continues his story he is telling to Alcinoos. After the land of the Cyclops they reach the land of the wind god Aiolos. Aiolos host them for a month and gives him a bag containing storm winds to travel back with. After ten days, the crew mistatkes the bag for that of gifts they open it and the ship is sent into a hurricane. The are sent back to Aiolos' island and he believes Odysseus' journey is cursed. Odysseus and his crew sail on without any wind and reach Lamos, land of the giant Laistrygonians. The king, Antiphates, and the queen eat, and the crew escapes as the other Laistrygonians shoot boulders at the retreating ship. Next they arrive to the island of Circe, Odysseus kills a buck and then spots smoke in a forest and sends half his crew to investigate. Outside Circe's house lie some wolves and mountain lions, everyone enters her house except Eurylochos because he suspects deceit. They all feast and Circe adds something to their drink and the turn into pigs. Odysseus entered the house alone and the god Hermes give him a plant that will protect him. Odysseus ends up drinking Circe's potion but remains the same, she obviously shocked, asks him to sleep with her. Odysseus is concerned about his compainons and Circe frees the and they all feast, they end up staying there for a year until Odysseus' men remind him of his plan. Odysseus asks Circe to help him sail home so she gave him detailed instruction, for he must stop in Hadas first and speak to Teiresias. As they are about to leave Elpenor was drunk and fell asleep on the roof, when called he fell off and died. Odysseus and his men sail to the region of the Men of Winter, there the make a sacrifice for Teiresias.While they are waiting for Teiresias, they see the phantom of Elphenor and Odysseus' dead mother. After, Teiresias appears and warns him that Poseidon wants revenge because of what he did to Poseidon's son. He also tell him not to touch the flocks of Helios when he lands on Thrinacia., for it would seal the fate of his crew. Teiresias predicts the future and tells him about the suitors. Teiresias leaves and Odysseus ask his mother what killed her and asks of his family. Alcinoos stops the story and asks Odysseus if he met any of his fellow warriors in the shadows. Odysseus says he saw Agamennon who talks about his death and he also saw Achilles, Tantalos and Sisyphus. The crew travel back to Circe's place where they have Elphenor's funeral. The next day, Odysseus and the rest follow her directions and plug their ears when the Sirens sing, except for Odysseus, he was tied up so he wouldn't be tempted. the following day they must sail between a six-headed sea monster named Scylla, that devoured sailors and as well as a whirlpool. The ship passes the obstacles and reaches the island of Helios, the Sun. Circe told Odysseus not to eat the oxen of this land, and Odysseus passed on the message. Even after being told some of his companions didn't listen and ate them anyway. They died. Winds prevented Odysseus not to leave for a month, he made a sacrifice after being told by Eurylochos to. After they feast for six days, they head out to see but Zeus strikes a lightening bold and wrecks the ship. Odysseus grabs a floating piece of the ship and floats to Calyspo's island.

Character list:
Agamennon
Teiresias
Calyspo
Elphenor
Eurylochos
Tantalos
Achilles
Scylla
Zeus
Circe
Alcinoos
Aiolos
Anticleia
Penelope
Athena
Cyclopians
Polyphemos
Hermes
Posiedon
Odysseus

Words Of The Day

Scion - My grandfather told me that a scion in our family once lived in a castle in Scotland.

Rapine - That old guy across the street tried to rapine miss Bakers land.

Glutton - My mom told me when I was young that over eating constantly is called being a glutton.

Harangue - I have a feeling when I take Speech and Debate next year I am going to have to watch a harangue.