Lower Sixth Exam Greek Verse Odyssey

translation and analysis

ἀλλὰ σύ γ’, εἰ δύνασαι τιν’ ἀμύντορα μερμηρίξαι,

But you indeed, if you are able to discover any supporter,

• Paralleled lexis with Odysseus later on → Odysseus is in control

φράζευ, ὅ κεν τις νῶϊν ἀμύνῃ πρόφρονι θυμῷ.

point him out, someone who can help us two with an eager spirit.

• Emphatically placed imperative → Telemachus relies on Odysseus and attempts to have some control

• ‘eager spirit’ → Telemachus’ desire for a genuine supporter for safety

τὸν δ’ αὖτε προσέειπε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·

and the much enduring God-like Odysseus said again in response.

• Stock Epithet → Odysseus presented as Homeric Hero superior to Telemachus

τοιγὰρ ἐγών ἐρέω, σὺ δὲ σύνθεο καὶ μευ ἄκουσον·

So then I tell you, and you pay attention and listen to me.

• Double imperative → Odysseus establishing his control in the plan making and authority as father of Telemachus

• Epic emphatic particles

καὶ φράσσαι ἢ κεν νῶϊν Ἀθήνη σὺν Διὶ πατρὶ ἀρκέσει,

and consider whether Athena with father Zeus will be sufficient enough for us two

• Zeus as figure of justice (seen in Illiad 22 ‘scales’) → Odysseus’ confidence that Zeus will help them and display that they are righteous in their fight

ἦέ τιν’ ἄλλον ἀμύντορα μερμηρίξω.

or whether I will have to discover some other supporter.

• Paralleled Lexis → Odysseus throws back Telemachus’ words in his face showing his authority

τὸν δ’ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·

and wise Telemachus said in response

ἐσθλὼ τοι τούτω γ’ ἐπαμύντορε· τοὺς ἀγορεύεις,

I tell you good though these supporters are, that you speak of,

ὑψι πέω ἐν νεφέεσσι καθήμενω·

who sit aloft in the clouds,

• Irony → Telemachus doesn’t place reliance in the Gods even though he has experienced their help before and so has Odysseus

ὥ τε καὶ ἄλλοις κρατέουσι καὶ ἀθανάτοισι θεοῖσι.

alas they also rule over other men and the immortal gods.

• Polysyndeton → emphasises the God’s large influence and power and Telemachus’ doubt that they will be helped

οὐ μέν τοι κείνω γε πολὺν χρόνον ἀμφὶς ἔσεσθον φυλοπίδος κρατερῆς,

and I tell you those two will not be far from the mighty tumult of battle for much time,

• emphatically placed ‘mighty tumult of battle’ → Odysseus’ bravery in the impending climactic battle

• Odysseus’ certainty in help from the Gods

ὁπότε μνηστῆρσι καὶ ἡμῖν ἐν μεγάροισιν ἐμοῖσι μένος κρίνηται Ἄρηος.

when the might of Ares will test out the suitors and us in my halls.

• emphatic possessive pronoun → Odysseus’ confidence in his possession of his palace and dominance over the suitors

ἀλλὰ σὺ μὲν νῦν ἔρχευ ἅμ’ ἠοῖ φαινομένῃ οἴκαδε,

and now you return home at the same time as dawn appears,

• imperative → Odysseus’ control over Telemachus

• interdependence → Very specific instructions to Telemachus shows dominance of the plan

καὶ μνηστῆρσιν ὑπερφιάλοισιν ὁμίλει·

and be in the company of the arrogant suitors,

• Repeated adjective to describe suitors → shows Odysseus as righteous and heroic in comparison and the fact that the suitors are proud of their arrogant behaviour (line 363)

αὐτὰρ ἐμὲ προτὶ ἄστυ συβώτης ὕστερον ἄξει,

but later a swineherd will lead me to the city,

• context - swineherd is Eumaeus (who later helps them in the battle)

πτωχῷ λευγαλέῳ ἐναλίγκιον ἠδὲ γέροντι.

resembling a beggar in a poor state and an old man.

• Single line → integral part of Odysseus plan is disguise

εἰ δέ μ’ ἀτιμήσουσι δόμον κάτα,

and if they dishonour me in my own home,

• likely hood of this situation → shows Odysseus’ bravery and willingness to go through hardship

• possessive pronoun → audacity of the suitors and Odysseus’ confidence

σὸν δὲ φίλον κῆρ τετλατω ἐν στήθεσσι κακῶς πάσχοντος ἐμεῖο

let your own heart endure in your breast while I suffer badly,

• Imperative and pleonasm → difficulty that Telemachus also must endure and Odysseus authority that Telemachus should do nothing until necessary

• Present participle → inevitability of Odysseus’ suffering and bravery

ἤν περ καὶ διὰ δώματα ποδῶν ἕλκωσι θύραζε

and even if they drag me through the palace by my feet to the door

• Homeric reference → most disrespectful act highlights the lack of ‘xenia’ of the suitors and Odysseus’ willingness to be disrespected

ἠδὲ βέλεσι βάλλωσι· σὺ δ’ εἰσορόων ἀνέχεσθαι.

or throw arms at me. But you seeing it must endure.

• plosive alliteration → hardship for Odysseus

• imperative → emotional difficulty for Telemachus

ἀλλ᾽ ἦ τοι παύσεσθαι ἀνωγέμεν ἀφροσυνάων,

μειλιχίοις ἐπέεσσι παραυδῶν·

but indeed order them to cease from madness dissuading them with soothing words

• imperative → authority of Odysseus in plan

• emphatic placement of ἀφροσυνάων → highlights characteristics of the suitors as being irrational and unpredictable (direct contrast to Odysseus)

• emphatic placement of μειλιχίοις → emphasises need to act with caution and sycophancy towards the suitors

οἱ δέ τοι οὔ τι πείσονται·

but they will not obey you

ἄλλο δέ τοι ἐρέω, σὺ δ᾽ ἐνὶ φρεσὶ βάλλεο σῇσι·

and I will tell you something else, and reflect upon it in your mind

• imperative → Odysseus’ control in the plan

δὴ γάρ σφι παρίσταται αἴσιμον ἦμαρ.

for the fatal day will come for them

• foreshadowing → the final battle is emphasised and Homer builds anticipation

ὁππότε κεν πολύβουλος ἐνὶ φρεσὶ θῇσιν Ἀθήνη,

when resourceful Athena puts the signal in my mind

• emphatic placement of Ἀθήνη and epithet → Odysseus reliance on the Gods support and closeness to Athena

νεύσω μέν τοι ἐγὼ κεφαλῇ,

I will nod to you with my head

σὺ δ᾽ ἔπειτα νοήσας

and you having noticed the signal

ὅσσα τοι ἐν μεγάροισιν Ἄρηϊα τεύχεα κεῖται,

take up all the weapons of war which lie in the halls

ἐξ μυχῶν ὑψηλοῦ θαλάμου καταθεῖναι ἀείρας πάντα μάλ᾽·

and lay one and all down in the corner of the high chamber

αὐτὰρ μνηστῆρας μαλακοῖς ἐπέεσσι παρφάσθαι, ὅτε κέν σε μεταλλῶσιν ποθέοντες·

and when the suitors, missing them, ask you, you will persuade them with soft words

• emphatic placement ποθέοντες → emphasises the cunning nature of Odysseus as he predicts he suitors behaviour

• paralleled phrasing and tautology → importance of acting cautiously reinforcing Odysseus’ characteristics

"ἐκ καπνοῦ κατέθηκ᾽, ἐπεὶ οὐκέτι τοῖσιν ἐῴκει οἷά ποτε Τροίηνδε κιὼν κατέλειπεν Ὀδυσσεύς,

I have laid them down out of the smoke, since they are no longer like those which Odysseus left once when leaving to Troy

• lies and deceit → emphasises Odysseus’ cunning behaviour and willingness to act immorally (characteristics of Homeric Hero)

ἀλλὰ κατῄκισται, ὅσσον πυρὸς ἵκετ᾽ ἀϋτμή.

but they have been soiled, to the extent that the smoke of the fire has reached them

πρὸς δ᾽ ἔτι καὶ τόδε μεῖζον ἐνὶ φρεσὶ θῆκε Κρονίων,

but the son of Cronos puts this even greater fear in my mind

μή πως οἰνωθέντες, ἔριν στήσαντες ἐν ὑμῖν,

lest somehow, having got drunk, you having started a quarrel amongst yourselves

ἀλλήλους τρώσητε καταισχύνητέ τε δαῖτα καὶ μνηστύν·

will harm each other and bring dishonour on both the feast and the courting

αὐτὸς γὰρ ἐφέλκεται ἄνδρα σίδηρος."

for iron itself drags a man on

• metaphorical language → emphasises how Telemachus is spinning the truth to get the suitors onside

"νῶϊν δ᾽ οἴοισιν δύο φάσγανα καὶ δύο δοῦρε καλλιπέειν καὶ δοιὰ βοάγρια χερσὶν ἑλέσθαι,

but leave for us two alone two spears and two swords and two ox-hide shields for us to take up with our hands

• dual emphatic position → reinforces the father-son duo that is a result of the battle

• polysyndetic tricolon (polyptoton) → emphasises their strength as highlights individual weapons that they use to fight over 100 suitors

ὡς ἂν ἐπιθύσαντες ἑλοίμεθα·

so that having rushed upon them we may seize them

τοὺς δέ κ᾽ ἔπειτα

Παλλὰς Ἀθηναίη θέλξει καὶ μητίετα Ζεύς.

and then Pallas Athene and all-wise Zeus will bewitch them

• emphatic position of Athena and Zeus and enclosing word order → emphasises their involvement in the plan and the inevitable success of Odysseus

ἄλλο δέ τοι ἐρέω, σὺ δ᾽ ἐνὶ φρεσὶ βάλλεο σῇσιν·

and I will tell you something else and reflect upon it in your mind

• parallel phrasing

εἰ ἔτεόν γ’ ἐμός ἐσσι καὶ αἵματος ἡμετέρου

and if you are truly my son and have our blood

• tautologous phrase → emphasising the importance of familial link in their duo (trust)

• possessive pronouns

μή τις ἔπειτ’ Ὀδυσσῆος ἀκουσάτω ἔνδον ἐόντος

let no one from now on hear that Odysseus is in the home

• imperative → Odysseus’ authority

μήτ’ οὖν Λαέρτης ἴστω τό γε μήτε συβώτης

And so let not even Laertes know this nor the swineherd

μήτε τις οἰκήων μήτ’ αὐτὴ Πηνελόπεια

nor anyone of the household nor Penelope herself

• tetracolon → extent of people that Odysseus’ wishes to disguise himself from emphasising his trust in Telemachus as his sole confident

ἀλλ’ οἶοι σύ τε ἐγώ τε γυναικῶν γνώμεν ἰδόν

but you and I alone will discover the mood of the women

• foreshadowing → future betrayal and slaughter of the women emphasises Odysseus’ natural skill at foresight and predicting the consequences/actions of others

καί κε τῶν δμώων ἀνδρῶν ἔτι πειρηθείμεν

and also we might test out anyone of the male slaves

• emphatically placed verb → Odysseus’ priority of testing out who of their slaves truly supports them

ἠμέν ὅπου τις γώῃ τιεῖ καὶ δείδιε θυμῷ,

(and see) either in what circumstances anyone honours and fears us two in his heart,

• juxtaposing verbs → the caution and intensity of Odysseus’ plan

• rhetorical questions → importance of discovering who is in their support

ἠδ’ ὅτις οὐκ ἀλέγει, σέ δ’ ἀτιμάζῃ τοῖον ἐόντα

or who does not care for us, and dishonours you, being such as you are

• Telemachus has matured mentally but is still inferior as a young man

τὸν δ’ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφώνεε φαίδιμος υἱός

Then his glorious son answering him said

• homeric epithet (used 4x in the rest of the Odyssey) → Odysseus’ growth to becoming a worthy son of Odysseus and his associate

ὦ πάτερ, ἦ τοι ἐμὸν θυμὸν καὶ ἔπειτα γ’, οἶω, γνωσεαι

O father, truly I think that hereafter you will also get to know my spirit

ἀλλ’ οὔ τοι τόδε κέρδος (ἐγών) ἔσεσθαι οἶω ἡμῖν ἀμφοτέροισι·

But I do not think that this plan will be an advantage for us both.

• Telemachus demonstrating similar characteristics to Odysseus’ foresight → maturation and progression from frenzy/stress to considered caution

οὐ μὲν γάρ τι χαλιφροσύναι γέ μ’ ἔχουσιν

For no weakness of will at all possesses me

• intensifiers

• connotations of childishness → maturation of Telemachus

σὲ δὲ φράζεσθαι ἄνωγα

And I bid you to reconsider

• repeated lexis from 278 (consider) → shows equality of command and respect within their duo