the odyssey - all themes quotes

Divine Intervention; Book 1 - Poseidon’s hate and vindictiveness;

‘relentless malice’ against ‘heroic’ Odysseus 

Divine Intervention; Book 1 - Zeus quote about agency

'it is their own transgressions that bring them suffering' 

Divine Intervention; Book 1 - the gods discuss helping Odysseus;

'let all of us here contrive a plan to bring him home... the unalterable decision' 

Divine Intervention; Book 1 – Athene urges Telemachus on

'you must push your childish thoughts away’

Divine Intervention; Athene helps Telemachus talk to Nestor;

'where your own intelligence fails you, a god will inspire you' 

Divine Intervention; Book 3 - Athene favours Odysseus;

'never have I seen in my life the gods show such open affection as Pallas Athene showed in the championship of Odysseus'

Divine Intervention; Book 3 - Athene to Telemachus about agency and bringing Odysseus home;

'a god who wills it can bring anyone home safely'

Divine Intervention; Book 4 - Menalaus on Zeus' omnipotence;

'each of us has good times, each of us has bad, Zeus' omnipotence sees to that' 

Divine Intervention; Book 5 – Calypso holds Odysseus back, delays his return home;

‘his eyes were wet from weeping, as they always were’

Divine Intervention; Book 5 – Odysseus on Ino’s help;

‘I’m afraid this is one of the immortals setting a snare to catch me’ 

Divine Intervention; Book 5 – Athene stops the storm to save Odysseus;

‘Athene, daughter of Zeus, decided to intervene’

Divine Intervention; Book 5 – first thing Odysseus does when he washes up on Scheria;

‘I prayed to the god of the stream’

Divine Intervention; Book 6 – Athene protects Odysseus on Scheria;

‘Athene, in her concern for his welfare, enveloped him in a thick mist’ 

Divine Intervention; Book 10 – Aeolus offers Odysseus xenia;

‘for a whole month Aeolus entertained me’ 

Divine Intervention; Book 10 – Circe prevents Odysseus leaving;

‘come with me to my bed’

Divine Intervention; Hermes’ intervention on Aeaea saves Odysseus’ life;

‘I think you are more likely to stay with them yourself and never see home'

Divine Intervention; Book 12 – Circe helps Odysseus on his journey;

'she sent us the friendly escort of a favourable wind' 

Divine Intervention; Book 13 - Athena helps Odysseus when he arrives back on Ithaca;

‘to make Odysseus unrecognisable, to tell him precisely how things stood’ 

Divine Intervention; Book 13 – Athene's care for Odysseus;

‘the bright-eyed goddess smiled at him and caressed him with her hand’

Divine Intervention; Book 13 – Athene helps Odysseus throughout the Odyssey;

'Pallas Athene who always stands by your side and guards you through all your adventures'

Divine Intervention; Book 15 – Athene warns Telemachus the Suitors are waiting to kill him

‘the Suitors are lying in ambush’

Divine Intervention; Book 16 – Telemachus on the power of the gods;

‘they rule the whole world of men’

Divine Intervention; Book 16 – Antinous says the gods must have saved Telemachus;

‘the gods have saved Telemachus from certain death’

Divine Intervention; Book 20 - Athena assuring Odysseus she has always backed him, even in the face of armies;

'I have never ceased to watch over you’

Divine Intervention; Book 20 – Zeus as a cruel god

'the cruellest of gods... no compunction about dealing out misfortunes'

Divine Intervention; Book 20 – Athene wants the Suitors to anger Odysseus more

‘she wished the anguish to bite deeper yet into the heart of Odysseus’ 

Divine Intervention; Book 20 – Athene protects Odysseus from the Suitors’ projectiles

‘Athene made the whole volley miss’ 

Divine Intervention; Book 23 – Penelope on their happiness

‘all of our happiness is due to the gods’

Divine Intervention; Book 24 – Athene effectively ends the Odyssey, stops the fight between Odysseus and the Suitors’ families

‘Pallas Athene... established peace between the two sides’

Justice; Book 1 – Telemachus on the Suitors;

‘they are living free of another man’

Justice; Book 1 – Telemachus on the Suitors eating habits

‘eating me out of house and home’

Justice; Book 1 -

‘you must think of some way of destroying this mob’ 

Justice; Book 1 - Hermes tells of the fate of Aegisthus

‘Aegisthus has paid the final price for all of his sins’ 

Justice; Book 2 -

‘a great calamity is about to engulf them’ 

Justice; Book 2

‘sowing the seeds of a bloody doom’

Justice; Book 3 - behaviour of Suitors

‘Suitors are wreaking havoc in your house as uninvited guests’ 

Justice; Book 3 - Telemachus’ search

‘a grim ending there’ll be to this sea-trip of his in search of his father’ 

Justice; Book 11 - description of the Suitors

'insolent men eating up your livelihood’

Justice; Book 16 - Antinous’ bad intentions

‘Death for Telemachus was in his heart’

Justice; Book 16 - actions of the Suitors

‘It’s sacrilege for someone who has received mercy to plot against someone in need of mercy’ 

Justice; Book 17 - fate of ALL the Suitors

‘[Do not] save a single one from destruction’

Justice; Book 18 - threat of Odysseus’ return

‘If Odysseus could only return to his native land, you’d soon find that doorway there too narrow for you in your hurry to run away’ 

Justice; Book 20 - the gory aftermath of the slaughter

‘the walls and lovely alcoves are splashed with blood. The porch is filled with ghosts’

Justice; Book 20 - ominous statement

‘a catastrophe which you cannot hope to survive’

Justice; Book 21 - the Suitors’ transgressions

‘you have exploited this house in the long absence of its master’ 

Justice; Book 22 - their death is ordained by the gods

‘these men fell victim to the will of the gods’ 

hospitality, xenia and rituals; Nausicaa 2 examples of good xenia

-tells Odysseus the route to her father’s palace 

-orders her maids to wash Odysseus, give him fresh clothes and food and drink; ‘give him the food and drink, girls, and bathe him in the river’ 

hospitality, xenia and rituals; Calypso 2 examples of good xenia

-gives Odysseus clothes, wine, water, grain and meat for his journey to Scheria 

-gives Hermes the best seat in her house and feeds him ambrosia; ‘’follow me inside and let me offer you hospitality’'

hospitality, xenia and rituals; Alcinous 3 examples of good xenia

-gives Odysseus the seat of Laodamas, his favourite son 

-gives Odysseus food and wine; ‘set food and drink before the stalwart Odysseus, who ate and drank’ 

-gives Odysseus gifts; ‘let’s give him the parting gifts a guest deserves. Let us each contribute a fresh cloak and a shirt and a bar of precious gold’ 

hospitality, xenia and rituals; Circe; 2 examples of good xenia 

-provides Odysseus’ men with a place to rest and recover as well as feeding them 

-gives Odysseus advice on how to continue his journey and ‘she sent us the friendly escort of a favourable wind’ 

hospitality, xenia and rituals; Eumaeus 2 examples of good xenia

-gives Odysseus (disguised as a beggar) his warmest clothes after the Cretan tale 

-gives Odysseus (disguised as a beggar) the best portions of meat 

-‘and what fame and fortune I would win for myself in the world, once and for all, after taking you into my hut and showing you hospitality, I was to rob you of your precious life’

hospitality, xenia and rituals; Servants 3 examples of bad xenia 

-Melanthius abuses Odysseus (disguised as beggar) on his way to town; bursts into a ‘torrent of vulgar abuse,’ ‘jeers at him outrageously

-Melanthius attacks Odysseus (disguised as beggar) whilst he is still inside the palace 

-Melanthius sides with the Suitors against Odysseus, his master 

hospitality, xenia and rituals; Polyphemus; 2 examples of bad xenia

-eats 6 of Odysseus’ men,’ ‘tore them to pieces to make his meal… devoured like a mountain lion’

-says he does not fear the gods, Zeus, and therefore does not abide by xenia; ‘we Cyclopes care nothing for Zeus with his aegis’

hospitality, xenia and rituals; Circe; 1 example of bad xenia 

-turns half of Odysseus’ crew into pigs 

hospitality, xenia and rituals; Odysseus; 2 examples of bad xenia 

-murders and loots innocent Cicones 

-eats and drinks Polyphemus’ stores before meeting him and then blinds him; ’Cyclops, if any mortal man ever asks you who it was that inflicted upon your eye this shameful blinding, tell them you were blinded for Odysseus, sacker of cities’ 

hospitality, xenia and rituals; Suitors 4 examples of bad xenia 

-abuse laws of xenia, angering Zeus; ‘the suitors swaggered in’ 

-plot and attempt to murder Telemachus on return from his journey; Alcinous had the ‘death of Telemachus in his heart,’ ‘devising schemes for Telemachus ‘murder’

-order Odysseus’ servants to bring them the best food and drink; ‘they helped themselves to the good things spread before them, ’how easy it is for that gang over there to think of nothing but music and songs! they are living free off another man’ 

-abuse any guests to Odysseus’ palace 

hospitality, xenia and rituals; sacrificial ritual in the underworld

‘poured libations to all the dead... a mixture of honey and milk, then with sweet wine, then with water... sprinkled some barley... began my prayers... took the sheep and cut their throats... flay the sheep... burn them, and ... pray to the gods’

hospitality, xenia and rituals; a burial ritual for Elpenor

‘burn my body there with all the arms I possess, and raise a mound for me on the shore of the great sea’

family; Book 1 - Poseidon enacts revenge for his son

‘pursued the heroic Odysseus with relentless malice’

-Polyphemus calls out to his father Poseidon to avenge him; Poseidon prolongs Odysseus’ journey home after he blinds Polyphemus 

family; Book 3 - Orestes enacts revenge for his father

‘for that brave youth, killed Aegisthus, his noble father’s murderer’ 

family; Book 5 - Poseidon enacts revenge for Polyphemus, states intentions

‘nevertheless I mean him to have a bellyful of trouble’ 

family; Book 1 - Penelope emotion for Odysseus

‘she wept for her beloved Odysseus’ 

family; Book 4 - Penelope’s reluctance to marry a Suitor

‘oh how I hate their pursuit of me and how they swarm around’ 

family; Book 14 – Penelope’s desperation for news of Odysseus

it is mentioned how she questions every visitor who claims they have information about Odysseus; ‘ask him every detail’ 

family; Book 18 - Penelope’s despair in waiting for Odysseus is evident

‘I wish holy Artemis would grant me a death as gentle as that this very moment, and save me from wasting my life in anguish and longing for my dead husband’

family; Book 11- Anticleia’s love for Odysseus

‘it was my heartache for you Odysseus and for your wise and gentle ways that brought me to an end’

close relationships with slaves; Book 2 - Eurycleia nursed Telemachus as a child, Telemachus refers to her as

‘nurse dear’

close relationships with slaves; Book 16 - Eurycleia’s reunion with Telemachus

with ‘tears in her eyes she ran up to meet him’

close relationships with slaves; Book 16 - Eumeaus’ reunion with Telemachus

‘kisses his forehead, his fine eyes and both his hands,’ describes him as the ‘light of my eyes’

close relationships with slaves; Book 18 - Penelope treated Melantho

‘tenderly as her own child,’ ‘giving her all the toys she could desire’

close relationships with slaves; Book 18 - how Melantho repays Penelope

‘has no sympathy for Penelope’s woes’

close relationships with slaves; Book 19 - Eurycleia and Odysseus’ reunion

‘at once she recognised the scar’

close relationships with slaves; Eurycleia’s close relationship with Odysseus

calls him ‘my dear child, ’suckled Odysseus at her own breast’

close relationships with slaves; Book 19 - reunion of Philoteus and Eumaeus is like family

‘they flung their arms around Odysseus’ neck and showered kisses on his dead and shoulders’

close relationships with slaves; Book 21 - Odysseus says if Philoteus and Eumaeus support him in the final battle

they will be regarded as Telemachus’ friends and brothers

family is not always positive; Book 11 -catalogue of women

Epicaste married her son ‘in her ignorance’

family can betray; Agamemnon’s story acts as a warning to never be too trustful of family

‘I certainly expected a joyful welcome,’ ‘my accursed wife put me to death’

family can betray; Poseidon feels the Phaeacian’s, his descendants, have betrayed him after they give Odysseus’ gifts and safe passage to Ithaca

‘that these mortals fail to respect me’

family drives nostos; Book 5 - Odysseus’s feelings of nostos

‘I long to reach my home’

family drives nostos; Book 6 - Odysseus describes what he longs for

‘Once let me see on my estate, ,my servants, and the high roof of my great house and I shall be content to breathe my last’

The Phaeacians and family; Book 6 - Nausicaa and Alcinous have a close relationship

she calls him ‘feather dear,’ and he ‘understands completely’

The Phaeacians and family; Book 7 - xenia comes first

his favourite son Laodamas sits next to him, he moves from his seat to allow Odysseus to sit there

The Phaeacians and family; Book 7 - Alcinous doubts his daughter’s judgement ashamedly

‘Sir, in one respect my daughter’s judgement is faulty’

The Phaeacians and family; Book 7 - Arete enjoys

‘heartfelt devotion’ from both husband and children

father/ son relationships; Book 1 - Telemachus doubts he is really is Odysseus’ son

‘my mother certainly says I am Odysseus’ son but I myself cannot tell’

father/ son relationships; Book 16 - emotional reunion scene for Telemachus and Odysseus

then they immediately begin planning the destruction of their enemies, Telemachus is able to learn what to do from Odysseus

father/ son relationships; Book 21 - Telemachus almost manages to string the bow

‘he might well have strung it yet if Odysseus not put an end to his attempts’

father/ son relationships; Book 22 - Amphimous tries to attack Odysseus

Telemachus hits him from behind with a spear

father/ son relationships; Laertes is often mentioned in Odysseus’ epithets and introduction to the Phaeacians

‘Laertes’ son,’ ‘I am Odysseus, Laertes’ son’

father/ son relationships; Laertes is grief-stricken at the absence of Odysseus

‘there he lies in his misery,’ ‘nursing his grief and yearning for you to come back’

father/ son relationships; Book 24 - reunion scene

Odysseus flings arms around Laertes neck and kisses him, his father doubts his identity and wants proof

in the underworld dead heroes long to hear of their sons; Book 11 - Agamemnon asks if he has heard any news of Orestes

‘but can you give me the truth about my son’

in the underworld dead heroes long to hear of their sons; Book 11 - Achilles wants Odysseus to

‘come give me news of that fine son of mine,’ ‘for I am not up there to protect him’

in the underworld dead heroes long to hear of their sons; Book 11 - Achilles is immensely proud of his son and the kleos he has achieved

‘rejoicing in the news I had given him of sons renown’

mother/ son relationships; Book 11- Anticleia and Odysseus care deeply for one another

‘my eyes filled with tears when I saw her there,’ ‘I was stirred to compassion'‘

mother/ son relationships; Book 11 - Odysseus seems more devoted to his nostos than his mother

doesn’t allow her to approach the blood first before he has spoken to Tiresias

mother/ son relationships; Book 1 - patriarchal society of Ithaca reflected in Penelope and Telemachus’ relationship

Telemachus orders Penelope to go upstairs

mother/ son relationships; Book 2 - Eurycleia says how Telemachus is the

‘apple of his mother’s eye’

mother/ son relationships; Book 4 - Penelope hears of how Telemachus has gone to find news of his father

her eyes ‘fill with tears’ and she is ‘overcome with anguish,’ she is devastated that ‘the whirlwinds have snatched’ her ‘darling son’

mother/ son relationships; Book 16 - Penelope angrily confronts the Suitors for plotting to kill her son

‘how dare you plot against Telemachus’ life’