Modern Scholarship The Odyssey

A. Gotteman (Calypso)

Calypso was unable to provide transport due to her lack of Authority. A result of her being a woman, and therefore it is not her fault that Odysseus was trapped.

B. King (Xenia)

Odysseus’ lies to Eumeus focus on examples of good and bad xenia, as well as punishment for bad xenia (Zeus wrecking the ship)

This encourages Eumeus to be a good host and gives hope that the suitors will be punished

Kelly (Nausicaa)

Nausicaa has three interpretations: Victim Helper and Temptress

Jones (Odysseus)

The episode with Polyphemus is Odysseus’ greatest triumph because it recognises his most important attribute - Metis

Anghelina (Odysseus)

Whenever there is an olive tree present within the Odyssey, it shows that he is protected by Athene. Therefore when he is facing Charybdis and. he is holding onto a fig tree, it shows that the inspiration of Athene is not with him.

S. Reece (Theoclymenus, Odysseus)

Theoclymenus = Odysseus

He is Odysseus in a previous version of the epic

Evidence:

Theoclymenus has the longest introduction in comparison to any other character that plays a similar sized role. Both Odysseus and Theoclymenus are strangers that Telemachus meets and treats nicely.

Thoughts:

Due to the fluid nature of verbal poetry, it would have changed over time and therefore at one point in the story Theoclymenus’ story could have been the story of Odysseus

Bowra (Odysseus and the Supernatural)

Odysseus faces supernatural inferiors who are easily defeated and not challenges

A. Dyck (Odysseus and Circe)

Odysseus sleeping with Circe is risky because she could turn him into an animal in the middle of the night or in the morning

A. Gotteman (Telemachus )

Telemachus’ Journey and growth allows Odysseus to return to Ithaca as its rightful ruler and dispense justice

Murnaghan (The Telemachy)

Telemachus’ coming of age story is mundane compared to Odysseus’ journey

Clarke (Telemachus)

Telemachus’ joruney drives forward the plot of the epic and secures his role at the end of the epic

A. Gotteman (Ithaca)

Ithaca lacks politics as there has been no assembly for 20 years

E. Anhalt

The myths of Procne + Philomelo, Aedon and Philomela relate to penelope.

Procne + Philomelo: She is scared that she may cause her son’s death or that she must acknowledge her husband’s death.

Aedon: She is also scared to acknowledge or discover Odysseus’ sexual infidelities

Weaving and Philomela: There is weaving present in both the stories of Penelope and Philomela. Penelope: Unweaving to deceive the suitors. Philomela : Weaves to deceive Tereus

L. Pratt (Penelope’s dream)

20 geese = the 20 years that Odysseus was away

Eagle killing the geese = the 20 years of waiting is over (End of an era)

The Eagle means that zeus is involved

The geese could represent her guardianship of the house, fidelity.

Penelope misinterprets: Zeus is going to destroy her home after 20 years of her husband’s absence

S. Murnaghan

Telemachus’ mundane coming of age story enhances the excitement of Odysseus’ adventure

K. Chrissy

Heracles acts as a foil to Odysseus

Odysseus is like the legendary Heracles and therefore the death of the suitors is not all positive

Story of Philoctetes:

Philoctetes is left on an island on the way to the Trojan war, this is because he has an infected wound which starts to smell. They only come back when they realise he has the bow of Heracles

• Both kill their guests at or after dinner,

• Odysseus is armed with a bow at the end of the book (Heracles is also famous for a bow, Philoctetes)

• Both kills are a surprise

• Version of Iphitus story involved a competition of archery with a bride as the prize (Similar to the suitors and Penelope)

L.Fulkerson

The hanging of the maids is Telemachus’ first decision made on his own

he disobays his dad and is now a worthy successor

L. Fulkerson

Death by the sword is how men would have committed suicide in ancient Greece. It is masculine and warlike

Death by hanging is much more similar to female suicide and is seen as dishonourable.

Hanging is also much cleaner

P. Marqardt

Penelope is cunning and clever and is well-suited as the wife of Odysseus

Evidence:

When Penelope is coming down to greet Odysseus, they are both thinking of testing/tricking one another

P. Marqardt

Penelope has been manipulating and flirting with the suitors. This is because she needs them on the hook as it is better than options

If the men compete, none can marry her, taker her from Odysseus’ house therefore buying her more time.

This excuses some of her actions as the gods caused this. She never would have done it if not for the war.

Penelope is unsure about how Odysseus will react to her flirting

Evidence:

When Penelope and Odysseus reunite, she mentions Helen (the Gods caused her to love Paris; Helen’s war caused all their pain)

J. O’Connor

Arete is the main ruler in scherie

Evidence:

She is respected with quasi-religious honour

Arete resolves disputes

Nausicaa says to supplicate to her

N. Woodall

Arete is respected but not the main ruler

She is a regular homeric woman

Evidence:

Alcinous attends council meetings, calls assemblies and leads lords

Arete is seen spinning and weaving

J. Griffin

Penelope’s loyalty to Odysseus is central to the storyline and is contrasted with Clytemnestra’s betrayal

J. Stanton

The killing of the suitors is sanctioned by the Gods, this is proven to be the case by Athene’s participation in the slaughter of the suitors

G.P Rose

The Phaeacians are linked to Poseidon through heavy worship and descendents.

Poseidon hates Odysseus and therefore by extension the Phaecians could hate him too

G.P Rose

The Phaeacians are untrustworthy as Arete says that they may rob him on the journey and they are rude to Odysseus during the Phaeacian games in Book 8

G.P Rose

Alcinous’ bad leadership is shown through the necessity of Arete’s approval not alcinous’, the lack of protection from the other Phaeacians in the games, he is easily pleased and is too generous and safety is only given after complements and proof of skill

M.Cooper

Alcinous’ promises are not kept

He originally promised that Odysseus would go home the next day but was forced to stay for three days

M.Alden

The song is a message to Odysseus about the events in Ithaca, a warning about how to handle it

Dyson

Zeus wants to avoid angering Athene and Poseidon and so forgets to send Hermes

Bär

Agrees with Dyson, Zeus also wants to avoid conflict with Calypso

Bär

Athene is shown to be more powerful than Zeus through Paralipsis (Her knowing things that she shouldn’t know

Bär

Second council previously thought to be a repeat scene to show simultaneous events

However the second council is not a repeat scene as Athene references the events of the Telemachy they have already happened Athene’s reproachful yet chastising tone to Zeus

Athene’s speech is made up of lines from previous books

R.Martin

The Telemachy is a transition from the heroic age of iliadic and Iron age

D.Roessel

The stag on Circe’s island was once a human

Evidence:

It was described as monstrous and the description was overall very detailed and out of place