cla 10 midterm 4

242 terms

How is Livy's writing different from poetic fiction?

It is based on historical truth or accuracy.

Livy

Roman historian whose history of Rome fills 142 volumes.

How does Livy look at the origins of Rome?

He sees them as an escape from "the sight of the evils" of his time.

to study history is ..

to choose what to emulate and what to avoid.

What does Livy identify as integral to his historical enterprise?

Artistry and style and lessons on values and conduct.

Romulus and Remus

Founders of Rome. Abandoned children, nursed by a she-wolf. Remus will be killed, Romulus will found the new city (Rome), fortify Palatine, and honor Hercules.

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Whose story does Livy emphasize more: Romulus' or Remus'?

Romulus

What is significant about Livy's first book on the history of Rome?

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Livy conjoins myth and history, akin to the section of the Aeneid in the Underworld where Virgil interject history into myth.

Myth

"A traditional story with collective importance".

What does knowledge of mythical stories enable us to do?

To engage with the past, gain insight into cultures from antiquity, and understand and appreciate a wide body of art, literature, theater, music, dance, and film.

Why do we watch movies, shows, read fiction, play games, etc.?

To experience and understand our own culture.

What does Aeneas see in the gallery of the future?

The future of early Rome, glorious and conflicted (Augustus, Numa, Brutus, etc.)

Numa

second king of Rome

Brutus

Most famous of the assassins of Julius Caesar, will call for the death of his sons.

How is Aeneas portrayed in the second half of the Aeneid?

He is transformed from a struggling Trojan into a proto-Roman warrior capable of fighting his way to the founding of the Roman race.

Who do Aeneas and the Trojans ally with on the Italian coast? What happens after?

The Latins; they end up having to fight the other native peoples.

What agreement do Jupiter and Juno make near the end of the Aeneid?

Aeneas will win the war and found the Latin race, which will absorb the Trojan race.

Turnus

The ruler of the Rutulians in Italy. Aeneas' major antagonist among mortals. Fights Aeneas one-on-one (partially over Lavinia, daughter of King Latinus). Is wounded and begs for his life, but killed immediately after Aeneas notices he is wearing the armor of young prince Pallas.

Lavinia

Daughter of King Latinus, second wife of Aeneas.

King Latinus

King of Latium.

Who wins in the fight between Aeneas and Turnus?

Aeneas.

Heroides

Collection of letters from mythological women to their lovers, written by Ovid.

How do heroines compare to heroes in myth?

They appear less frequently in written and visual sources. Are significant, but without much development in epic poetry. Usually appear in lists (e.g. the women Zeus finds beautiful, etc.)

What does Odysseus see Minos doing?

Offering judgment.

Elpenor

One of Odysseus' crew, killed after falling from Circe's roof. The first dead individual Odysseus makes an offering to. Requests a proper burial.

Homer's Odyssey

First epic-style Greek tragedy, centered on Odysseus, his wanderings, and his journey back home. Divided into 24 books, 12 each on Odysseus' travels and Ithaca.

Central themes in The Odyssey:

1\. What it means to be a PARTICULAR mortal.

2. What contributes to a man's identity: his character, achievements, family, etc.

The Iliad

Epic that retells the story of the Trojan War. Different that the Odyssey in that it explores what it means to be mortal in GENERAL.

Penelope

Odysseus' wife, mother of Telemachus. Portrayed in the Odyssey as equal in intelligence to Odysseus. Tests him several times. Part of Odysseus' central identity.

Ithaca

Odysseus' home, an island off of Greece' West coast. Location of his family and part of himself.

How many suitors move into Odysseus' (ulysses) palace?

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Over 100.

What have the suitors violated?

Xenia. They are eating Odysseus' food and sleeping with his slave girls.

Telemachus

Odysseus and Penelope's (worthy) son. Helps Odysseus kill the suitors that are ravaging their home. Central character in books 1-4 of the Odyssey.

Who inspires Telemachus?

Athena (in disguise).

Nestor

King of Pylos, Iliadic hero. Is searched for by Telemachus, who is looking for information on his absent father.

Menelaus

king of Sparta, Iliadic hero. Is searched for by Telemachus, who is looking for information on his absent father.

What topics do books 5-8 of the Odyssey focus on?

Odysseus' introduction and the final stage of his journey home.

Calypso

Sea nymph and goddess who falls in love with Odysseus, detaining him on her island for seven years. She offers him immortality, but he refuses. Acts as Odysseus' "concealer"; removes him from reality temporarily.

What does Calypso offer Odysseus?

Immortality. He refuses, however, because he'd rather grow old and die with Penelope.

Who persuades Zeus to allow Odysseus to go home?

Athena, Odysseus' patron deity.

Who tells Calypso to let Odysseys go?

Hermes.

Where does Odysseys wash up after leaving Calypso?

The island of the Phaeacians, Scheria.

Phaeacians

The inhabitants of the land of Scheria. Ruled by Queen Arete and King Alcinous, who Odysseus seeks help from on his journey home.

Nausicaa

The daughter of King Alcinous and Queen Arete. Cleans up Odysseus once he washes up on Scheria naked and battered.

Queen Arete

Queen of the Phaeacians, wife of King Alcinous. Helps Odysseus on his journey home, listens to his retelling of his travels.

King Alcinous

King of the Phaeacians, wife of Queen Arete. Helps Odysseus on his journey home.

Demodocus

An old Phaeacian blind singer, sings to Odysseus.

What does Demodocus sing of?

The quarrel between Achilles and Odysseus, Hephaestus catching Ares with Aphrodite, and the story of the Trojan Horse (upon Odysseus' request). Odysseus weeps "like a woman" in response for his misfortunes.

What do books 9-12 of the Odyssey focus on?

Odysseus' own narration of his adventures before he came to Phaeacia. He is addressing the story to King Alcinous and Queen Arete.

Cicones

Allies of the Trojans who live on Ismarus. Attacked by Odysseus and his men, a parallel to Troy.

Lotus-Eaters

Inhabit a land Odysseus meets on his wandering. Eat Lotus, a drug that makes you forget about everything but eating more. Force Odysseus and his men to to eat, a threat to Odysseus' identity and homecoming.

Cyclopes

One-eyed giants. Island visited by Odysseus, who makes trouble with Polyphemus.

Polyphemus

A cyclops whose cave Odysseus and his men are trapped in. They linger to learn where they are and benefit from xenia, but are instead attacked and threatened by the giant.

How does Odysseus beat Polyphemus?

They sharpen a stake and hide it in the back of Polyphemus' cave. They get him drunk and stab him in the eye, blaming everything on "Noman".

How does Odysseus escape Polyphemus' cave?

The grab hold under the bellies of Polyphemus sheep.

How does Polyphemus respond to Odysseus' revealing himself?

He calls on his father Poseidon to deny Odysseus his homecoming, or make it as hard as possible.

Aeolus

God of the winds. Gives Odysseus a bag with all the bad winds inside so that Odysseus can get home safe. Odysseus' men open the bag without his knowledge and are blown back to Aeolus, who declares them cursed.

Laestrygonians

Cannibalistic giants, like the Cyclopes. Attack and eat all of Odysseus men, except those on his own ship.

Circe

Witch daughter of the sun god Helios, who inhabits an island Odysseus visits. Turns half of Odysseus' men to pigs. Takes Odysseus to bed for a year; Odysseus exacts from her the promise not to harm them. Odysseus resists her spells with the help of Hermes.

What does Circe tell Odysseus he must do in order to get home?

He must go to the Underworld.

Anticleia

Odysseus' mother. Dies grieving the loss of time with her son but gives good news about the whereabouts of his family. Odysseus cannot hug her.

What advice does Tiresias offer Odysseus?

Poseidon will make things hard; you must control yourself on Helios' island. You must take control of your house, then carry an oar until you reach men who know nothing of the sea or salt. Your must offer sacrifice to Poseidon and return home and sacrifice to the gods.

What is the significance of the wives, daughters, and mothers of the old heroes Odysseus meets?

They reflect Odysseus' own concerns and desires about his family.

What does Queen Arete call for when Odysseus pauses?

Gifts.

What does Agamemnon tell Odysseus?

That he was killed by Clytemnestra, and that Odysseus should keep things hidden from his wife so that he won't be killed in the same way.

What does Achilles tell Odysseus?

Not to "sell him" on death. It sucks.

What does Ajax tell Odysseus?

Nothing; he stood apart and wouldn't talk with Odysseus because of the armor debacle.

What does Odysseus see Tityus doing?

He is stretched out, being attacked by two vultures.

What does Odysseus see Tantalus doing?

He is reaching for apples, figs, pomegranate, water, though with no luck.

What does Odysseus see Sisyphus doing?

Eternally pushing his boulder up the hill.

Odysseus meets Heracles:

A hero-to-hero moment. Heracles talks of immense suffering, but also of the help Athena and Hermes offered him on the way to the Underworld.

Where does Odysseys go after he visits the underworld?

Circe's island.

Sirens

Creatures whose songs lure sailors to their deaths. Passed by Odysseus, who lives through their singing by plugging his men's ears with wax and tying himself to his ship's mast.

Scylla

A six-headed monster. "Sister" to Charybdis. Unsuccessful in killing Odysseus.

Charybdis

A whirlpool that sucks in entire ships. "Sister" to Scylla. Unsuccessful in killing Odysseus.

Helius

The sun god. Island visited by Odysseus, whose men kill and eats Helius' cattle (even though Circe and Odysseus told them not to). Absolutely obliterates Odysseus' men after the fact.

How many people survive Helius wrath?

Just Odysseus; he does not eat the meat of any of Helius' cattle.

How does Odysseys pass Charybdis and Scylla the first time?

He passes by Scylla, allowing it to eat six of his men.

How does Odysseys pass Charybdis and Scylla the second time?

he hangs onto the branch of a fig tree (endurance).

Where does Odysseys end up after passing through Charybdis and Scylla a second time?

The island of Calypso.

How long does Odysseus stay with Calypso?

Seven years.

How does Odysseus eventually get back to Ithaca?

He sets out on a raft.

Who does Odysseus pretend to be after reaching Ithaca?

A shipwreck survivor. He hides the treasure he brings back with him in a cave.

Eumaeus

Odysseus' swineherd and friend, who acts like as a surrogate father to Telemachus. Offers Odysseus proper xenia upon his arrival at Ithaca.

What does Odysseus do upon finding Telemachus?

He reveals himself to Telemachus; the two being to form a plan for retaking Odysseus' palace.

What do books 13-16 of The Odyssey focus on?

Odysseus and Telemachus and their plans to take back the palace at Ithaca.

What do books 17-20 of The Odyssey focus on?

Odysseus' return to his palace as a beggar.

Who does Odysseus come to his palace disguised as?

A beggar.

Argus

Odysseus' old hunting dog; recognizes Odysseus immediately upon his return but dies soon after.

How do the suitors treat Odysseus?

They are very rude to him and abusive of xenia.

Antinous and Eurymachus

The lead suitors.

Eurycleia

Odysseus' old nanny; recognizes him upon his return to Ithaca by the scar on his leg (which he got from a boar hunt).

How does Penelope analyze Odysseus? What is the significance of this?

Psychologically, several times. She is revealed to be as clever and mentally agile as Odysseus.

What must the suitors do in order to win Penelope's hand in marriage?

Pass a test of skill; must string Odysseus' great bow and shoot an arrow straight through the holes of 12 axe heads lined up in a row. Only Odysseus can do this.

What do books 21-24 of The Odyssey focus on?

Odysseus vs. the suitors.

What does Odysseus do with his bow?

He has it strung and uses it to kill all 108 of the suitors in cold blood.

Who helps clean up Odysseus' palace? What happens to them?

Eurycleia singles out 12 maids. They are hung.

Is Penelope immediately warm toward Odysseus after he kills the suitors?

No. She is wary and cautious, and continues to test Odysseus.

What is Penelope's final test? What is its significance?

She tells Eurycleia to get the marriage bed out of the house, prompting Odysseus to tell her it's impossible; one of its posts is the trunk of an olive tree still attached to the ground.

What does Penelope reference in her explanation for testing Odysseus? What is its significance?

Helen, and how not even she would have slept with a foreigner if she had known a war would ensure. It seems like a condemnation of the Greeks waging war against Troy.