Odysseus

Which writing technique used by epic poets is Homer using in "Tell the Story?

invocation of the muse

Who is the muse of epic poetry?

Calliope

What is homer asking of Calliope?

inspiration to tell the story of Odysseus

Who is the story going to be about?

Odysseus

What does the poet say happened to Odysseus's men?

they killed and feasted on the cattle of the Lord Helios, the sun god, and they were killed as a result

Who is Telemachus?

Odysseus' son

What was Telemachus searching for?

his father

Where has Odysseus been?

first in Troy fighting the Trojan War, but at this point in the story, he's been with Calypso

What is the name of Calypso's island?

Ogygia

Why has Odysseus been on Calypso's island?

Calypso has held him there as a prisoner after he landed on her island

How long has Odysseus been on Ogygia?

7 years

Which goddess has supported and helped Odysseus?

Athena

What does Zeus do to help Odysseus?

He sends Hermes to order Calypso to release Odysseus

Who is Penelope?

Odysseus' wife

Write one description of Calypso's island that appeals to each of the following senses: sight, sound, smell?

sight- exotic birds and plants, purple flowers

sound- bubbling springs, Calypso's singing

smell- smoke from cedar and thyme burning

How does the natural beauty of Calypso's island compare with the reality of Odysseus' situation?

he is on a paradise-like island, but he is in pain because he is homesick and a prisoner, this is irony

What is Odysseus doing when we first meet him? Why?

sitting on rocks looking homeward and crying, he is homesick

What does Hermes tell Calypso?

She has been ordered by Zeus to release Odysseus.

Why does Calypso take credit for letting Odysseus go?

She is prideful

What had Calypso offered to Odysseus if he would stay there?

immortality

What does Odysseus' reply to Calypso tell you about his feeling for his wife?

he still loves her

How does Odysseus turn down Calypso without offending her?

He acknowledges her desirability.

What does Poseidon do to Odysseus after he leaves Calypso?

He causes a storm that destroys his raft

On what island does Odysseus land?

the island of Scheria, where the Phaeacian's live

Who is Odysseus' father?

Laerters

After Odysseus leaves Calypso's island, who finds him? Who is her father?

The Daughter of King Alcinous. King of the Phaeacians

What was the rule of the ancient people about guests?

Guests were god-sent, so their needs had to be met before any questions were asked of them, and they could never be killed by their host

What happened in the land of the Phaeacians? What was Odysseus asked to do?

Odysseus was rescued by the princess after washing up on the beach, and he was a guest of honor at the banquet that night. He was then asked to tell his story

What impression do you get of Odysseus from his description of himself?

He likes to speak of his accomplishments and is a great warrior, but he is prideful and boastful

What is Odysseus known for?

his skill and cleverness in battle (he created the Trojan horse)

Who are Calypso and Circe?

the goddesses who held Odysseus captive on their islands

What desire does Odysseus express during his story?

love of his homeland and desire to return there

What is the other name for Troy?

Illion

When they left Troy, where did they land? Which people lived there?

Ismaros, the Cicones

What did Odysseus and his men do first?

They stormed the place, killed the men who fought, plundered the village, and enslaved the women

What did he order his men to do, and how did they react?

to leave, they refused because they were mutinous fools drunk on stores of wine

How does this go wrong?

some Cicone fugitives escaped and went get their army

How long did they fight? What is unyoking time?

from sun-up to sundown, when the cattle are let out of their yokes to be milked

How many men did he lose?

six benches out of every ship worth

What ritual for the dead is mentioned by Odysseus?

Someone had to cry out three times for each person killed by the Cicones

What prevents Odysseus from reaching home after this incident?

Zeus raised a storm which caused Odysseus and his men to drift off course on the sea for nine days

How many days had Odysseus drifted on the sea before landing on the coastline of the Lotus-Eaters?

9 days

Describe the Lotus-Eaters.

Peaceful, wishing no harm, they offered the lotus to Odysseus' men to eat

What happens to the crew members who eat the Lotus?

They lose their desire to go home.

What does this episode suggest about Odysseus' men?

they are disobedient and undisciplined

What lesson might this episode teach?

People who try to have only an easy life are of no use to themselves or anyone else

What is a Cyclops?

a giant, one-eyed monster

What is the plural of Cyclops?

Cyclopes

What is the Cyclops' occupation? Where does he live?

shepherd; lives in a cave on an island

What does the Cyclops do when he sees Odysseus and his men?

asks them who they are and what they want

What is wrong with this?

Guests are supposed to be treated as gifts from the gods. you are not to asks them questions until you meet their needs

What warning does Odysseus give Polyphemus?

Zeus will avenge the unoffending guest

What is the Cyclops' reply?

Cyclopes care not a whistle for Zeus or all the gods. His father is Poseidon and will protect him.

What does Odysseus tell the Cyclops about his ship? Why?

Poseidon destroyed it; So that the Cyclops doesnt go looking for it and actually destroy it

What did the Cyclops do next that appalled the men?

he grabbed two men, beat them against the ground, dismembered them, then ate every part of them

What was Odysseus tempted to do, and why did he not do it?

He wanted to stab Polyphemus in the liver, he didn't do it because he and his men never would have been able to move the rock sealing the cave and they'd perish

What goddess did Odysseus pray to for help?

Athena

What did Odysseus find in the cave to help him?

an olive tree

How is it related to Athena?

olive tree is athena's symbol

What did he plan to do with it?

to make a stake and stab the Cyclops in the eye

What did Odysseus give to the Cyclops?

3 bowls of wine

What was the result of this gift?

Polythemus got drunk and fell asleep

What did Odysseus tell the Cyclops his name was?

Nohbdy

Explain what Odysseus did to the Cyclops.

He heated the stake in the embers of the fire and, with the help of his men, drove it through the cyclops's closed eye and twisted it in

What two things are being compared in the Homeric simile?

the piercing of the eye by the stake to a drill

What is the name of the Cyclops?

Polythemus

What does the Cyclops do after he is wounded?

bellowed for the Cyclopes who lived in caves nearby

What does he tell the other Cyclopes?

"Nohbdy, Nohbdy's tricked me, Nohbdy's ruined me!"

What is the real meaning of this statement?

Odysseus tricked him and ruined his eye

How do the other Cyclopes reply?

"Ah well, if nobody had played you foul there in your lonely bed, we are no use in pain given by great Zeus. Let it be your father Poseidon Lord, to whom you pray."

Who is the Cyclops' father?

Poseidon

What trick do Odysseus and his men use to escape from the Cyclops' cave?

they tied themselves to the rams and ride underneath the rams when Polythemus releases them

Where do the men go after they escape from the cave?

their ship

What does Odysseus tell the Cyclops as they set out to sea?

"O Cyclops! Would you feast on my companions? Puny, am I, in a Caveman's hands? How do you like the beating that we gave you, you dammed cannibal? Eater of guests under your roof! Zeus and the gods have paid you!"

How does the Cyclops react?

He is very angry and broke the top off of the hill and heaved it at them

What does Odysseus tell the Cyclops?

"Cylops, if ever mortal man inquire how you were put to shame and blinded, tell him Odysseus, raider of cities took your eye: Laertes' son, whose home's on Ithaca!"

After the Cyclops learns Odysseus' real name, what does he do?

prays to his father to hurt Odysseus

Name the requests the Cyclops makes of his father.

1. Odysseus would never see his homeland again.

2. If he does get home, let it be hard.

3. Let all his men die

What might this episode have taught a young person in ancient Greece?

curiosity killed the cat, don't brag after you've won

Where do Odysseus and his crew land after leaving the Cyclops?

Island of Aeolia

What happens with Aeolus and the crew?

Aeolus put all of the stormy winds in a bag so they will not harm the crew, but the curious sailors open the bag and the winds roar up into hurricanes that blow the ships back to Aeolia

What happens on the island of the Laestrygonians?

all but one of the ships are destroyed and their crews devoured

What are Laestrygonians?

gigantic cannibals

On which island do they land next?

Aeaea

To whom does it belong?

enchantress and goddess Circe

What is a sorceress?

a witch

What happens to half of Odysseus' men?

they are turned into swines (pigs)

Who gave Odysseus a moly to protect him from Circe's sorcery?

Hermes

What does Circe say Odysseus has to do in order to leave her island? And why?

Odysseus must descend to the Land of the Dead alone and seek the wisdom of the blind prophet Teiresias

What lesson might Homer be trying to teach through this episode?

appearances can be deceiving, things aren't always as they seem

Whom does Odysseus seek in Hades? Why?

Teiresias, he is a famous blind prophet who knows his destiny

Where was this person from?

Thebes

How does Odysseus attract the dead? Explain.

sacrifice, he slaughtered a black lamb and an ewe

Which member of his crew arrives in Hades first?

Elpenor

What happened to him?

He was drunk on Circe's roof, fell off, and broke his neck

Who else does Odysseus sadly discover is in Hades?

Odysseus's mother, Anticlea