Odyssey Notes
Odyssey Notes
Odyssey Notes
Odyssey
A. Odysseus was the subject of many stories outside of the Odyssey, Homer
gathers these together and gives them a unique shape.
At the beginning of the western literary tradition, we find an epic tale that
the oral tradition has molded from a chaotic group of folk tales into a
unified whole.
B. Judgment of history
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10. the husband outwits his adulterous wife and her lover
11. recognition by a person’s tears at the recital of his own exploits
12. a voyage to an earthly paradise
13. enchantment by eating fairy food
14. the ogre blinded
15. the captor beguiled by an equivocal name
16. escape from death under a ram’s belly
17. the taboo against looking into a bag of winds
18. the ogre and his wife
19. a sorceress transforms men into animals
20. a magic object keeps off enchantment
21. a journey to the lower world
22. a summoned dead man prophesies
23. unremitting torture as punishment
24. female creatures and their magic song
25. ears stopped up to avoid an enchanting song
26. the slaughter of sacred cattle
27. ship turned to stone
28. the disguised man recognized by a dog
29. the husband retuns in humble disguise
30. recognition by a scar
31. the husband arrives home just as his wife is about to marry another
32. the suitors’ contest
33. recognition by the unique ability to bend a bow
34. the archery competition
35. recognition by describing a unique bed
36. identity tested by recounted shared experiences
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3. Irony – characters often do not understand the true significance of
what they are saying; disguise, despair, deception and ignorance
prominent features of the narrative.
1. How does this poem handle the notion of order/disorder and the re-
establishment and maintenance of the community?
b. xenia
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1. Homer’s primary concern is with the world of humanity and its
uniqueness.
4. The motivation for action is ‘glory’ kleos and ‘honor’ time. Greek value-
system, shame culture, puts greatest value on successful performance
in the eyes of others rather than in inner consciousnees of right and
wrong.
5. The denial of ‘honor’ time due one’s arete was the greatest tragedy.
Pay attention to how this works out in the Odyssey with Odysseus and
how this differs from the Iliad.
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VI. Discussion between Telemachos and the Suitors (365-444)
V. Some questions
A. At what point does the story told in the Odyssey start and what
possibilities does that create?
2. To show the situation in Ithaka and the need for Odysseus’ return.
5. To show the growth of Telemachos, who is not yet ready to face his
duties. Telling his struggles makes the narrative richer and more
complex.
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6. Telemachus’ coming of age has to take place away from Ithaka since he
is not, and cannot be seen to be equal to the suitors (if so there would
be no pressing need for Odysseus’ return). Telemachos encounters his
father’s past and wins kleos ‘good reputation’ in his encounters with
Nestor and Menelaos.
2. 1.20 Poseidon mentioned but the reason for his anger is not told until
68ff.
4. The Nostoi
C. What other stories are alluded to by the narrator and how do they relate
to the Odyssey?
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D. How do we learn about Odysseus in books 1-4? What is the effect of
this? Mainly through the reports of Nestor (3.102ff.), Menelaos, and
Helen.
1. Telemachos
b. Still young and petulant, at 2.80 throws done the scepter and bursts
into tears
2. Penelope
v. Create a stir.
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f. a match in cunning for Odysseus, the trick of weaving Laertes’
shroud, and especially evident later.
4. The suitors
5. Nestor
6. Menelaos
7. Helen
F. Nestor, Menelaos and Helen appear in the Iliad and in the first 4 books
of the Odyssey. Would you say they are the same characters in both
epics or are there differences in characterization between the two?
G. How do we learn the proper way for one to receive guests and to act as a
guest? What examples are given?
1. Proper way is to receive guests with food and drink, sometimes a bath
and entertainment, ask questions of identity later, provide quick
conveyance.
H. What other examples of (im)proper conduct can we infer from the text?
1. Suitors who eat up the goods of another’s house and will not pay bride
price for Penelope,
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1. 1.155, 325ff.
J. How does each book open and close? How does this affect the
movement of the narrative and how does it affect the reader/listener?
Why were these division made? By whom?
K. What are some of the standard, recurring epithets or phrases you come
across?
Son of Kronos, gray-eyed Athene, Pallas Athene, godlike Odysseus,
Hermes slayer of Argos, thoughtful Telemachos, circumspect/prudent
Penelope, Nestor the Gerenian horseman
L. How are women portrayed and what features make up an ideal woman?
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Extended Outline of Odyssey bks. 1-4
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B. Peisistratos’ greeting (36-66)
C. Nestor’s greeting (67-74)
D. Telemachos asks after his father (75-101)
E. Nestor recalls the war at Troy and the returns (102-200)
F. Telemachos, Nestor and Athene/Mentor discuss Odysseus’ fate (201-252)
G. Nestor tells the story of Agamemnon’s return (253-328)
H. Athene bids them all to sleep and they retire for the night (329-370)
I. Nestor and Telemachos recognize Athene by her departure (371-384)
J. Everyone returns to Nestor’s dwelling to sleep (385-403)
II. The next day (404-490)
A. Nestor’s counsel (404-429)
B. A sacrifice and meal are prepared (430-472)
C. Telemachos and Peisistratos journey to Lakedaimon (473-486)
D. They stay overnight at the house of Diokles in Pherai (487-490)
III. Telemachos and Peisistratos continue the journey to Lakedaimon (491-497)
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The Homecoming of Odysseus, bks. 5-8
Bks. 1-4 concerned with Telemachos establishing his identity, bks. 5-8 concerned
with Odysseus establishing his.
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D. Demodokos sings of the wooden horse (469-520)
Odysseus weeps
IV. Alkinoös asks Odysseus to reveal his identity (535-586)
Book Nine
A. Kikonians (39-61)
B. Lotus-Eaters (62-104)
Only Odysseus appears with self control; similar to the incident with the
cattle of the sun, Sirens
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7. Misleading appearance pays off for Odysseus
iv. The hero takes the spit, heats it in the fire and plunges it in the
giant’s eye.
Odyssey: A wooden stake is used to blind the cyclops.
v. In the morning the giant opens the cave to let out the sheep and
the hero escapes by walking out on all fours under a sheepskin,
or by clinging to the underside of a sheep.
vi. The hero is located when he puts on a magic ring which shouts
‘Here I am’, and expaces on ly by cutting off his finger.
Odyssey: Hero located when he taunts the cyclops.
Book Ten
D. Aiolos and the bag of winds (1-79)
E. Laistrygones (80-132)
F. Circe (133-574)
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Same pattern as last book, 2 shorter incidents followed by longer 3rd encounter
E. Laistrygones (80-132)
Cannabalistic people, inverse of Phaiakians
Huge mother Artakie, father Antiphates
Odysseus flees, abondons companions—only his ship survives
F. Circe (133-574)
Eurylochos leads party, doesn’t enter her home
Description of circe’s house with drugged animals
Odysseus aided by Hermes; moly line 305 (Captain Marvel 1940? Shazam:
wisdom of Solomon, strength of Hercules, stamina of Atlas, power of
Zeus, courage of Achilles, speed of Mercury)
At the end of a year Circe agrees to let Od. go home, but only after he
travels to the underworld to consult with Teiresias
The strange death of Elpenor
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alternate arrangement:
385-567 meetings with heroes from Troy; Agamemnon, Achilleus and Aias
568-635 visions of the rewards and punishments in Hades
Book Twelve
J. Circe sends off Odysseus and his crew (1-141)
K. Odysseus and crew sail (142-453): Sirens, Roving Rocks, Skylla,
Charybdis, the herds of Helios, Kalypso
Book Fourteen
Odysseus visits Eumaios, the swineherd (1-533)
2nd Cretan tale (191-359)
3rd Cretan tale (457-506)
Book Fifteen
I. Athene urges Telemachos to leave Lakedaimon (1-42)
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II. Menelaos sends Telemachos on his way with many gifts (43-184)
III. The Theoklymenos story (220-300)
IV. Odysseus questions the swineherd (301-388)
V. The Swineherd’s tale (389-484)
VI. The arrival of Telemachos on Ithaka (495-557)
Book Sixteen
I. Telemachos arrives at the swineherd’s lodging (1-134)
II. Eumaios sent to Penelope (135-155)
III. Odysseus reveals himself to Telemachos and they plot revenge (156-320)
IV. The herald and swineherd report to Penelope (321-341)
V. The assembly of the Suitors (342-408)
VI. Penelope rebukes the Suitors (409-451)
VII.Odysseus, Telemachos and Eumaios spend the night at Eumaios’ lodging
(452-481)
Book Seventeen
I. Telmachos and Odysseus make their separate ways to the palace (1-30)
II. Telemachos gives orders to the women of the house, receives Theoklymenos
(31-98)
III. Telemachos recounts for Penelope his travels (99-165)
IV. Odysseus arrives at the palace (166-335)
A. Intro. to Melanthios (212-260)
B. Argos the dog (290-327)
V. Odysseus enters the palace and begs from the Suitors (336-504)
4th Cretan tale (415-444)
VI. Odysseus agrees to be questioned by Penelope after the Suitors leave (505-
606)
Book Eighteen
I. Odysseus fights with Iros (1-157)
II. Penelope stirs up the Suitors (158-303)
III. The wicked servant Melantho (304-345)
IV. Eurymachos and Odysseus quarrel (346-428)
Book Nineteen
I. Odysseus and Telemachos store away the weapons (1-52)
II. Harsh words between Odysseus and Melantho (53-95)
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III. Penelope questions Odysseus (96-360)
5th Cretan tale (164-202, 220-248, 261-307)
IV. Eurykelia recognizes Odysseus (361-507)
V. Penelope tells Odysseus of her dream, announces a contest (508-604)
Book Twenty
I. Odysseus and Penelope each have a restless night (1-121)
II. Morning preparations for the Suitors (122-159)
III. Eumaios, Melanthios and Philoitios greet Odysseus (160-239)
IV. The Arrival of the Suitors (240-394)
A. Ktesippos’ mockery (284-319)
B. Strange omens recognized by Theoklymenos (345-370)
Book Twenty-One
I. Penelope announces the contest of the bow to the Suitors (1-135)
II. The Suitors try unsuccessfully to string the bow (136-187)
III. Odysseus reveals himself to Eumaios and Philoitios outside and they plot
against the Suitors (188-244)
IV. The bow is strung by Odysseus, who shoots through the axes (245-434)
Book Twenty-Two
I. Odysseus and Telemachos slay the Suitors (1-392)
II. The serving women and Melanthios are killed (393-476)
III. The house is purified (477-501)
Book Twenty-Three
I. Eurykleia awakens Penelope and tells her of Odysseus’ arrival (1-84)
II. Penelope and Odysseus are reunited (85-372)
Book Twenty-Four
I. Hermes leads the souls of the Suitors to the underworld, where they
encounter Agamemnon and Achilleus (1-204)
II. Odysseus visits his father Laertes in the countryside (205-411)
III. Odysseus and his followers fend off the families of the Suitors (412-548)
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