The Odyssey---by Homer

The Stories

Book 9 – Sailing from Troy: p. 1043-1063 1) Banquet hall of king Alcinous

2) Calypso/Circe – brief description

3) Cicones at Ismarus p.1047

4) Lotus Eaters p.1048

5)The Cyclopes p.1050

Questions / Answer: Write the quote or put in your own words

Sailing from Troy p.1043

1) Speaking at the banquet hall of King Alcinnous of Phaecia who offers hospitality to Odysseus

2) Circe -- brief description 3) Cicones at Ismarus

4) Lotus Eaters p.1048 5) The Cyclops p.1050

1 / How famous is he?
2 / Is he bragging about himself when he introduces himself in this way? / No, reputation is very important in this culture. When Odysseus states that his “fame has reached the skies” he is merely identifying himself – not vanity or hubris. But his pride in his name foreshadows his questionable judgment in identifying himself during the escape from the Cyclops.
3 / Where is his home?
4 / Does he love his home?
5 / What is more important to him than a house of gold?
6 / What has kept him from home?
7 / Who are Calypso and Circe?
3) Cicones at Ismarus p.1047
8 / What does Odysseus do at Ismarus, a strong point of the Cicones?
9 / Was this frowned upon by Greek society? / No---POWER & WEALTH (theme) were admired in Greek society
10 / What did Odysseus want to do after storming Ismarus?
11 / Did his men agree?
12 / What did they do instead?
Commentary: Odysseus either raids Ismarus because the Cicones are allies of the Trojans or simply because it is there and piracy and marauding were legitimate professions for the (Ithacans)Achaeans. The question is NOT about the legitimacy of the raid but Odysseus’ men’s foolish disregard for his advice. This is a loss of power for Odysseus – a mistake on the part of a leader. The description also talks about the greed of the men (“sheep after sheep they butchered”), a waste of food that even today is considered a sin (seven deadly sins).Hence, Zeus punishes them by suffering a great loss of men.
13 / So what mistakes do Odysseus and his men make at Ismarus? / 1) 
14 / Can you think of a reason why Odysseus didn’t control his men? / Opinion:
15 / Who attacks them?
16 / How long do they fight?
17 / How do they get away?

Odysseus looses 6 benches full of men from each ship and is lucky to get away.


4) Lotus Eaters p. 1048

18 / On what day do they come to the coastline of the lotus eaters
19 / Do the lotus eaters mean to harm Odysseus’ men?
20 / Do they harm them?
21 / What is the danger of the lotus plant?
Commentary: Temptation is a human failing/sin that even Greek society fought against. Obviously, Homer has touched on a universal theme, the lure of oblivion through drugs; although this is NOT a main theme throughout the story. Drugs make you lose your will to live, control of your life and the things that you value. Note that “home” is very important throughout the story. Obviously, the Greek culture valued home and family.
22 / Odysseus makes a mistake at Ismarus by not controlling his men. How is he different here? / 1)
2)
3)
23 / Who is the main narrator of this tale?
What person is it told in?


5) The Cyclops p.1050

24 / Odysseus is very contemptuous/disdainful of the Cyclops. Why? / Because the Cyclops is not civilized. A lot can be learned about the Greek culture in these paragraphs. Uncivilized living includes:
1)  not making laws
2)  not cultivating the earth
3)  not making wine from grapes
4)  not having an armed force (muster)
5)  not having meetings – thus no laws, no consultation
6)  not having history---there is no passing down of ideas, ways, and stories of the previous generations.
7)  Not having any socializing
8)  Treats his wife and child with disdain or with little to no respect
25 / How many men did Odysseus take with him?
26 / What else did he take?
27 / How did Maron show hospitality? Was he a good host? Give examples.
Commentary: Compare Maron’s hospitality to the Cyclops’.
28 / Why doesn’t Odysseus grab the cheese and lambs and go back to the ship---even when his men plead with him to do so? / It shows Odysseus’ human failing and lack of wisdom. Odysseus is not perfect, and here his curiosity overcomes good judgment and common sense.
Is there any one of us who doesn’t make a mistake?
29 / How does the Cyclops close the cave?
30 / What does this mean to the men?
31 / Line 199-200 what are wandering rouges?
32 / Odysseus shows bravery in lines 203-216 by doing what?
33 / Odysseus is asking the Cyclops to show hospitality and if he doesn’t…which god does will avenge the Achaeans?
34 / What can be learned about conduct and respect for the gods from Odysseus’ speech? / They fear and revere the gods. They believe the interfere or take part in mortals daily lives.
35 / What is the Cyclops’ response?
36 / What lie does Odysseus tell the Cyclops about his ship and why does he lie?
37 / Why doesn’t Odysseus kill the Cyclops around line 245?
38 / What admirable trait is Odysseus demonstrating here?
Commentary: Note that Odysseus prays to the goddess Athena. In Greek epics it was common for humans to have various gods as protectors, sometimes more than one. Odysseus’ special protector is Athena, goddess of wisdom, skills, and warfare skills, because he is such a wily, skillful person and so good at waging war. (Remember: Ares is the god of war and gore)
39 / What is Odysseus’ plan to deal with this cyclops?
Lines 265-284
40 / When the Cyclops asks Odysseus for his name what does Odysseus tell him?
41 / What is the Cyclops’ name?
42 / What does Polyphemus mean when he answershis brothers in lines 358-359
43 / What do the other Cyclopes understand?
44 / What does the Cyclops try to do when he goes back to the cave?
45 / What is Odysseus’ plan for getting out of the cave after injuring Polyphemus?
46 / Odysseus makes a bad judgment call as he escapes with his men.
What is it? / 430-460 He is acting in a boastful and vindictive manner--hubris. Do you know people with “big mouths” who keep on talking even when it gets them in trouble? His need to boast and to express his anger makes him irrational and incautious.
47 / Besides the loss of an eye, what is Polyphemus upset about in lines 468-471?
48 / What curse does Polyphemus pray that Poseidon will put on Odysseus?
Commentary: with nothing but ocean between him and Ithaca and the god of the sea as his enemy, Odysseus has paid a hefty price for his pride.
49 / What does Odysseus try to do to counteract Poseidon’s ill will?
50 / Define Allusion?
What does the allusion mean: “blue girdler of the islands?