1

Ramsaroop

Name: ______

Ramsaroop English I

Homer’s Odysseystudy guide

Plot Summaries and Study Questions. For each book (chapter) complete the following:

  1. Read the summary
  2. Answer the plot questions (found right after summaries, very short answer)
  3. Define the terms
  4. Answer ONE of the EC questions (4-8 complete lines per response).

For daily extra points, answer the other extra credit questions (EC) on a separate piece or paper (or email them to me at ).
……………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Book I: What Went On in the House of Odysseus
Athena appeals to Zeus for permission to help Odysseus reach home. Odysseus's home in Ithaca is overrun with suitors who are trying to win Penelope's hand. With the help of Athena disguised as Mentes, Telemachus finds the courage to confront the suitors.

PLOT QUESTIONS

1. Where is Odysseus?

2. What or who is Athena disguised as?

3. Why do Telemachus and his mother need Odysseus?

4. Why does Odysseus's wife have suitors?

5. What does Athena advise Telemachus to do?

TERMS

  1. epic:
  1. muse:
  1. epithet:
  1. invocation:
  1. in medias res:
  1. xenia:

EC

  1. Why would Homer begin an epic named after the main character without actually including him in the first book?
  2. Homer’s epics begin with invocations of the muse. Why pray for inspiration before an epic (oral presentation)? Hint: actors and directors sometimes do this today—Quentin Tarantino’s “muse” is Uma Thurman.
  3. Do you think Homer expected the ancient Greeks to believe that Telemachus and family actually communicated with the gods and goddesses? If so, does this make the epic too out of date for modern readers (or do people still talk to their God?). If not, why make the gods such a big part of the epic?

______

Book II: How the Council met in the Market-place of Ithaca, and What Came of It
In a town meeting, Telemachus announces his intentions to locate his father and rid his house of the suitors. He is met with ridicule and doubt, especially from Antinous who confronts Telemachus twice. Athena helps Telemachus prepare for his journey, and he sets sail in secret that night.
PLOT QUESTIONS:

1. Describe the trick that Penelope plays on her suitors.

2. What specifically does Athena do to help Telemachus in this book?

TERMS:

  1. Ilium:
  1. auspicious
  1. schemer
  1. Furies (character, not noun):
  1. libations

EC:

  1. The ancient epics are filled with references to libations. How are these still seen today?
  2. Athena tells Telemachus, “‘where your own intelligence fails, a god will inspire you.’” (27). Unpack this quote. How is it relevant to modern readers who worship different gods?

______

Book III: What Happened in Sandy Pylos
Following Athena's advice, Telemachus visits King Nestor of Pylos to get information about his father. Athena accompanies him disguised as an old family friend, Mentor. Nestor tells Telemachus stories about Odysseus. Telemachus continues his search on horseback with Nestor's son Megapenthes.

PLOT SUMMARY:
1. What is Nestor's opinion of Odysseus?

2. Describe Nestor's reaction when he realizes that Telemachus’ companion is Athena.

3. What is the story of Clytaemnestra that is told (p. 34).

4. How do we know from this story (and from Helen!) that women were not to be trusted by men in this time? Why weren’t they?

TERMS:

  1. venerable:
  1. portico

EC:

  1. It was very important for a young man to go on a journey in ancient Greece as a sort of coming-of-age act. Do young people have this option today? What do you think it might be if not a trip on ship then horseback?
  2. The Greeks believed that heroes had to have certain characteristics: Summarize what this link contains:
  3. 21st century statistics include data pertaining to how children of single parents suffer more than those from two-parent homes. However, Telemachus is raised by a single mother and is very heroic for being just a teenager. Do you think two parents are necessary for a child to be reared “correctly”?

______

Book IV: What Happened in Lacedaemon
Telemachus and Megapenthes arrive at and are welcomed into the home of Menelaus and Helen. Menelaus tells Telemachus of his travels with Odysseus and that Odysseus is trapped on an island by Calypso. Meanwhile, Antinous has learned that Telemachus has embarked on his journey and plots with the other suitors to kill him upon his return to Ithaca. Penelope learns of Telemachus leaving and is upset.

PLOT SUMMARY:
1. What clues cue Menelaus and Helen that Telemachus is Odysseus's son?

2. What is Menelaus' opinion of Odysseus?

3. Describe Antinous' plan to destroy Telemachus.

TERMS:

1. Homeric simile:

EC:

  1. The Homeric Simile is used several times throughout this book. Find and list three, then make up three of your own (use your friends, parents, teachers, etc.).
  2. Stories of war have a tendency to bring people to tears, regardless of political association. Why is this? Have we become more or less patriotic?
  3. For the Greeks, war was as much about survival as it was about pride. For the ancients, it was conquer or be conquered. How has war changed?

______

Book V: Hermes Is Sent to Calypso's Island; Odysseus Makes a Raft and Is Carried to the Coast of Scheria
Athena again pleads to Zeus for Odysseus's release. Zeus sends Hermes to Calypso with orders that she release Odysseus. Calypso grudgingly complies. Odysseus is given much trouble by Poseidon, but with the help of Leucothea and Athena, he finally reaches the land of the Phaeacians, where he collapses, exhausted.

PLOT SUMMARY:
1. Who is Hermes, and what is his mission?

2. What can Hermes do with his wand?

3. Who is holding Odysseus captive?

4. What is Calypso's reaction to having to let Odysseus go?

5. What is the main problem Odysseus faces while traveling by sea?

6. What happens to Odysseus at the end of Book 5?

TERMS:

  1. dramatic irony:
  1. situational irony:
  1. verbal irony:
  1. omnipotence:

EC:

  1. This is the first time we meet Odysseus, the hero. Why is his introduction ironic?
  2. Odysseus is being held captive by a beautiful goddess who wishes to continue to love him and make him immortal, yet Homer has his character long for home, his kingdom, his mortal wife, and his child. How does this characterize Odysseus? Would you stay or go?
  3. Odysseus is called “ingenious” by Calypso. We see that he is cherished not for his excess of attractiveness or his physical strength but for his cleverness. Why cleverness? How does this compare to superheroes today?

______

Book VI: How Odysseus Appealed to Nausicaa, and She Brought Him to Her Father's House
Athena appears in Nausicaa's dream, telling her to go to the river and wash clothes. Nausicaa and her maids meet Odysseus at the river, and all but Nausicaa are frightened of him because of his appearance. He begs her to help him and she agrees. He bathes and follows Nausicaa's instructions for asking her parents for assistance.

PLOT SUMMARY:
1. What "subliminal" message does Athena give to Nausicaa while she lies sleeping?

2. Who is the only person who doesn't run away from the terrifying Odysseus? Why doesn't she run away?

3. Is it pure luck that Nausicaa helps Odysseus? Explain.

4. What does the fact that Odysseus won't bathe in front of the girls tell us about the kind of person he is?

5. Does Nausicaa believe her parents will help Odysseus?

6. Why won't Nausicaa let Odysseus ride in her cart?

7. What instructions does she give Odysseus?

TERMS:

  1. provisions:
  1. courteous:
  1. rancour:

EC:

  1. Have you ever had a dream that was so strange you considered it to be “divine intervention”? Describe it. Have you ever dreamed something that later came true?

______

Book VII: What Happened to Odysseus in the Palace of Alcinous
Odysseus arrives at the palace of Alcinous and Arete and begs for their help in getting him home. They feed him, ask about his situation, and agree to give him the help he needs.

PLOT SUMMARY:
1. What craft are the Phaeacians best known for?

2. How is Odysseus treated as a guest?

EC:

  1. Marriage was essentially a property exchange in this time period (except in Sparta, where women had rights) and still is in certain parts of the world. How is this property exchange seen in Nausicaa’s interaction with her father and Odysseus?
  2. What might be the advantage to allowing your parents pick your mate? In the US we have the power to choose our spouses but we have a very high divorce rate. Do you think personal choice has anything to do with this? What insight might your parents have?

______

Book VIII: How They Held Games and Sports in Phaeacia
The next day Alcinous sends the boys of the town to construct a ship for Odysseus's voyage and gathers the men for a day of entertainment for Odysseus. Demodocos sings of famous men, including Odysseus. When Alcinous sees Odysseus crying during the minstrel's story, he commences the games and dancing to keep his guest happy. At dinner, Odysseus again weeps when Demodocos sings about the Trojan War. At this point, Alcinous finally demands to know who Odysseus is.

PLOT SUMMARY:
1. Describe the activities that King Alcinous arranges to entertain Odysseus.

2. Who is Demodocos?

3. How is King Alcinous helping Odysseus to get home?

4. What is Odysseus's reaction whenever Demodocos sings about the Trojan War?

TERMS:

  1. bard:
  1. scepter:
  1. tragic:

EC:

  1. If we don’t hold formal games like the Phaeacians did, what activities do men (mostly) engage in order to compete in a so
  2. The bard sings of a “love trap” designed to catch the cheating Aphrodite and Ares. Summarize what happens. How does the limping Hephaestus win against the god of war?
  3. Why doesn’t Odysseus just come out and say who he is? What does this say about his character? Do you like him as a character because of the way he behaves?
  4. Find a piece of Greek art from the Heroic Age/Archaic Age and compare the representation of the warrior with the characterization of Odysseus. What aspects do they have in common?

______

Book IX: How Odysseus Visited the Lotus-Eaters and the Cyclops
Odysseus tells Alcinous who he is and what things have happened to him since he left Troy. He tells of his adventures in Ismarus, in the land of the Lotus-Eaters, and in the land of the Cyclopians. He describes the Cyclopians as "violent and lawless" (102), and he and his men run into trouble with one of the Cyclopians. Men are killed and Poseidon's vendetta against Odysseus begins.

PLOT SUMMARY:
1. What was the effect of the Lotus plant?

2. How heavy is the door of the Cyclops' cave?

3. What is the first villainous thing the Cyclops does?

4. Why doesn't Odysseus kill the Cyclops when he has the chance?

5. What does Odysseus give the Cyclops as a gift?

6. What gift does the Cyclops give in return?

7. What does Odysseus tell the Cyclops that his name is?

8. How do Odysseus and his men sneak out of the Cyclops' cave?

9. What foolish thing does Odysseus do?

10. What did a soothsayer once predict would happen to the Cyclops?

11. What does the Cyclops ask his father Poseidon to do for him?

TERMS:

1. flashback:

EC:

  1. Why do you think Homer presents the epic in flashback sequence instead of chronologically? What are the advantages to this?
  2. What other authors/films include flashbacks as a storytelling technique? It is more sophisticated or just confusing?
  3. When facing the Cyclops, Odysseus’ men have an external monster to face, but when facing the Lotus Eaters, Odysseus’ men fight their own selves. Which is a more compelling adversary?
  4. Find a piece of Greek art from the Heroic Age/Archaic Age that shows a monster and compare the representation of the monster with the characterization of those in the epic. What aspects do they have in common?

______

Book X: The Island of the Winds; the Land of the Midnight Sun; Circe
Odysseus tells of his visit to Aeolia, where Aeolus Hippotades, manager of the winds, helps Odysseus and his crew get home. He puts wind in a bag, which Odysseus carries on board the ship. Unfortunately, his curious crew decides to open the bag, and the released winds drive them away from home. They arrive at the land of the Laestrygonians, who eat most of Odysseus's crew before his ship escapes. Then they land on the island of Aeaea, the home of Circe. She traps some of the men and turns them into pigs. Odysseus, with the help of Hermes, gets her to release his men and help him reach home. She instructs him to visit Hades, where he will meet Teiresias, who will tell him how to get home.

PLOT SUMMARY:
1. Who is the god of wind?

2. What favor does he do for Odysseus and his men?

3. What stupid mistake do some of the men make on the ship?

4. How do even more men die after the bag accident?

5. What does Circe do to some of Odysseus's men?

6. How does Odysseus get her to release his men?

7. What instructions does Circe give Odysseus?

TERMS:

  1. prevail:
  1. forlorn:
  1. moly:

EC:

  1. Circe turns Odysseus’ men into swine. Is this an accurate transformation?
  2. Circe seems to have a “love/hate” relationship with Odysseus; she tries to overpower him, then she demands he take her as a lover. Do you think the Greeks understood women if they characterized them as such? Defend your answer.
  3. Some critics have argued that the cliché phrase, “to hell and back” is an allusion to this book of The Odyssey. Why do you think that is?

______

Book XI: How Odysseus Visited the Kingdom of the Dead
Odysseus follows Circe's instructions. In Hades, he first sees a dead shipmate, Elpenor, then his mother, Anticleia, then Teiresias. Teiresias tells him what will happen to him next, including a warning about the cattle of Helios and how to reconcile with Poseidon. He then gets to talk with his mother, and she answers many questions for him. At this point, Odysseus tries to conclude his storytelling, but Alcinous begs him to continue. Odysseus says only that he met the souls of many who passed away, then he left Hades.
PLOT SUMMARY:

1. What does Odysseus do to call the souls of the dead to him?

2. Who is Teiresias and what does Odysseus want from him?

3. What does Teiresias predict for Odysseus?

4. What should Odysseus do to the suitors at his house?

5. What does Teiresias say Odysseus should do after dealing with the suitors?

6. What is the name of Odysseus's mother and how did she die?

7. Why can't Odysseus hug his dead mother?

TERMS:

1. character foil:

EC:

  1. Odysseus meets a variety of people in Hades. Which character is the most interesting in your opinion and why?
  2. Clytaemnestra has braded her “whole sex” according to Homer (151). What Biblical character is also responsible for her whole sex? Explore the connection between these two very different pieces.
  3. Hades seems to be neither good nor bad, but just destiny. What do you believe happens when we die?
  4. Achilles tells Odysseus that he regrets dying in the Trojan War. How does this serve as a foil to the earlier characterization of war?

______

Book XII: The Singing Sirens, and the Terrors of Scylla and Charybdis
Odysseus tells of their return to Aeaea to bury Elpenor and of Circe's warning of the dangers to come: the Sirens, Scylla, Charybdis, and Helios's cattle. The men make it through the perils of the sea, as predicted. On land, when they run out of provisions, they eat Helios's cattle even though Odysseus made them promise not to. At sea, all except Odysseus are killed as punishment. Odysseus is adrift for nine days before landing on the island of Ogygia, Calypso's home. Alcinous and the other listeners are now up-to-date on the travels of Odysseus.
PLOT SUMMARY:

1. Why should Odysseus be wary of the Sirens?

2. What should he and his men do to keep safe from the Sirens?

3. Describe Scylla.

4. What will Charybdis do if Odysseus's ship gets too close?

5. What does Odysseus keep secret from his men?

6. Describe the circumstances of Odysseus's shipmates' deaths. Is it Odysseus's fault?

EC:

  1. The Siren Song is still a cultural reference. Why are women dangerous to men who are on a mission?
  2. Why are almost all of the monsters female? Is this a continuum in Homer’s works? Unpack.

______

Book XIII: How Odysseus Came to Ithaca
Odysseus is done telling his story. King Alcinous gives Odysseus a ship with a crew and supplies, and the townspeople all give him gifts. The crew delivers Odysseus to Ithaca and returns home. Poseidon, who is mad that anyone would make Odysseus's travels by sea so easy, turns the ship and crew into stone as they return to their harbor. Odysseus does not believe he is home until Athena convinces him. She disguises him as an old beggar and sends to him to his faithful pigkeeper.
PLOT SUMMARY: