Humanities Literature                                                                                     Vail/Graff

 

Study Guide: Homer’s Odyssey, Books VII-XII

 

  1. So sang the famous minstrel. Odysseus was melted, and tears ran over his cheeks. He wept as a woman weeps with her arms about a beloved husband, who has fallen in front of his people, fighting to keep the day of ruin from city and children; when she sees him panting and dying, she throws her arms around him and wails aloud, but the enemies behind her beat her about the back and shoulders with their spears, and drag her away into slavery, where labour and sorrow will be her lot and her cheeks will grow thin with pining.

 

1.     What are the implications of this comparison?

2.     What does this tell us about warfare among the Bronze Age Hellenes?

 

  1. Why does Alcinoos feel obligated to see that Odysseus gets home?

 

  1. W.H.D. Rouse, the translator of this edition, is British—so some British usage and vocabulary appear. For example, Book VIII opens with a meeting and the “parliament square by the quay” (p.88). How would you phrase this in American English?

 

  1. Note the subject of the “minstrel’s song,” above. What does this tell you about the creation of the Iliad and the Odyssey? Why are the Trojan War stories important to this culture—and Homer’s culture?

 

  1. What “games” do the men play? Note Laodamas’ comment on the value of sport to the culture—essay topic. You will see competition in the Underworld, mental competition, wrestling as symbol, open warfare. What have these activities in common?

 

  1. The story of Ares and Aphrodite (pp. 93-95) seems to be a digression, yet it is one of the most famous versions of this tale. What does it say about the gods? How does it fit (or not fit) here? How does it reflect Odysseus’ story? Agamemnon’s?

 

  1. What second story does Democodus sing? What does Homer suggest about the place of poets/minstrels in the culture?

 

  1. How does Alcinoos say his boots operate (p. 99)? Why would Poseidon—according to the story—“throw a high mountain round our city”? Relate this to the concepts of hubris and foreshadowing.

 

Book IX begins the flashback of Odysseus’ travels. Note that he only now tells Alcinoos his name. We will, I hope, cover this thoroughly in class. However, for review purposes, consider:

 

  1. What happened at Ismaros? What is the Bronze Age concept of the hero?

 

  1. What happened in the Land of the Lotus-Eaters? Who are the modern Lotus-Eaters? Why is this phrase a part of our language?

 

  1.  Why does Odysseus consider the Cyclopians uncivilized? What qualities does he look for? Did Odysseus behave properly in this episode? What are the consequences of his actions? Note the wording of Polyphemos’ prayer (curse), p. 111.

 

  1. Why does Aiolos refuse to help Odysseus a second time, calling him “the gods’ enemy”?

 

  1. How did Odysseus lose all the ships but his own?

 

  1. What does Circe do to the 21 men with Eurylochos? How could this become a metaphor? How does Circe recognize Odysseus? As a student of Bronze Age culture, what symbolism do you find in Odysseus “entering the bed of Circe”? (p. 119)

 

  1. Eurylochos says that Odysseus’ “rashness … brought them [the men] to destruction” (p. 121). Is he right? There is an interesting foil established between these two me, who seem to be cousins. Does Eurylochos wish to take Odysseus’ position?

 

  1. Why must Odysseus journey to the Underworld? Is this a convincing motivation? What really happens there? Why must the hero conquer death—die and be reborn? Universal archetype …

 

  1. Read Book XI very carefully. This visit to the realm of “mighty Hades and the awful Persephoneia” (p. 125) is practically all we know about the ancient Hellenes’ beliefs in an afterlife—and it’s contradictory. Note Elpenor’s request; what does it reveal about the culture? Explain Teiresias’ statement about carrying the oar inland. How will Odysseus’ adventures end?

 

  1. Feminist alert! Odysseus tells of 14 famous women in Erebos; what are their claims to fame? How does Arete respond? You?

 

  1. Note the way Odysseus learns the fates of the other Trojan veterans. This is a highly sophisticated narrative technique. And note the importance of competition, even after death (p. 135).

 

  1. Describe Scylla and Charybdis in modern terms. Did Odysseus choose his course between them as a leader should? What obligations of leadership does Homer suggest?

 

  1. Did Odysseus behave as a leader should when passing the Sirens? What do his actions tell us about MAN? How do we characterize this bandy-legged redhead?

 

  1. Consider the “cattle of Helios” episode in terms of: God’s will and human perversity, right and wrong, vengeance and justice, fate and free will. This small episode lays out enormous issues.

 

Ongoing considerations you should be ready to talk about:

 

How well does Odysseus look after his men?

How does Odysseus control his men? Implications?

Does Odysseus change—maybe grow—during these episodes?

Should a leader tell all?

How does the visit to Hades work as a literary device?

How does the whole flashback section with change of narrative voice work? How would it work orally?

Do you like Odysseus at this point? While the Odyssey is the Greek Bible in terms of setting out proper behavior (and proper language), later Greek poets find Odysseus himself a most ambiguous figure. They seem to see him as a trickster and a sneak. Justified?