Book 10 - Circe Flashcards
1
Q
Book 10
Where does Odysseus & his men go after the Cyclops
A
The home of Aeolus, ruler of the winds
2
Q
Book 10
What does Aeolus give to Odysseus
A
- An ox-skin pouch,
- containing all of the winds that might drive the ships off course,
- and he stirs up a westerly wind to guide Odysseus and his crew home to Ithaca
- Only the West Wind is left free to blow them toward Ithaca
3
Q
Book 10
What happens when the men have sailed for 10 days & are in sight of Ithaca
A
- Exhausted, Odysseus falls asleep
- Odysseus’s shipmates, who think that Aeolus has secretly given Odysseus a fortune in gold and silver, open the ox skin expecting to find treasure
- & inadvertently release wind that blows them right back to Aeolus’ island
- This time, however, Aeolus refuses to help them, certain that the gods hate Odysseus and wish to do him harm.
4
Q
Book 10
Where does Odysseus go after Aelous refuses to help them
A
The land of the Laestrygonians
5
Q
Book 10
What happens at The land of the Laestrygonians
A
- a race of powerful, uncivilised, cannibalistic giants
- whose king, Antiphates, refuses hospitality, and immediately eat one of his men for supper
- Odysseus and his remaining men flee toward their ships, but a massacre occurs, with the Laestrygonians pelting the ships with boulders and sink them as they sit in the harbor
- Only Odysseus’s ship escapes.
6
Q
Book 10
Where does Odysseus go after the Laestrygonians
A
Aeaea, home of the beautiful witch-goddess Circe
7
Q
Book 10
What does Circe do to the crew
A
- Tricks them with xenia, offers them food & wine which is drugged,
- making them lose all memory of their native land,
- turning them into pigs
8
Q
Book 10
What advice is Odysseus given when he goes to rescue his men
A
- Hermes approaches him in the form of a young man.
- He tells Odysseus to eat an herb, which will make him immune to Circe’s evil
- and then lunge at her when she tries to strike him with her sword
- He then must sleep with her
9
Q
What happens when Odysseus encounters Circe
A
- Odysseus follows Hermes’ instructions,
- Circe fell to her knees in supplication and says he will sleep with her if she frees his men
- which she does after a series of good xenia
- Odysseus soon becomes Circe’s lover, and he and his men live with her in luxury for a year
10
Q
Book 10
How does Circe aid Odysseus & his men in getting home
A
- Odysseus’ men, distraught, persuade him to continue the voyage homeward,
- Odysseus asks Circe for the way back to Ithaca.
- She replies he must sail to Hades, the realm of the dead,
- to speak with the spirit of Tiresias, who will tell him how to get home.
