Book 6 - Nausicaa Flashcards
EXAM QUESTION:
1. Read the following passage and answer all of the questions which follow:
(Odysseus asks Nausicaa for help)
‘And it is with the same wonder and veneration that I look at you, my lady, and I dare not clasp your knees, though my sufferings are serious enough. Only yesterday, after nineteen days, I made my escape from the wine-dark see. It took all that time for the waves and the tempestuous winds to carry me here from the island of Ogygia. And now some god has has flung me on this shore, no doubt to suffer more disasters here. For I have no hope that my troubles will come to an end; the gods have plenty in store for me before that can be. Pity me, princess.’
a) What impression do you get of Odysseus from this passage? Give reasons for your views and support them with details from the passage.
Candidates may refer to some of the following:
- Full of flattery
- Respectful in keeping his distance
- Suffered greatly during the storm
- Victim of the gods
- Lacking hope
- Sorry for himself
- Supplicant.
Clear reference to the passage and a range of points are required for thorough. Do not credit evidence outside
the passage.
Candidates may explain several aspects in more detail or may cover a greater range of aspects more briefly.
EXAM QUESTION:
1. Read the following passage and answer all of the questions which follow:
(Odysseus asks Nausicaa for help)
‘And it is with the same wonder and veneration that I look at you, my lady, and I dare not clasp your knees, though my sufferings are serious enough. Only yesterday, after nineteen days, I made my escape from the wine-dark see. It took all that time for the waves and the tempestuous winds to carry me here from the island of Ogygia. And now some god has has flung me on this shore, no doubt to suffer more disasters here. For I have no hope that my troubles will come to an end; the gods have plenty in store for me before that can be. Pity me, princess.’
b) What help does Nausicaa give Odysseus before he reaches the palace of Alcinous?
Candidates may refer to some of the following:
- Provides clothing
- Provides opportunity and oil for bath
- Gives directions
- Shows xenia – food, drink
- Background about life in the land of the Phaeacians
- Advice on how to approach her parents – when inside the palace he should ignore Alcinous and beg Arete
- She allows him to follow the wagon
- She tells him to wait at the grove of Athene.
Answers may either offer an overview of the help given or focus on the detail of several types of assistance.
Either approach is valid and should be credited in line with the marking grid.
EXAM QUESTION:
1. Read the following passage and answer all of the questions which follow:
(Odysseus asks Nausicaa for help)
‘And it is with the same wonder and veneration that I look at you, my lady, and I dare not clasp your knees, though my sufferings are serious enough. Only yesterday, after nineteen days, I made my escape from the wine-dark see. It took all that time for the waves and the tempestuous winds to carry me here from the island of Ogygia. And now some god has has flung me on this shore, no doubt to suffer more disasters here. For I have no hope that my troubles will come to an end; the gods have plenty in store for me before that can be. Pity me, princess.’
c) Explain why Nausicaa offers to help Odysseus.
Accept any reasonable opinion based on any of the following:
- Athene has made Nausicaa think of getting married
- Athene has enhanced Odysseus’ looks
- Athene has put courage into Nausicaa’s heart
- She feels sorry for him
- She falls for his charm
- She abides by the rules of xenia
- She likes him.
Candidates may explain several aspects in more detail or may cover a greater range of aspects more briefly.
Either approach is acceptable and should be credited in line with the marking grids.
EXAM QUESTION:
- Read the following passage from ‘The Odyssey’ and answer all of the the questions which follow.
(Odysseus wakes up in an unknown place)
‘What country have I come to this time?’ he said with a groan. ‘What people are there here? Hostile and uncivilized savages, or kindly and god-fearing people? There’s a shrill echo in my ears, as though some girls were shrieking - Nymphs who haunt the steep hill-tops, the springs of rivers, and the grassy meadows. Or am I by any chance among human beings who can talk as I do? Well, I must go and use my own eyes to find out.’
So the noble Odysseus crept out from under the bushes, after breaking off with his great hand a leafy bough from the thicket to conceal his naked manhood. Then he advanced like a mountain lion who sallies out, defying wind and rain in the pride of his power, with fire in his eyes, to hunt down the sheep or oxen or pursue the wild deer.So Odysseus, naked as he was, made a move towards the girls with their braided hair.’
a) What impression do you get of Odysseus from his thoughts and actions in this passage? Give reasons for your views and support them with details from the passage.
-He weighs up the situation carefully before venturing out.
-He might be seen as initially despondent.
-He is cautious in moving from out of the bushes.
-He is tactful in covering himself up.
-He stalks his “prey” carefully.
-He might be seen as being a proud (or dangerous)
individual in being compared to a lion.
Accept any reasonable interpretation of the simile.
EXAM QUESTION:
- Read the following passage from ‘The Odyssey’ and answer all of the the questions which follow.
(Odysseus wakes up in an unknown place)
‘What country have I come to this time?’ he said with a groan. ‘What people are there here? Hostile and uncivilized savages, or kindly and god-fearing people? There’s a shrill echo in my ears, as though some girls were shrieking - Nymphs who haunt the steep hill-tops, the springs of rivers, and the grassy meadows. Or am I by any chance among human beings who can talk as I do? Well, I must go and use my own eyes to find out.’
So the noble Odysseus crept out from under the bushes, after breaking off with his great hand a leafy bough from the thicket to conceal his naked manhood. Then he advanced like a mountain lion who sallies out, defying wind and rain in the pride of his power, with fire in his eyes, to hunt down the sheep or oxen or pursue the wild deer.So Odysseus, naked as he was, made a move towards the girls with their braided hair.’
b) Describe what Nausicaa and her maids had been doing at the river.
-They unharnessed the mules and let them graze.
-They unloaded the clothes and trod them in the water.
-They rinsed these and spread them to dry on the beach.
-They then bathed and oiled themselves.
-They ate their picnic.
-They took off their headgear and played with a ball.
-Nausicaa led the girls in a song.
-One of the maids missed the ball and it fell in the
river.
Candidates are likely to remember they washed the clothes and played ball, but without detail, this should
not score higher than Level 3 if there is nothing else in the answer.
Candidates should not be credited simply for saying what was planned to happen (e.g. Nausicaa took a picnic and clothes to wash), but only what had actually happened (e.g. Nausicaa had eaten her picnic and washed the clothes).
Do not credit discussion of Nausicaa’s dream or what happens after this scene.
EXAM QUESTION:
- Read the following passage from ‘The Odyssey’ and answer all of the the questions which follow.
(Odysseus wakes up in an unknown place)
‘What country have I come to this time?’ he said with a groan. ‘What people are there here? Hostile and uncivilized savages, or kindly and god-fearing people? There’s a shrill echo in my ears, as though some girls were shrieking - Nymphs who haunt the steep hill-tops, the springs of rivers, and the grassy meadows. Or am I by any chance among human beings who can talk as I do? Well, I must go and use my own eyes to find out.’
So the noble Odysseus crept out from under the bushes, after breaking off with his great hand a leafy bough from the thicket to conceal his naked manhood. Then he advanced like a mountain lion who sallies out, defying wind and rain in the pride of his power, with fire in his eyes, to hunt down the sheep or oxen or pursue the wild deer.So Odysseus, naked as he was, made a move towards the girls with their braided hair.’
c) Explain why it would be unfair to call Phaeacians ‘hostile and uncivilized savages’.
-They have a government and a king.
-They show xenia to Odyssey (food, drink, help, no questions asked).
-They have respect for women as shown by the position of Arete.
-Women conform to Greek customary roles.
-Nausicaa’s concern for her reputation.
-The Phaeacians show civilisation in that they have a fleet.
-Buildings and orchards show a highly developed
society.
-They are favoured by the gods, especially
Poseidon.
Candidates must refer to other incidents in reasonable detail. Because of the wording of the question, candidates should not be credited for suggesting that they are uncivilised for Alcinous not welcoming Odysseus immediately.
