Book 7 - The Palace of Alcinous Flashcards
EXAM QUESTION:
- Read the following passage from ‘The Odyssey’ and answer all the questions which follow.
‘Now Odysseus Alcinous’ splendid dwelling. His heart was filled with varied emotions and he kept on stopping before he reached the bronze threshold. A kind of radiance, like that of the sun or moon, played upon the high-roofed halls of the great King. Bronze walls, topped by a frieze of dark-blue enamel, ran round to the left and right from the portals to the back of the court. The interior of the well-built mansion was guarded by golden doors hung on posts of silver which were set in the bronze threshold. The lintel they supported was of silver too, and the door-handle of gold. On either side stood gold and silver dogs, which Hephaestus had made with consummate skill, to keep watch over the palace of great-hearted Alcinous and serve him as immortal sentries never doomed to age.
a) How does Homer make the description of the entrance of the palace of Alcinous vivid and interesting? Give reasons for your views and support them with details from the passage.
- Simile suggests the brightness of the scene
- Use of colour and richness in the descriptions
- Involvement of gods in construction
- Description of dogs as if they were real guardians
- Use of epithets show grandeur of the entrance
- Reaction of Odysseus shows the impressiveness
- Impressive height of building.
Answers should focus mainly on literary techniques and should not simply quote lines from the passage without analysis. References to the simile should make a precise comparison. Comments such as “the simile makes it more vivid” or “helps us to imagine the scene” are too weak. Similarly, vague references to “detailed description” would not in itself be sound analysis. If candidates argue persuasively that the description is not vivid or interesting,
give credit. Quotation without comment or analysis cannot score more than 3 marks. References to punctuation are irrelevant.
EXAM QUESTION:
- Read the following passage from ‘The Odyssey’ and answer all the questions which follow.
‘Now Odysseus Alcinous’ splendid dwelling. His heart was filled with varied emotions and he kept on stopping before he reached the bronze threshold. A kind of radiance, like that of the sun or moon, played upon the high-roofed halls of the great King. Bronze walls, topped by a frieze of dark-blue enamel, ran round to the left and right from the portals to the back of the court. The interior of the well-built mansion was guarded by golden doors hung on posts of silver which were set in the bronze threshold. The lintel they supported was of silver too, and the door-handle of gold. On either side stood gold and silver dogs, which Hephaestus had made with consummate skill, to keep watch over the palace of great-hearted Alcinous and serve him as immortal sentries never doomed to age.
b) Describe what happened to Odysseus as he made his was to the palace of Alcinous.
- Odysseus prayed in Athene’s grove
- Nausicaa left Odysseus and carried on home
- Athene covered him in a thick mist
- Athene, in disguise, met him
- She advised him about the suspicions of the Phaeacians
- She led him to the palace
- She told him about the royal family (credit details)
- She advised him to approach Arete and spoke of the Phaeacians respect for her.
References to the scene on the beach should not be credited.
EXAM QUESTION:
- Read the following passage from ‘The Odyssey’ and answer all the questions which follow.
‘Now Odysseus Alcinous’ splendid dwelling. His heart was filled with varied emotions and he kept on stopping before he reached the bronze threshold. A kind of radiance, like that of the sun or moon, played upon the high-roofed halls of the great King. Bronze walls, topped by a frieze of dark-blue enamel, ran round to the left and right from the portals to the back of the court. The interior of the well-built mansion was guarded by golden doors hung on posts of silver which were set in the bronze threshold. The lintel they supported was of silver too, and the door-handle of gold. On either side stood gold and silver dogs, which Hephaestus had made with consummate skill, to keep watch over the palace of great-hearted Alcinous and serve him as immortal sentries never doomed to age.
c) Explain why the Phaeacians welcomed Odysseus when he came to the palace of Alcinous.
- They abide by the rules of xenia
- Odysseus was polite towards them
- Alcinous does not want to seem rude before his council
- They feel pity for Odysseus
- His magical entrance made them feel he was a special visitor
- Odysseus approaches Arete as advised
- The Phaeacians are protected by the gods and the gods would not send any threatening visitor to the Phaeacians
- He might even be a god.
For full marks, candidates should show an understanding of xenia or the character showed by Odysseus. The main focus of the answer should be why, not how, he was welcomed. Candidates should not simply retell the story.
Credit that the Phaeacians are impressed by his heroic exploits in his tales.
