Odyssey- book 7

Question 1

how does Athene protect Odysseus at the beginning of book 7?

Answer 1

she puts a protective mist over him so that the towns people don’t pay much attention to him

Question 2

what does Athene disguise herself as and what does she do?

Answer 2

she disguises herself as a young girl and leads Odysseus to Alcinous’ palace

Question 3

what does Athene advise Odysseus?

Answer 3

to be bold in his actions and to win over the sympathies of the queen, Arete for she will likely allow Odysseus to return home safely and help him on his journey.

Question 4

what does Odysseus admire about Alcinous’ palace?

Answer 4

it’s luxury and fruitfulness

Question 5

when Odysseus enters the palace, what is everyone doing?

Answer 5

feasting and pouring libations in Hermes honour

Question 6

who is king Alcinous’ supposedly the grandson of?

Answer 6

Poseidon

Question 7

How does Odysseus approach Alcinous and Arete?

Answer 7

by throwing himself at Arete’s knees whilst the mist that Athene put over Odysseus disappears, Odysseus blesses Arete and her family and begs for a safe passage home

Question 8

where does Alcinous instruct Odysseus to sit and how is this opposed?

Answer 8

Odysseus is placed to sit down next to the hearth, but lord Echeneus claims that it is unlike Alcinous’ royal ways to let a stranger sit by the hearth, and tells Alcinous he should make Odysseus sit on one of the silver chairs and for his squires to mix some more wine so that they can pour a libation for zeus.

Question 9

how is Odysseus treated with xenia?

Answer 9

He is placed in one of the silver chairs and he feasts and drinks a glass of red wine before raising a glass to zeus

Question 10

what does Alcinous say to the lords at the end of the night?

Answer 10

that they will meet tomorrow to sacrifice to the gods and arrange the stranger’s journey home.

Question 11

Who does Alcinous claim Odysseus looks like?

Answer 11

claims that Odysseus might be an immortal, but usually the gods come down to them undisguised due to the great sacrifices that they perform for the gods and he claims that their city is special to the gods- Odysseus shuts down these ideas, and claims through a speech that he is only a mortal who is weighed down with mortal suffering. His speech receives applause from the captains and counsellors, and they agree that the stranger should be escorted home

Question 12

as the servants clear away the plates what happens?

Answer 12

Arete notices that Odysseus is wearing clothes from the palace, and she questions him about it

Question 13

how does Odysseus respond when Arete notices that he is wearing clothes from the palace?

Answer 13

. Odysseus tells her a fuller version of his story, then: he describes his entrapment on Calypso’s island, his escape and difficult journey, and his encounter with Nausicaa – how she gave him clothes and directed him to the castle.

Question 14

Alcinous is angry at nausicaa for what reason?

Answer 14

Not escorting Odysseus himself into the city

Question 15

How does Odysseus prevent nausicaa from getting in trouble?

Answer 15

He claims that it was his idea not to accompany the princess into the city.

Question 16

what does Alcinous wish?

Answer 16

that such a man as Odysseus could stay in Phaeacia and wed Nausicaa.

Question 17

if Odysseus stayed in the city of the Phaeacian’s what would Alcinous offer him?

Answer 17

His daughter’s hand in marriage

Question 18

what does Alcinous arrange for Odysseus the next day?

Answer 18

A ship with men to take him back home to ithaca

Question 19

how is the theme of xenia shown in book 7?

Answer 19

Odysseus has to remind Alcinous of the rules of xenia and piety and that he will not answer any more of his questions before he has eaten or drunk- as per the rules of xenia.

Question 20

How is the role of the gods shown in book 7?

Answer 20

Athene educates Odysseus on the history of the king and queen of phaeacia, and then goes on to compliment arete’s ‘godlike nature’ which intiially earns him their favour.

-Alcinous also claims that the gods do not usually disguise themselves when they visit the phaeacians- this is ironic in view of the fact that Athene assumes three different disguises during the time Odysseus says on the island of scherie.

Question 21

how are delays and interruptions shown?

Answer 21

-the detailed description of the palace delays the interaction between Odysseus and the Phaeacians.

-Athene spends a while explaining the family set-up of alcinous and arete.

-Echeneus has to prompt Alcinous to offer Xenia

-the requirements of xenia cause the action to be delayed

Question 22

What does West claim on ‘Homeric hospitality’?

Answer 22

That when not on the battlefield, the main qualities of Homer’s homeric world are distinctly displayed through exercise of hospitality. hospitality is a demonstration of one’s reputation.