Odyssey complete flashcard set
context: who is homer, what time is the Odyssey set it, generic information about homer:
The Odyssey, written by Homer, is set in the Bronze age, which is the period from around 1600 to 1100 BCE. During the bronze age there were many different beliefs and societal expectations which differ from our society today.
Homer:
The Odyssey is written by Homer, who heavily influenced Ancient Greek’s perceptions of the Olympian gods throughout the 8th-5th centuries BC, and these perceptions remained unchanged for many centuries. We know this as Herodotus writes about the continued influence of Homer throughout his time period, highlighting the significance that poets such as Homer had on shaping the Greek society’s perceptions of the gods and for the future as well.
How does Homer typically represent the gods?
Throughout Homer’s works, we see common connections of how he portrayed the immortals. For example;
- The gods are portrayed as very powerful but are also governed by personal impulse and desire
- The gods are often invested in mortal affairs and often have favourites (such as Athene favouring Odysseus in the Odyssey)
- The gods are often used for light relief in order to contrast with the severity of the situation that mortals find themselves in
- the gods can physically intervene
- the gods can feel pity for mortals
- sexual relationships between gods and mortals are justified/normal
what did Ancient Greeks believe about Gods and mythical creatures?
Ancient gods and creatures:
The Greeks believed that, in this ancient time, gods still roamed the earth. The ancient Greeks used their mythology to explain the world and all it’s phenomena, from the cycle of day and night to the passage of the seasons, as well as processes such as storms and earthquakes. The Greeks, like most ancient societies, had multiple gods and goddesses. Gods could be associated with more than one power or attribute, and worshipping the gods was not considered to be a religion, but simply a form of everyday life. Along with the 12 olympian gods, the Greeks also believed in minor gods- also known as demigods. Among those demigods that appear in the Odyssey are the sirens, Circe and Calypso. The Greeks also believed in other kinds of immortal beings such as giants (such as Polyphemus, a cyclops that curses Odysseus) and monsters (such as Scylla and Charybdis).
what is an epic poem?
An epic poem is a long, narrative poem written in a grand style that recounts the adventures of heroes, and expresses cultural values and has cultural, national or religious significance. In ancient Greece, epics were recited by bards or singers at special occasions. (we see this throughout the Odyssey- particularly during several books involving the Phaecaians, where the bard, Democodus, recounts the tales of the Trojan war). Greek Epics were transmitted orally for centuries before they were written down.
what characteristics/conventions do epic poems have? Epic poems have several characteristics:
- Focus on a hero of cultural or national importance who has many adventures (shown through the character of Odysseus)
A wide geographic scope with many settings (this is evident in the Odyssey as we travel through several places throughout the ancient world) - Battles requiring heroic deeds
- An extended journey
-Involvement of supernatural beings , such as gods (this is evident through the involvement of gods such as Athene throughout, and multiple encounters with immortal beings such as gods and demigods) - Epics begin in the Media Res, in the middle of the story, rather than at the beginning of it- events leading to the media res are often presented in flashbacks (we see this throughout the Odyssey, as we begin the story at book 1, twenty years after Odysseus left to fight in the trojan war. Any events that happened before the media res are described to us through Odysseus recounting, particularly to the Phaeacians)
what do epics usually begin with?
Epic poems also usually begin with an invocation (the request for divine intervention) of the muse. The muses were the 9 Greek goddesses of various arts and included Calliope, the goddess of epic poetry.
what was life like for Ancient Greek women?
Female citizens had few rights in comparison to male citizens. They were unable to own land or inherit, and a woman’s place was in her home and her purpose in life was the bearing of children. Contact with non family males was discouraged, (this is evident in the Odyssey as Nausicaa avoids having Odysseus near the carriage to avoid the townspeople gossiping, as well as Penelope covering her face in her own home whilst among the suitors) and many women occupied themselves with indoor activities such as wool work and weaving. Women citizens were also expected to marry as a virgin, and marriage was usually organised by the father, who offered his daughter in return for a dowry and Marriage typically occured for women at the age of thirteen or fourteen. (We see this theme of marriage through the character of Nausicaa, daughter of Alcinous, who is compared to Artemis throughout the poem, the goddesses of virginity and vestal virgins.) Managing the household and weaving was also one of women’s main responsibilities- we see this throughout the Odyssey as Penelope weaves a shroud for Laertes and spends her days weaving whilst waiting for Odysseus to return. On any occasion outside of the house a young woman had to be covered around her head and neck- in the Odyssey, Penelope covers her face on most occasions when around the suitors which signifies that she is essentially not in her own household, it is ruled by the suitors.
what is the story of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra?
Odysseus’ family and their situation is repeatedly contrasted and compared with Agamemmnon’s family (particularly in book 11 when Odysseus visits the underworld). The story goes that after Agamemmnon sacrificed his daughter, Iphigenia, during the Trojan war, his wife Clytemnestra grew angry with him and never forgave him. During the 10 year war, she took on a new lover, Aegisthus, and when Agammemnon returned from the Trojan war, they captured him and killed him. Clytemnestra is used to represent the worst of femininity, Agammemnon’s ghost saying in the book of the dead (book 11) that no woman should be trusted, and that Penelope is the only exception to this rule. Odysseus is at risk of having the same fate as Agamemmnon, and Athene encourages Telemachus that he should take Orestes (Agammemnon’s son) as his role model- Orestes successfully avenged his father’s murder, just as Telemachus can successfully avenge the damage that the suitors have done to his father’s estate.
what are the rules of xenia?
- The guest should wait at the entrance of the oikos to be acknowledged
- The host greats the guest
- The host offers the guest the best seat
- Host offers water for the guest to wash their hands
- Host offers food and wine to the guest
- Entertainment is provided- such as in the books with the Phaeacians, who provide entertainment to Odysseus such as the bard, Demodocus who sings songs based on the Trojan war, and hold Phaeacian games before he is given a safe passage home
- Once the guest has rested, the host may begin to question them
- A safe passage home is given- This is shown through the Phaeacians offering Odysseus a safe passage home- this is why Zeus is reluctant to punish the Phaeacians by the orders of Poseidon- they are following the rules of hospitality and acting quite pious, therefore if he punished them it would be unreasonable
what happened during an assembly?
In Ancient Greece, anyone could call an assembly in theory, but it would usually be the king. Assemblies would usually be regulated with the use of a speaker’s staff- only the person holding the staff is allowed to speak. The function of an assembly was usually to be a debating forum, and to discuss the arguments for and against a given course of action.
what is a homeric epiphany?
Homeric epiphany: An appearance of a god on earth. Epiphanies can take many forms including dreams, visions, voices etc. They often occur as a result of prayer or sacrifice. In Homeric poetry they are always accompanied by thunder and lightning.
what is an epic simile and why is it used?
The Odyssey also uses ‘Epic Similes’ that compare actions and characters in the plot of the poem to aspects of daily life or the natural world. For example, ‘Like a fond father welcoming back his son after nine years abroad’ (book 16). Epic similes help to visualise the fantastical events in the poem. However, these descriptions also connect the world of the epic to the world of it’s audience, at the same time slowing down the narrative and providing expressive detail.
what is the symbol of the Burial shroud?
Penelope’s burial shroud for Laertes: Penelope claims to the suitors that she will choose a new husband when she finishes weaving a burial shroud for laertes-however, at night she undoes the work that she has woven during the day. By unweaving the shroud she is prolonging the evitable choice that she must make. Because Penelope is largely powerless to do anything about the suitors, her shroud ploy symbolises that she shares her husband’s cleverness and cunning (metis), and they are both very similar characters. It also represents her fidelity to her marriage and commitment to her husband despite the fact that he could have died at sea- the fact that she dismantles a funeral shroud while delaying taking a new husband also suggests that she is unwilling to accept the death of her real husband. Lastly, the shroud could possibly be a symbolism of Penelope’s power- the shroud is the only thing that Penelope has complete control over in a dysfunctional oikos overran by suitors. By undoing her weaving, she is controlling her own destiny.
what is the symbol of the sea and where is this shown?
The sea: The sea is one of the most prominent symbols within the Odyssey. Throughout the Odyssey, Odysseus travels the open waters in his desperate wish to return home from the Trojan war. Odysseus’ journey and nostos is largely hindered by this force of nature- it is a representation of the danger that Odysseus is continually put in, and a continual reminder of the negative effects of his Kleos and hubris- he was punished by the god of the sea, Poseidon, for blinding his cyclops son, polyphemus- the first place he ventured to after the Trojan war. The sea becomes a symbol of Odysseus’ helplessness against the gods. This is shown through:
- Odysseus and his men are taken back to Aeolus island by sea after Odysseus’ men open up the bag of winds. The released storm from the bag of winds sends them straight back to Aeolus
- Odysseus is warned by Circe not to touch the sun god Hyperion’s cattle, and Odysseus makes his men swear an oath that they will not touch the cattle. However, they incorrectly sacrifice the cattle and eat them, subsequently causing a storm that destroys the ship and kills everyone apart from Odysseus
what is the symbolism of Odysseus’ bow?
Odysseus’ bow: As the suitors find out that Penelope is prolonging her decision to choose a suitor to marry, she has to think of another way to delaying choosing a husband–she is inspired by Athene to propose an archery competition- she claims that any man that can string Odysseus bow and shoot an arrow through twelve axe heads will be chosen as her husband. However, Penelope knows that Odysseus is the only man capable of stringing the bow, and his bow becomes a symbol of his sheer strength and how the suitors lack the same sense of strength and coordination as Odysseus. None of the suitors come close to stringing the bow which indicates their weakness and that they are not suited to lead Ithaca or marry Penelope.
what is the symbol of Penelope and Odysseus bed?
Odysseus and Penelope’s bed: When Odysseus reveals his identity to Penelope she tells him that in his absence the servants have rearranged their room and moved around their furniture- including their bed. (this is used as a way to test Odysseus). At hearing this, Odysseus is outraged and tells Penelope that this is impossible as only gods could move their bed- He carved it into the wood of an olive tree and built the whole house around this bed. Because of Odysseus’ response, Penelope knows that this is truly her husband. The bed is symbolic of the couple’s shared intelligence and cunning (metis)- it is their little intimate secret that only the two of them know, and is symbolic of faithfulness, loyalty and their bond.
Where do we see Odysseus character developing throughout the Odyssey?
Early on in the Odyssey, Odysseus’ love of Kleos prompts him to reveal his identity to the Cyclops, Polyphemus, and bring Poseidon’s wrath down on him. However, by the end of the epic, Odysseus is more willing to temper pride with patience, and remains disguised as a beggar for several books, not revealing his identity to the suitors and not immediately reacting to the abuse that he faces from characters such as Antinous, and Melanthius. Instead, Odysseus endures the physical and verbal abuse until the plan that he has set out and the loyalties he has secured put him in a position where he can strike back against the suitors effectively.
In the beginning of the Odyssey, Odysseus is also quick to indulge in the search for glory, ransacking villages and taunting his enemies. However, by the end of the Odyssey, Odysseus is patient, careful and observant.
how does Odysseus win over the trust of Nausicaa?
- He compares her to the goddesses Artemis (Goddesses of virginity and purity), suggesting that she is as beautiful as one of the gods and immediately suggests her status as an unmarried girl
- He says her brothers and parents are lucky to have her as a daughter and suggests that her future husband will be the most fortunate of all (showing that he realises that she is at that age where she will be beginning to marry and that she is probably fantasising about her future husband)
- He calls her princess- in Homer, royalty look like royalty, and she is royal because of her ‘superior’ looks and demeanour compared to her maids
- He establishes his own credentials by suggesting that he has a ‘fine army’ and that he is a significant figure
- He seeks empathy from Nausicaa by saying that he has been at sea for 19 days, buffed by storms before reaching her country
- He seeks her help and for her hospitality (xenia) which she shouldn’t reject as this would be impious- he also prays on her behalf, (showing that he is a pious and god-fearing man) for a husband, a home and a good reputation
