The Odyssey Flashcards
What does Arête give Ody?
Well- washed mantle and tunic, stout chest, bread, wine
How are the the Phaeacians loved by the gods?
Fruits never fail, famous seamen, women at loom, Alcinous’ palace, gods appear to them in true form
How is Alcinous’ palace described?
Bronze walls, golden doors, gold and silver dogs made by Hephaestus
Who insults Ody at the Phaeacian games?
Euryalus
What gifts do the Phaecians give Ody?
13 princes give him a cloak, tunic and talent of gold each, Euryalus gives impressive sword
What happens to Ody’s men that die fighting the cicones?
Three times saluted with a ritual call
Examples of Cyclopes’ lack of civilisation
No agriculture, no community, no assemblies or law, no shipwrights, no respect for xenia
Examples the Cyclopes are favoured by the gods
Gods look after land, rich soil
Where do the Cicones live?
Ismarus
Signs that Polyphemus is civilised?
Organised shepherd, bread, cheese
Sign Aeolus isn’t civilised?
Incestuous family- 6 daughters married to his 6 dons
What’s supernatural about Laestrygonia?
Small rotation between dawn and nightfall, lack of agriculture
How does Hermes help Ody with Circe?
Gives him moly and advice
What route does Ody take to the underworld?
River of ocean
Details of the trench and offerings to the dead?
Honey and milk, sweet wine then water and finally barley poured into trench
What promises does Ody make to the spirits?
Once in Ithaca, sacrifice barren heifer, pure with treasures, Tiresias offering of jet black sheep
How does Ody summon the spirits?
Sacrifice ram and ewe, hold heads down towards Erebus and their own towards the river. Flay sheep and burn, praying to Hades and Persephone
Important spirits Ody meets?
Elpenor, Anticleia, Agamemnon, Achilles
How did Agamemnon die?
Killed by Aegisthus, blames Clytemnestra
What advice does Agamemnon give Ody?
Don’t trust wife, will have a good homecoming
What does Achilles say that’s surprising?
Would rather be alive and a slave than dead
How does Ody disobey Circe’s instructions?
Puts armour on for Scylla
Who disobeys Odysseus on Thrinacie?
Eurylochus
Why are Ody and his men stranded on Thrinacie and how long for?
Storm from Zeus, 1 month
What’s Poseidon’s revenge on the Phaecians?
Ship to stone
How do the Phaecians hinder his return home?
Marriage to Nausicaa
What makes a Homeric hero?
Noble birth, relationship with immortals, kleos, physical strength/ beauty, excellence in war, cunning, resourceful, timé, nostos
Why is athene different to all other female characters?
She’s the virgin goddess
Tales of which women exaggerate Penelope’s fidelity?
Clytemnestra’s affair with Aegisthus and killing her husband Agamemnon. Book 11: Tyro, raped by Poseidon; Alcmene, seduced by Zeus; Epicaste; Phaedra, who fell in love with Hippolytus; Eriphile, who bartered her husband’s life
What is significant about Phaecia being a utopia in regards to women?
Arete has more power than any other women but not as much as calypso- she’s somewhere between the natural and supernatural
What does Penelope’s authority while Ody has been away highlight?
Inversion of normal order
Importance of speech
Direct speech in 8,000 out of the 12,000 lines. Important because they show a character’s rhetorical skills, convey emotion etc.
Importance of description
Inclusion in the middle of a fictional world of everyday objects described with great detail e.g. Calypso’s axe. Sounds used e.g. sizzling of pole into Polyphemus’ eye
Homeric simile
A simile extended into a complete picture
Characteristics of Ithaca
Introduced by Odysseus as a ‘rough land’ which ‘nurtures fine men.’ People have respect for divinites: their water supply is presided over by a shrine, and a cave on the shore is home to nymphs. Assemblies are held to discuss important matters
Examples Phaecia isn’t good
Unkind to strangers, their temple is dedicated to Poseidon, Odysseus’ enemy, Alcinous has to be reminded that a suppliant should not be left in the hearth when Odysseus arrives
What books does Odysseus narrate?
9-12
Telemachus’ role in the battle scene
Killing of Amphinomus is awkward and he cannot figure out how to get his spear from the corpse without making himself vulnerable. Leaves the door to the weapon store unlocked
Penelope’s relations
Cousin of Clytemnestra and Helen
Eurycleia helping slay the suitors
Keeps the women out of the way whilst Tele and Ody find weapons, locks the main door before the bow stringing contest, later called upon to bring sulphur to clean the pollution in the hall
Characters representing corruption in the household
Melantho and Melanthius (the goatherd)- brother and sister
Who is spared by Odysseus?
Medon and Phemius
How do the suitors compliment Penelope?
She has gifts given by Athene, better that anyone even from story: Tyro, Alcmene, Mycene
Example of Odysseus helping himself leave Ogygia
spends 4 days building raft
Odysseus’ loyal servants
Eumaeus and Philoetius
Which suitor is Melantho in love with?
Eurymachus
Predictions in the poem
Zeus book 1: Posiedon is punishing Odysseus because he blinded Polyphemus, but won’t kill Odysseus.
Zeus book 5: Odysseus will a build a raft and reach Scherie after 20 days, the Phaecians will welcome him and send him home with lots of gifts.
Tiresias book 11: He has angered Poseidon and is being punished. They shouldn’t eat the cattle, otherwise his ship and company will be destroyed, he’ll reach home late in a foreign ship having lost all his comrades and will find trouble in his house. Will kill the suitors.
Relationship between Penelope and Telemachus
She cries at the bard’s song about Troy and he sends her to her room because making decisions is a man’s business. Rebukes her for not welcoming Odysseus immediately. Penelope tells him he is allowing the suitors too many freedoms, that he had better sense and judgement when he was younger.
Songs sung by Demodocus
Argument between Achilles and Odysseus, Ares and Aphrodite, the Trojan horse
How is Odysseus described when Nausicaa first sees him?
Homeric simile: mountain lion hunting oxen/sheep/deer
How does Hyperion get revenge
Hermes told Calypso that Hyperion called on Zeus to get revenge
What do the crew want to do in Polyphemus’ cave?
Want to take the wine and cheese back to the ships but Odysseus is looking for ‘time’
