The Odyssey Bk11-24 Flashcards
What does Hermes give to Circe?
Moly- An antidote to Circes drug (looks like a milk white flower with black root)
How is Hermes related to O?
O’s great grandfather- Odyssues’ grandfather from Anticleia (his mum) called Autolykus was a famous thief
What happens between Circe and O?
She becomes O’s lover and offers Xenia (rubs oil, clothed him in tunic)
How does O show his kleos when with Circe?
Says- “how can any honourable man bear to eat before freeing his men”. — Circe then frees his men
Who argues with Odysseus’ suggestion to stay with Circe?
Eurolychus says (“it was this mans reckless folly!)
How long does Odysseus stay with Circe?
1 Year
Why does O leave Circe?
He actually wants to stay but his companions convince him to leave to continue the journey- ironic as the companions are YEARNING OUT OF NOSTOS
How must Odysseus get back home and who tells him this?
Circe says that O must travel to the underworld and meet Tiresias (a blind prophet) who will tell him how
What happens to 1 of the comrades before they leave?
Elpenor gets drunk, goes to the roof, falls off the roof and breaks his neck= bad omen? no kleos?
What does Tiresias tell Odysseus?
They mustn’t slaughter/harm the cattle of Helios or else all the comrades will die
Who does Odysseus meet at the Underworld?
Agamemnon- tells story of death by Clymentstra
Achilles- is discontent in the underworld
Elpenor- asks for a proper burial in Aeaea
Anticleia(mum)- tells him how she died of grief
Ajax- refuses to speak to O
What does Achilles say in the Underworld?
“I would rather work as a serf on hire to a landless impoverished peasant than be king of the dead”= Juxtaposition between serf// king— He chose fame and an early death, and now says he regrets the decision. Almost an encouragement to O to stay alive
What happens in BK12?
Circe provides supplies. Odysseus then has to tackle the sirens (whose singing lures people to lose sanity). Homer does this to touch on mankind’s irresistible and deadly appeal.
What do the sirens create/ represent?
Pure, unmotivated desire to have no desire of nostos= selfish and dishonourable/ lack of self restraint
How does Circe resolve the sirens temptation?
Tells the comrades to put beeswax BUT knows Odysseus doesn’t want to so makes the comrades tie him back tightly and keep him secur— he is almost driven mad by his desire to submit!
Who is Scylla?
A 6 headed monster who eats 6 sailors/comrades via each head
Who is Charybdis?
An enormous whirlpool that threatens to swallow the entire ship
What does Circe tell Odysseus to do?
Tells Odysseus to sail his ship past Scylla and sacrifice 6 men rather than all men and sinking— therefore 6 men die
Where is Thrinacia?
Land of the sun god Helios
What happens at Thrincia?
The men want to stop and Eurylochus convinces Odysseus to let the stay since they have a ton of supplies left. BUT a storm keeps them for a month and they eventually slaughter the cattle as per Eurylochus’ say and die as Zeus causes a storm— Odysseus reaches at Ogyia where he spends his 7 years
What do the Phaecians do for O?
Alcinous loads his gifts on board the ship that will carry Odysseus to Ithaca. Odysseus sets sail and he sleeps the whole night, while the Phaeacian crew commands the ship. The crew gently carries him and his gifts to shore and then sails for home
What does Poseidon do to the Phaeacians?
Poseidon spots Odysseus in Ithaca, he becomes enraged at the Phaeacians for not assisting his nemesis. He complains to Zeus, who allows him to punish the Phaeacians. Just as their ship is pulling into harbour at Scheria, the ship suddenly turns to stone and sinks to the bottom of the sea
Who does Odysseus meet when he awakens in Ithaca?
Athena (disguised)
What does Athena say to Odysseus?
Athena announces that it is time for Odysseus to use his wits to punish the suitors. She tells him to hide out in the hut of his swineherd, Eumaeus. She informs him that Telemachus has gone in search of news of him and gives him the appearance of an old vagabond (tramp)
What happens between Eumaeus and Odysseus?
Eumaeus doesn’t recognize the Odysseus as his master, he invites him inside. There Odysseus has a meal and listens as Eumaeus heaps praise upon the memory of his former master, whom he fears is lost for good, and scorns upon the behaviour of his new master
What fabricated story does Odysseus tell Eumaeus?
Odysseus lies that he is from Crete. He fought with Odysseus at Troy and made it home safely, he claims, but a trip that he made later to Egypt went awry, and he was reduced to poverty. It was during this trip, he says, that he heard that Odysseus was still alive
What omen does Helen say?
an eagle carrying a goose swoop down beside him. Helen interprets the incident as an omen that Odysseus is about to swoop down on his home and exact revenge on the suitors.
Who is Pisistratus
Nestors son
Who does Telemachus offer Xenia to?
Theoclymenus ( a criminal)
What omen does Theoclymenus see?
Sees a hawk fly by carrying a
dove in its talons, which Theoclymenus interprets as a favourable sign of the strength of Odysseus’s house and line.
How does O test Eumaeus’ Xenia?
Tests the limit of his hospitality by offering to leave in the morning, a false gesture that he hopes will prompt Eumaeus to offer to let him stay longer. He urges the old man not to go out of his way
What plan do Telemachus and Odysseus make?
When Odysseus enters the hut, his old-man disguise is gone, and he stands in the pristine glory of his heroic person. At first, Telemachus cannot believe his eyes, but then the two embrace and weep. Odysseus recounts his trip with the Phaeacians and then begins plotting the overthrow of the suitors. He formulates a plan to launch a surprise attack from within the palace: Odysseus will enter disguised as a beggar and Telemachus will hide the palace’s surplus arms (excess weapons) where the suitors cannot easily reach them. The two of them will then seize the arms and slaughter the suitors.
What do the suitors do when they hear of Telemachus’ return?
Antinous recommends putting Telemachus to death before he can call an assembly at which the suitors’ dirty schemes can be aired, but Amphinomus, one of the more thoughtful and well-behaved suitors, persuades the others to wait for a sign from the gods before doing anything so rash.
what happens in the palace with another beggar?
Another beggar ( IRUS)saunters into the palace. For a beggar, he is rather brash: he insults Odysseus and challenges him to a boxing match.
Whats the outcome?
It ends quickly as Odysseus floors Irus and stops just short of killing him.
What does Athena do to aggravate Odysseus?
Hoping to make Odysseus even more angry at the suitors, Athena now inspires Eurymachus to insult him. When
Odysseus responds with insults of his own, Eurymachus throws a stool at him but misses, hitting a servant instead
Does Penelope like the beggar O?
Yes they bond well and she cries as he describes Odysseus. She then makes Eurycleia wash his feet
Does Eurycleia recognise Odysseus?
As she is putting them in a basin of water, she notices a scar on one of his feet. She immediately recognizes it as the scar that Odysseus received when he went boar hunting with his grandfather Autolycus. She throws her arms around Odysseus, but he silences her by grabbing her throat. The faithful Eurycleia declares to be silent
What does Penelope tell Odysseus?
Penelope describes to Odysseus a dream that she has had in which an eagle swoops down upon her twenty pet geese and kills them all; it then perches on her roof and, in a human voice, says that he is her husband who has just put her lovers to death. Penelope declares that she has no idea what this dream means. Rising to the challenge, Odysseus explains it to her. But Penelope decides that she is going to choose a new husband nevertheless: she will marry the first man who can shoot an arrow through the holes of twelve axes set in a line
How can we see O and Ps’ homophroshyne?
Tormented by the loss of her husband and her commitment to remarry, Penelope wakes and prays for Artemis to kill her. Her distress wakes Odysseus, who asks Zeus for a good omen. Zeus responds with a clap of thunder
What is another Omen at the dinner table with the suitors?
Ctesippus, a wealthy and arrogant suitor, throws a cow’s hoof at Odysseus, in response to which Telemachus threatens to run him through with his sword. The suitors laugh and laugh, failing to notice that they and the walls of the room are covered in blood and that their faces have assumed a foreign, ghostly look—all of which Theoclymenus interprets as portents of inescapable doom (resembles land of the dead
Who is Melantho and Who is Melanthius?
Melanthius is a treacherous and opportunistic goatherd who supports the suitors, especially Eurymachus, and abuses the beggar who appears in Odysseus’s palace
Melantho is his sister ( a maid ) of the same characteristics who abuses Odysseus
What is homophrosyne?
A connection/ shared understanding between 2 characters
Who is Penelope compared to?
Penelope begins in a striking way, with an extended comparison between herself and the nightingale – Aedon
What is the juxtaposition between Eurycleia and Anticleia?
Eurycleia= broad fame Anticleia= No fame
Where does Odysseus get attacked by the boar?
Mount Parnassus while hunting with Autolykus
Who is O’s grandma?
Ampithee
What animal is Odysseus’s compared to?
Boar- is aggressive and cunning
What proof of the boar theory supports this argument?
he wears a boar tusk helmet in the Illiad which Autolykus stole
What does the fight between the boar and Odysseus show?
Shows his masculinity as he has a mark= kleos but kills the boar (spear with poison)
Who is Penelope described to look like?
Aphrodite or Artemis
What does P say to O (disguised)
I eat my heart out in longing for Odysseus
Who is Penelopes dad?
Icarius
How is Telemachus like Odysseus?
- Shows his virility i.e telling Penelope to go up or telling the suitors to leave whereby all the crowd “wept” as he sounded like his father
How is Telemachus unlike Odysseus?
- Immature and naïve i.e. Odysseus has to hell him to “hush” when fetching arms but could be due to his lack of a good childhood as he missed his father so now develops childlike wonders
- no kleos and lacks virility
- couldn’t string bow (but could he ???)
How do u write a 6 marker?
Name the epic technique
Give the quote
Expand and interpret and do all this x3
What is Melanthius?
An unfaithful goat herder
Where was Odysseus attacked by the boar?
Mount Parnassus
Where does Iphitus give Odysseus the great bow?
Lacedaemon
Why did Iphitus meet Odysseus?
When Odysseus went to collect public debt from the Messians
Which 2 herders help Odysseus? how?
Philoetius by bolting the courtyard and Eumaeus (bringing the bow and then telling women to stay locked)
Name the suitors mentioned
Antinous- “bad suitor” // Eurymachus
Leodes (son of Oenops)- a priest who hates the evil deeds of the suitors but is killed for not praying for Odysseus’ return
Amphinomus (“good suitor”)
What is meant by Virility?
Virility is the quality of having strength, energy and a strong sex drive as a display of masculinity
What is meant by digression?
A temporary departure from the main subjects i.e when Odysseus describes himself as a squid in the water
Where does Telemachus drop Pinastratus off?
His homeland Pylos
Who wants to kill Telemachus when he returns and who stops this?
Antinous hatches a scheme to kill Telemachus but Amphinomus stops him and says to wait for a sign from the gods
How do we know that Amphinomus is good?
When Odysseus beats up the beggar Irus- Amphinomus toasts and gives food and Odysseus feels bad for him
How do we know Eurymachus is bad?
Throws a stool at Odysseus
How does Melanthius betray Odysseus?
Gets the suitors armour and warns them about traps
How does Telemachus help Odysseus and what error does he do?
Fetches shields and armour and kills Amphinomus BUT leaves storeroom door open for Melanthius
Who were injured from Odysseus’ side?
Eumaeus and Telemachus
Write down a simile
The others swooped down like vultures from the hills
Which 2 people does Telemachus save from his father?
Phemius and Medon the bards
What are the herders herdery?
Eumaeus– swineherd
Melanthius– goatherd
Philoetius– cowherd
What is formulae?
Longer than an epithet and used to describe place/ object i.e fresh and rosy fingered dawn
What is Topoi?
A poetic scene that occurs regularly made of the same standard elements i.e Guests getting clothes and baths
What is Justice and what is Revenge?
Justice= concept of moral rightness based on rules of ethics BY law
Revenge= Actions taken by individuals as a response to wrongdoing
What did the ancient Greeks think about J VS R?
Justice was Revenge and was ordained by gods
How do we know J & R was important to the ancient Greek civilisation?
There was a goddess of revenge called Nemesis meaning REVENGE who acted by vengeance on those who showed hubris against gods
What was hubris in ancient Greece?
excessive pride towards or defiance of the gods, leading to nemesis.
How do we know the Gods are not omnipresent or omniscient (all knowing) ?
Enact Revenge and i.e Poseidon doesnt know when Zeus frees Odysseus
What does Penelope’s’ name literally mean and how is this significant?
Means “spindle loosener” referring to her trick on the suitors
Describe Penelope using adjectives
Pragmatic, Emotional, Cunning, Devoted, Deceptive
How do we know Penelope had metis?
- arrow contest to lure suitors
- shroud trick
- bed trick on Odysseus
What does metis mean?
cunning OR wisdom
Was Penelope the ideal wife?
yes- had kleos as she was chaste (male equivalent to valour in ancient civilisations), beautiful, loyal, had good textile skills and had a male heir whose lineage she protects by not remarrying
no- is unable to get rid of suitors
- doesn’t trust Odysseus at first
Are any suitors able to string the bow (or Telemachus)?
No
Who is Eurytion and what did he do? Why is he mentioned?
Got drunk at a wedding and tried to rape the bride and had his nose and ears cut off
Suitors try to tell Odysseus (beggar) not to do anything stupid as they think he is drunk
What is Penelopes’ father called?
Icarius
What does Penelope give beggar Odysseus?
A sharp javelin, 2 edged sword, sandals and a cloak/tunic
Who is able to strike all 12 bows?
Odysseus and then Zeus also gives a clap of thunder in approval
What dramatic scene occurs after Odysseus strikes 12 bows?
Telemachus stands by Odysseus’ side in armoured bronze
Who does Odysseus kill first?
Antinous as his “foot lashed around and kicked”
Why does Odysseus tell the suitors that they “raped the maids”?
As the maids were Odysseus’ property even their consent to sex was a violation to Odysseus
How does Odysseus torture Melanthius in the storeroom?
Eumaeus and Philoetius bind him ands strap him to a plank and tie him up and torture him
How is Odysseus presented as a predator?
“splattered with blood and gore like a lion who comes feeding on some farmers bullock with blood dripping from his breast and jaws”
How many maids behaved shamelessley?
12 maids
How does Odysseus kill the maids?
made them remove bodies of suitors
washed and cleaned chairs of blood
Telemachus hangs all 12 of them in a way that their feet dont touch the ground
How are the maids described?
As doves entangled in a snare set in a thicket
How is Melanthius killed?
Sliced off his ears, nose, hands and feet and ripped away his genitals as raw meats for the dogs
How does Telemachus display mercilessness to the maids?
Odysseus tells Telemachus to cut them down with a sword, but Telemachus decides to hang them—a more disgraceful death.
How does book 22 end?
After the bloodbath, Odysseus has the house fumigated and all the good maids welcome him and he receives Nostos
How does Penelope react to seeing Odysseus?
Penelope doesn’t believe anything that Eurycleia says, and she remains in disbelief even when she comes downstairs and sees her husband with her own eyes. Telemachus rebukes her for not greeting Odysseus more lovingly after his long absence
What is the last trick Penelope plays?
Penelope remains wary, afraid that a god is playing a trick on her. She orders Eurycleia to move her bridal bed, and Odysseus suddenly flares up at her that their bed is immovable, explaining how it is built from the trunk of an olive tree around which the house had been constructed. Hearing him recount these details, she knows that this man must be her husband.
Describe the convo in Hades between Amphimedon and Agamemnon.
The suitor Amphimedon, whom Agamemnon knew in life, gives a brief account of their ruin, pinning most of the blame on Penelope and her indecision. Agamemnon contrasts the constancy of Penelope with the treachery of Clytemnestra.
Who is Clymmenstra?
She took Aegisthus as her lover while Agamemnon (her husband) was away at war. Upon his return, Clytemnestra and Aegisthus murdered Agamemnon.
Describe Penelope and Odysseus’ relationship
This subtle test reveals Penelope’s clever side—the side we have seen in her ploy to use a never-to-be-finished burial shroud to put off remarriage for four years. This test not only admits Odysseus to Penelope’s arms but also sheds some light on why their love for each other is so natural in the first place. They are united by the commonality of their minds, by their love of scheming, testing, and outmaneuvering. They are kindred spirits because they are kindred wits. None of the suitors could ever replace Odysseus, just as Circe or Calypso could never replace Penelope. Literally and metaphorically, no one can move their wedding bed.
How does the Odyssey end?
Athena makes the Ithacans forget the massacre of their children and recognize Odysseus as king. Peace is thus restored.
How do the suitors family react?
The parents of the suitors hold an assembly at which they assess how to respond. Halitherses, the elder prophet, argues that the suitors merely got what they deserved for their wickedness, but Eupithes, Antinous’s father, encourages the parents to seek revenge on Odysseus. Their small army tracks Odysseus to Laertes’ house, but Athena, disguised again as Mentor, decides to put a stop to the violence. Antinous’s father is the only one killed
How does scene 24 begin abruptly?
The scene changes abruptly. Hermes leads the souls of the suitors, crying like bats, into Hades.
