The Odyssey : Deceit And Trickery Flashcards
Why was Odysseus admired for
his cunningness, trickery, and lies
Why is it impossible to separate truth from reality in books 9 and 10
Because the narrative is bias to Odysseus as it is written in the first person.
Why does Odysseus lie in books 9 and 10
To gain sympathy and help specifically the Phaeacian’s to maybe get help to a greater extent.
How does Odysseus return to Ithaca as
He returns as a beggar and even lies to his own wife about he actually is, eventually bringing her to tears
How did Odysseus try not to take part of the Trojan war
An oracle told him that if he went to war he would end up not returning to home for almost 20 years. To avoid this Odysseus pretended to be mad and sowed his fields with salt instead of seeds. When officials came to fetch him, they suspected a trick so they placed the infant Telemachus in the field. Odysseus stopped the plough to avoid killing the child. He ended up having to go to war
How does Odysseus trick Polyphemus
He lies about what happened to his shop so that he wouldn’t find out about the ship and finding the rest of the crew
How does Odysseus escape Polyphemus but what does Odysseus do to contradict this
Odysseus tells Polyphemus that his name is nobody. Later, while Polyphemus is being stabbed in the eye screaming, when the other cyclopes come to his aid he states “Nobody tricked me! Nobody is killing me!” They take Polyphemus at his word and leave. It is only out of hubris that Odysseus states his full name, allowing Polyphemus to call down the full wrath of his father Poseidon upon Odysseus.
How does Penelope use deception
By stalling choosing a suitor for several years she wove the funeral shroud for her father in law, and each night she would unpick it with her maids.
How does Athena disguise herself
- She disguises her self when she talks to Telemachus as king Mentes
- She comes in a dream for the Phaeacian princess as her friend telling her to go to the washing pool
- Comes to Odysseus as a young girl and leads him towards the Phaeacian palace.
How does Odysseus with the help of Hermes trick Circe
By taking moly, Odysseus becomes immune to Circe’s spells which saves his life, and the lives of his men.
How does Penelope use deception to test her husband
Asking Eurycleia to ‘move the sturdy bedstead’, Odysseus is able to prove he is her husband because he claims the task is ‘impossible’ - the bed is carved into the trunk of the olive tree.
