The Odyssey - The Plot Flashcards
1
Q
What is the purpose of the first 4 books in the Odyssey?
A
It focuses on Telemachus journey to becoming a man and trying to find news of his father
1
Q
What is the purpose of books 5 - 8 in the Odyssey?
A
It focuses on Odysseus journey from Calypsos Island to the Phaeacians
2
Q
What is the purpose of books 9 - 12 in the Odyssey?
A
It focuses on Odysseus narrative flashback from Troy to Calypsos Island
3
Q
What is the purpose of books 13 - 24 in the Odyssey?
A
It focuses on revenge and justice - Odysseus and Telemachus scheme to kill the suitors
4
Q
Book 1
A
- Athena asks Zeus to free Odysseus
- Penelope and Telemachus cope with the suitors
- Athena disguised as mentor tells Telemachus he should find news on Odysseus
4
Q
Book 2
A
- Telemachus with his new confidence tells the suitors to leave
- He criticises them then Zeus sends a bad omen
- Telemachus secretly leaves with Athena
4
Q
Book 3
A
Telemachus visits Nestor (with no news other than of his fathers kleos)
4
Q
Book 4
A
- Telemachus visits Melenaus and Helen
- They tell him they know he is alive after Troy
- The suitors plan to kill Telemachus when he gets home
5
Q
Book 5
A
- Hermes is sent to tell Calypso that Odysseus can leave
- Calypso lets him and he builds a raft out of there
- Poseidon destroys the raft
- Goddess Ino saves Odysseus from drowning with a scarf
- Odysseus goes on a 2 day swim to the Phaeacian Island
6
Q
Book 6
A
- Athena sends Nausicaa a dream suggesting she go wash her clothes down by the river
- Nausicaa meets Odysseus
- She gives him clothes and directions to the palace
7
Q
Book 7
A
- Athena directs Odysseus to the palace disguised in a cloud
- Odysseus begs for Aretes help
- He is well received by Alcinous and promised transport home
8
Q
Book 8
A
- Phaeacians agree transport home
- Banquet and Democodus the bard sings of Aphrodite and Ares (unfaithfulness)
- Athletic competition that Odysseus wins
- Alcinous asks who he is
9
Q
Book 9
A
- Odysseus ravages the Cicones after Troy
- Encounter with the Lotus Eaters
- Polyphemus and the cave encounter
- Polyphemus curses Odysseus and Poseidon listens
- Poseidon sends the crews ship off course
10
Q
Book 10
A
- They stay with Aeolus (god of wind) for a month
- The bag of wind is opened on the ship and they are sent back to the Island, where they are turned away
- Laestrygonians destroy 11 ships and crew
- The crew land on Circes Island and stay for a year after the pig incident
- Elpenor dies
- Circe tells Odysseus he must go to Hades/Asphodel
11
Q
Book 11
A
- The crew land at the land of the dead
- Follow a ritual and promise Elpenors burial
- Teiresias tells Odysseus of his future
- Odysseus meets his mother and other spirits: Agamemnon, Achilles, Ajax
12
Q
Book 12
A
- Odysseus buries Elpenor
- Circe warns Odysseus of future dangers
- Encounter with Scylla and Charybdis
- Encounter with the Sirens
- Crew eat some of Helios cattle
- Zeus destroys all ships/crew, leaving Odysseus alone
13
Q
Book 13
A
- Odysseus arrives asleep on Ithaca
- Poseidon punishes Phaeacians by turning their ship to stone and placing a mountain around their island
- Disguised Athena and Odysseus lie to each other
- They plan how to destroy the suitors together and hide the riches
14
Q
Book 14
A
- Odysseus disguised as a beggar goes to Eumaeus
- Eumaeus shows perfect xenia
15
Q
Book 15
A
Telemachus gets to Ithaca from Sparta safely
16
Q
Book 16
A
- Telemachus meets Odysseus (disguised)
- Odysseus reveals himself to Telemachus
- The suitors are angry that Telemachus had evaded capture
17
Q
Book 17
A
- Odysseus and Eumaeus meet rude Melanthius
- Odysseus begs for food and is assaulted by Antinous
- Penelope sends for Odysseus
18
Q
Book 18
A
- Odysseus fights Irus the beggar and wins
- Odysseus is insulted by Eurymachus who throws a stool at him
- Amphinomus calms the situation and the suitors leave
19
Q
Book 19
A
- Odysseus and Telemachus remove and hide the weapons from the hall
- Eurycleia washes Odysseus feet and figures out who he is
- Penelope tests Odysseus to see if he really does know where Odysseus is
- Penelope details the bow challenge she will set up
20
Q
Book 20
A
- Zeus sends an omen
- The suitors return for a festival
21
Q
Book 21
A
- Trial of the bow
- Telemachus fails to fire the bow through the 12 axes as does the other suitors
- Eurycleia bars the doors to stop the women from coming in
- Odysseus still disguised picks up the bow and completes the challenge perfectly
22
Q
Book 22
A
- Odysseus shoots Antinous first
- He starts killing the suitors with Telemachus, Eumaeus, Loyal servants and Athena disguised as Mentor
- The house is then cleaned
- The twelve maids are hung for being ‘unfaithful’
23
Q
Book 23 (last necessary book)
A
- Eurycleia tells Penelope that Odysseus has returned
- She doesn’t believe her and tests her husband by asking Eurycleia to move the Olive bed
- She realises its Odysseus, they reunite and go to bed together
