Anastasia Camoctrokova Ancient World II The Odyssey Double Entry Notes Book # 1 Passages When he put out the

eye of the giant Cyclops, he provoked the wrath of the God of Earthquakes." Over food and wine they discuss the fact that Telemachus and his mother Penelope are plagued by suitors for Penelope's hand in marriage. And while they wait to see which one of them she will choose, they help themselves to her hospitality, feasting through her herds and guzzling her wine. Telemachus is powerless to do anything about it. "Warn them off," counsels Athena. "Then fit out a ship that will carry you to the mainland. There you must seek tidings of your father."

April 22, 2011 D Block Question & Responses R: Odysseus s patron goddess was Athena; also Athena and Poseidon were unfriendly toward each other. R: I feel sorry for Penelope; she worries for her husband and a bunch of money hungry men are courting her. She can t get a break. R: I hope that they choke on the food, they re taking advantage of a supposed widow, and I wonder how the suitors treat Telemachus. Q: Why doesn t Athena do more than send Hermes over to Odysseus and talk to Penelope and Telemachus? Q: Why can t Penelope kick the suitors out of her home? Q: How old is Telemachus and what does he think of Athena s suggestion to going to the mainland. Q: How old is Telemachus? R: This guy is just jealous she didn t choose him. To him it must seem that since she didn t choose him then she deserves to suffer. I like how Telemachus stands up to all the men even when he is a child. R: I m glad that Zeus is protecting Odysseus s wife. Penelope might get a moment of peace from greedy suitors. R: I have no doubt that Penelope would worry for Telemachus and that when he comes back she d smack him for making her worry. R: I m glad that Athena is there she might help and protect Telemachus on his Journey. Q: Why does Zeus protect Penelope? Q: What are Antinous s feelings for Penelope? Q: Why does Athena travel with

He asks them how they can stand idly by and allow his mother's hospitality to be abused. Antinous, one of the ringleaders of the suitors, brazenly puts the blame on Penelope, for not choosing one of them as husband. Hot words are exchanged, and Zeus sends an omen. Two eagles swoop down on the congregation, tearing cheeks and necks with their talons. A wise man interprets this as impending doom for the suitors. He makes her swear an oath that she will not tell his mother of his departure until he is ten days gone. That night a sleek black vessel crewed by twenty oarsmen puts out to sea, with Telemachus and Athena, his godly patron in disguise, seated in the stern.

Telemachus when she doesn t have to? 3 y Telemachus asks the wise old king to tell him how and where his father died, for he cannot help but assume the worst. In reply, Nestor tells what he knows of the Greeks' return from Troy. "It started out badly because of Athena's anger. She caused dissension between our leader Agamemnon and his brother Menelaus. Menelaus was for setting sail immediately, while Agamemnon insisted that a sacrifice be held first to pacify the goddess. In the end, half the army left while the others remained with Agamemnon. He knows that the great king's wife fell in love with another. Together they murdered Agamemnon upon his homecoming. Then, seven years later, he was avenged by his son, Orestes. Nestor explains how the fair winds that brought that first party of Greeks safely home from Troy failed Menelaus. A storm blew him all the way to Egypt. R: I m not surprised that they assume the worst, nobody has heard from him anywhere. I wonder why Telemachus wants to know of the Greek s return from the battle. R: Agamemnon probably the smarter of the two, he at least honored the goddess by giving her a sacrifice. He wasn t as impatient and disrespectful as his brother. R: Why am I not surprised that he was murdered, in the movie about the Trojan war he always seemed cowardly and greedy for power, what woman would want to stay with him. R: See, he shouldn t have been so inpatient to leave. I bet that if he honored Athena he could have come home all the sooner. Q: Why was Athena angry? Q: How did the army decide which king to follow? Q: Why was Agamemnon only avenged seven years after his death? R: Isn t Helen supposed to be dead; Menelaus kept going on about how he d kill her for cheating on him. R: Sure, blame it on Aphrodite. She swore your love to Paris and in a second switched to another man and then back to her husband the minute it seemed the Trojans lost. R: It seems Odysseus warned Helen about the attack, she could have warned Paris about it. Helen is so treacherous and slippery. R: Finally, Telemachus has received news of his father when he tells Penelope the news she won t have to be depressed or worried about his death? R: Is anyone surprised about the attack or Antinous, he obviously isn t going to give up on Penelope or her money. He

Telemachus and Nestor's son are welcomed by King Menelaus with great hospitality. Queen Helen immediately recognizes Telemachus as the spitting image of Odysseus. All because of me and my mad passion for Trojan Paris. Aphrodite's curse was already wearing off when last I saw your father. What a man! I'll never forget his daring and his guile. "He had beaten himself black and blue and dressed up in a beggar's rags to sneak into Troy. But I recognized him when he spoke to me there in the house of Paris. I bathed him and gave him a fresh robe, and he made his escape, killing many a Trojan on his way. I rejoiced, for I missed my home and the blameless husband I had forsaken." I asked which of our comrades had

perished on the journey home from Troy "Odysseus lives still, though marooned, without a crew of oarsmen to stroke him home. But meanwhile his situation had become still more perilous. For back at home on Ithaca, the suitors had gotten wind of his departure. Spurred on by Antinous, they plotted to ambush him at sea upon his return. Athena puts the case of Odysseus once more before the gods. At her prompting, Zeus dispatches Hermes with a message for Calypso Hermes skims over the waves to the island paradise where the nymph has detained Odysseus She's surprised by the visit but extends hospitality before asking its cause. "I'm not here because I enjoy crossing the desolate sea," says Hermes. "I bring a message from Zeus: Send Odysseus home."... "You jealous gods! Can't you bear to see one of us keep a mortal of her own?" cries Calypso. "Oh very well, there's no arguing with Zeus Hermes rises to take his leave. And next time, do God's bidding with a better grace." Calypso knows where to find Odysseus. Every day for the last seven years he's sat on the same rock gazing out to sea, weeping for home and Penelope... "Would you trade immortality and me for that mortal wench?" "Yes, though she's nothing in comparison to your radiant self, I'd gladly endure what the sea deals out." Poseidon notices what is afoot Taking his trident in both hands; Poseidon stirs the sea into a fury and lashes up rain and squall. Mast and sail are torn away; Odysseus is thrown overboard and buried under a wall of water. A goddess, Leucothea, appears to him in the form of a bird. She counsels him to swim for it. "Take my veil; tie it around your waist as a charm against drowning. When you reach shore, be sure to throw

isn t going to allow a boy or a god to stand in his way. Q: Why isn t Helen dead? Q: When did Odysseus sneak into the house of Paris? Q: If he did warn her about the attack, why didn t Helen run to Paris, wasn t she supposed to love him beyond reason? R: I revise my opinion of Athena she s working hard for Odysseus and his family. I feel sorry for Hermes he has to go carrying messages, I hope they understand the term don t shoot the messenger , of course he is a god. I feel sorry for Calypso, men always land on her island but they always leave while she can t ever. R: Poor Hermes, he can t catch a break, he s always flying somewhere with a message to somebody. Calypso is probably lonely, so she struck out with her words while Hermes chastises her for it. R: Odysseus is still faithful to Penelope and he still loves her and misses her. Now that s devotion, he hasn t seen her for seventeen to eighteen years and he still wants to go home. Some guys would have just thrown in the towel. Plus, he has this sexy nymph who would be glad to see him stay and he doesn t even think of straying or betraying Penelope. R: Man can he hold a grudge, it s been years, let a man see his home and his family. Does he have to be so harsh, Poseidon needs to have a little compassion? R: I m glad somebody has mercy on him and helps him out. If he d drowned that would have made Penelope suffer even more. R: He finds olive trees, coincidence, I think not. Olive trees are Athena s creation after all.

it back into the sea." Odysseus swims and drifts for two days; until he hears surf breaking on a rockbound coast Then he finds a clump of olive trees, so thickly tangled as to make a cage. Athena now intervened ... She went by night to the palace of their king and appeared in a dream to the princess, Nausicaa The goddess prompted her to give thought to her wedding day. Shouldn't she journey to the pools down by the river and wash her bridal gown? Odysseus woke to the sound of their laughter. Tearing off an olive branch to cloak his nakedness, he approached the group The maids ran away at the sight of the brine-encrusted stranger, but Nausicaa stood her ground. "As strangers and beggars are in the hands of Zeus, I'll not refuse comfort to a castaway." She called back her maids and told them to feed and clothe Odysseus. "But just before town is a roadside grove, sacred to Athena. Wait there until you're sure I'm gone, then enter the city gate. Ask directions to the palace, and when you've found it do not hesitate. Come straight into the hall and seek out my mother. At which King Alcinous himself arose and took Odysseus by the hand, raising him to his feet. Next to the king's throne sat his eldest son, who now moved aside. Odysseus was guided to this place of honor. Odysseus assured him that he was no god, but a mortal man, and a hungry one at that. When the other guests had left, the queen asked him how it came to be that he was wearing clothes that she herself had trimmed. Odysseus related the events since his departure from Calypso's island, sparing no detail but one. He described how he had approached the princess and her

Q: What happens to Calypso after she lets Odysseus leave? Q: Why was Poseidon angry? Q: Why does Leucothea help Odysseus? R: Go Athena, always the brains she always finds ways to help her favorite hero. R: Nausicaa is so brave, if I saw a naked stranger coming toward me I would pick up the nearest object that could be used as a weapon. R: Nausicaa is so kind, she ll take care of a stranger. I bet Odysseus is glad to be clothed and fed, I d bet he was starving. Q: Does Athena have Odysseus s whole voyage planned out? Q: why didn t Nausicaa run like her maids, when she saw Odysseus? Q: Nausicaa is good at planning she s smart and brave like Athena. Is she her relation or kin?

R: This is a good kingdom; they allow a stranger to sit next to the king. They give a stranger honor and celebrate him on his journey. R: I see, the king is smart if Odysseus is a god in disguise or a favorite among a god/goddess, their kingdom might be rewarded or prosper. R: I like that they allowed him to sleep in the palace, Odysseus must be happy that he finally gets to sleep in a bed surrounded by warmth and safety. Q: Why do they allow him to stay, they don t know who he is, he could be assassin for all they know? Q: Why doesn t Odysseus tell them

y y

maids by the river, and how Nausicaa had kindly given him clothing. But he said that it had been his own idea to enter town separately. He began by singing of Achilles and Odysseus, and this brought tears to that hero's eyes. He managed to hide them by burying his face in his cloak, though the king heard his sobs. Odysseus replied that he had other things than sport on his mind. But one of the competitors, a sailor like all the Phaeacians, took this as an excuse. "No doubt he's been to sea," he sneered, "but only as a purser." The hero's eyes went cold. He picked up a discus and threw it with such a rush of wind that the Phaeacians hit the deck. It landed far beyond their own best shots. Now the king proposed that each of his senior lords go home and bring back a bar of gold for the still-nameless guest. The sailor who had taunted Odysseus earlier gave him his own sword in apology. The gold was brought and the queen herself stored it in a chest for Odysseus. "I am Odysseus of Ithaca. And here is my tale since setting out from Troy: With that he snatched up two of my men and bashed their brains out on the floor. Then he ate them raw, picking them apart and poking them in his mouth, bones and guts and all. His screams of frustration and rage brought the neighboring Cyclopes to the mouth of the cave 'What is it, brother?' they called inside. 'Is someone harming you?' 'It's Nobody!' bellowed Polyphemus .'Then for the love of Poseidon pipe down in there!' 'If someone asks who did this, the name is Odysseus!' The Cyclops was left howling on the cliff, calling out to his father Poseidon for vengeance.

who he is? Q: Why keep secret the fact that it was Nausicaa s plan not his? R: Hearing that must have broken Odysseus s heart. He lost all his friends, his brothers-in-arms, and his family, in that war. He must have been remembering the war all over again. R: The sailor must have looked like a fool when he threw the discus. I couldn t believe he said that to Odysseus, I was stunned he deserved being made a fool of. R: Wow, that kingdom is awesome; they give a complete stranger gold and a ship for the journey home. I was surprised when the sailor apologized, although I m glad he did. That sailor has humility and he even gave him his sword. Q: What did the king think when Odysseus began to cry? Q: What did the Phaeacians think about his throw? Q: Why are they giving a complete stranger gold, are they nave? R: I bet they were surprised when they heard that. Or maybe the king wasn t since he saw Odysseus crying and gave the gold away. R: That s so disgusting and horrifying that I almost lost my appetite. Homer is so descriptive that I can actually picture this happening. R: Hilarious, I just loved it when he screamed that it was nobody and his brothers told him to shut up. Honestly, Polyphemus is so stupid to think that is actually someone s name. Q: What were the reactions when they learned that the stranger was the hero Odysseus? Q: Why didn t Polyphemus eat more than the two men he already ate? Q: Why did Odysseus tell him his name, he had to know the

consequence it would bring? 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24