Events
108 in number, they attempt to woo Penelope from her marital bonds.
Who are the suitors?
The Lord of Earthquakes and horses, he detests Odysseus.
Who is Poseidon?
This is the custom that promotes the welcoming of guests.
What is xenia?
The quote “Poets are not to blame for how things are; / Zeus is; he gives to each as is his will" (1.348-349) speaks to this theme.
What is fate v. free will?
She says: “But I am agonizing/ about Odysseus and his bad luck. / For too long he has suffered … And I will go to Ithaca to rouse/ the courage of his son, and make him call/ a meeting, and speak out against the suitors” (1.47-49; 89-91)
Who is Athena?
His eye is gouged out by "No Man".
Who is Polyphemus?
Her story juxtaposes Telemachus, as she is called on Athena to 'wash her clothes'-- conveniently meeting Odysseus.
Who is Nausicaa?
To begin a story in the middle.
What is in media res?
What is gender?
It is proclaimed that “Indeed,/ her heart is loyal. She is in your house,/ weeping by night and sad by day.”
(15. 39-41)
Who is Penelope?
This whirlpool sucks down ships and spits them up twice a day.
What is Charybdis?
She keeps Odysseus on her island for 7 years.
Who is Calypso?
The literary device is common in ancient poetry to create extended comparisons.
What is an epic simile?
Odysseus' desire to listen to the Sirens, despite the risk, is emblematic of this theme.
What is curiosity?
“I used to be a child, / but now I understand things, good and bad” describes the journey of this person
(20. 310-311).
Who is Telemachus?
These giants destroy 11 of Odysseus' ships.
Who are the Laestrygonians?
A member of Odysseus' crew, he convinces the men to 'poach the best/ of Helius' cattle'.
Who is Eurylochus?
Telemachus declares “You would be killed if you set foot among/ that horde of suitors; their aggression reaches/ the iron sky. And those who wait on them/ are not like you” to Odysseus, which is this kind of irony (15.329-332).
What is dramatic irony?
Also known as excessive pride.
What is hubris?
Murdered by his wife, he says, “...you must never treat your wife too well. / Do not let her know everything you know. / Tell her some things, hide others…”
(11.441-443)
Who is Agamemnon?
He marries his 6 sons to his 6 daughters.
Who is Aeolus?
A foil to Telemachus, he killed Aegisthus, who killed Agamemnon.
Who is Orestes?
This is the Greek term for a fatal flaw.
What is hamartia?
Penelope proclaims “Let me not make/ a lesser husband glad” (20.82-83), as a testament to this.
What is loyalty?
Odysseus says “that was the most heartrending sight I saw/ in all the time I suffered on the sea” when he sees this monster attack (12.258-259).
What is Scylla?