Book One (Athene Visits Telemachus)
Who is “that resourceful man? (line 1) What does the word resourceful suggest about him?
Odysseus, he has the ability to get home no matter what.
Who speaks up in support of Odysseus (P.63)? Who does she address and what exactly does she have to say about Odysseus’ predicament?
Athena. She addresses Zeus, he has no ship or crew, his people don’t give him a single thought. Left to anguish as a captive on Calypso’s Island, suitors mean to murder his son.
What kind of people live in Scherie and who is their King?
Phaeacians. Close to the gods. Their king was Alcinous.
How was the Cyclopes’ society different than that of Odysseus’?
Fierce and lawless. No concern for neighbours. No planting. No assemblies for law making. Lack skills such as ship making. Don’t interact socially.
What was King Aeolus’ gift to Odysseus? Explain.
He imprisoned the boisterous winds so Odysseus and his men could get home
What was Circe’s first warning to Odysseus? What were he and his men supposed to do?
They will visit the sirens next. The men should put beeswax in their ears and if they want to listen the need to tie their hands and feet to the ship
Describe Xenia
Guest Friendship:
Xenia was the custom of welcoming strangers to your house and offering them hospitality.
Once the relationship was established, the bond between host and guest was expected to last forever.
Xenia was practised by all but it was a custom most suitable to nobility and the wealthy.
Xenia was of paramount importance to a hero who travelled extensively
Who keeps Odysseus away, according to Zeus, and why?
Poseidon, because he blinded his son Polyphemus.
Describe the example of guest friendship found in P. 65.
Offered Hermes a chair, offered him food and drink and when he was refreshed he answered Calypso’s questions.
How does Athena intervene to ensure that Odysseus and Nausicaa meet?
She makes Odysseus wake up as the girls were playing. The ball they threw went into the river and they shrieked this woke Odysseus.
With what intentions did Odysseus approach Polyphemus’ cave?
To meet the locals and exchange gifts.
Who was Circe? What did she do to Odysseus’ men?
She is a goddess/witch. She turns them into pigs.
oink oink oink
Who was Scylla? Describe.
Repulsive monster with 12 feet, 6 necks with heads. She has a dreadful bark
Describe the position of women in classical society.
●Women were valued in society
●Women married the man of her fathers choice and then moved from the control of her father into the control of her husband
The head of the household controlled the women of his household, e.g. wife, slaves…etc.
If they choose to, freeborn women worked in the house alongside the maids
The epithet ‘white-armed’ reflects the indoor work of Homeric women, the most common pastimes of highborn women were spinning and weaving.
What is Telemachus doing and how is he feeling when Athena visits him?
Sitting among the suitors, he is unhappy. Wishes his father would save the day.
What’s the significance of the words “it was Zeus who sent me”? (P. 65, l. 98-99)
Calypso knows she must obey no matter what the request is.
How and for what purpose does Athena intervene on page 82? Does she achieve her purpose?
She makes Odysseus appear taller, sturdier and nice hair. The purpose is to make Nausicaa fall a little in love with him. It does achieve the purpose as Nausicaa is willing to help him.
How does Odysseus appeal to the Cyclops? (Page 117, line 269-272)
He reminds him it is duty to provide for his guests to keep the gods happy.
Who did Odysseus encounter when he was going to release his men? What did they talk about?
Hermes, how to get around Circe’s magic and how to get his men free.
Describe Charybdis.
A whirlpool with dark waters.
Author of The Odyssey
Homer
What advice does Athena give Telemachus in lines 270-294?
Meet with Achaean lords, tell them of your decisions, tell suitors to leave and go home, he must travel to enquire about his father. If his mother wishes to marry, she must go home to her father. If he hears his father is alive wait, if dead proper funeral rites and remarry his mother.
Outline Zeus’ prophecy (P.63-64).
Odysseus will set out for home, neither gods or men will help him. He will travel on a raft for 20 days. After great hardship will reach Scherie, country of the Phaeacians; they will embrace him like a god and give him wealth, more than he would have got at Troy.
What thoughts had Athena put into Nausicaa’s head? How? For what purpose?
Athena put the thought of marriage into her head and that a good reputation will gain Nausicaa a husband she was to do this by doing the clothes washing . Athena did this by taking the form of Nausicaa’s best friend Dymas. The purpose was to get her thinking about marriage and also so that someone was there to help Odysseus when he woke up.
How does Polyphemus react to the mention of Zeus in Page 117?
He disregards Zeus. He does not care what they think, he believes he is stronger, better that the gods.
Describe the land that Odysseus sighted after his experience with the Cyclops.
Floating island, walls of bronze
Describe what happens to Odysseus after all his crew are killed.
Floats around the ocean and drifts to Calypsos island.
What are the key concepts for 2024?
Leadership and/or heroism
Social and Cultural Traditions
Influence on other cultures
Social relationships and the role of the individual
How did Athena depart from Telemachus’ home? What is the significance of this?
She disappears. Telemachus realised he was talking to a god. Athena disappears – bird through a hole in the roof, relates to her symbol (owl) simile.
What’s the great gift Calypso offers Odysseus (p. 68, l. 209)? Give THREE reasons to explain why he can’t accept?
Immortality.
1: Beauty not enough needs the richness of Penelope’s mind.
2: Fatherland is the most important thing to him.
3: Life on the island offers no challenge.
Describe their meeting. What does her behaviour reveal about her compared to that of her maids? What do Odysseus’ first words to Nausicaa reveal about his character?
Odysseus comes out naked, Nausicaa is courageous/ bold, she stands firm when her maids run away. Odysseus is very charming, he compliments Nausciaa.
8. Why does Odysseus lie about his name?
Its funny and no-one comes to Polyphemus aid when he calls out that nobody has hurt him. Good tactic.
What was Circe’s advice to Odysseus? Who was Tiresias? Explain.
He needs to head to Hades/Underworld. Tiresias is a blind prophet that resides in the underworld and will tell Odysseus how to get home.
Why does Odysseus warn his men about the Siren’s and not Scylla?
They can survive the sirens if they follow his instructions – not all will survive Scylla. This is a tactful leadership decision so they do not fret over what they cannot control. (He did not want them to panic).
Who is your fave teacher?
Mrs Greaves