The Odyssey

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Flashcards on The Odyssey, created by emma_royal on 27/05/2015.
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Flashcards by emma_royal, updated more than 1 year ago
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Created by emma_royal over 9 years ago
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Resource summary

Question Answer
When does Odysseus show that he is a good leader? Doesn't tell his men about Scylla Finds and saves his men from Circe
When does Odysseus show that he is a bad leader? In Ismarus he fails to control his men He gets six men killed by Polyphemus He runs away from the Laestrygonians Success in the Battle in the Hall His men disobey him when they open Aeolus' bag of wind (because they believe him to be keeping booty from him)
Odysseus as a good Greek Hero Booty - Phaeacians give him more than Troy Kleos - Fears a non-famous death Athletic - Phaeacian games Success - Troy, sung about by Demodocus
How is Odysseus shown to be a Bad Hero? Brains over brawn Bad leader Runs away (Phaeacians)
Role of Eurycleia Eurycleia offers pathos over Od's long absence She doesn't reveal his identity when she feels his leg. Keeps maids in quarters. She doesn't reveal Telemachus' journey to the suitors.
Role of Melanthius Punished for being disloyal to Odysseus. Tortured and killed by the 4 men in the hall (Od, Tele, Eu and Philoetius) Highlights the loyalty of the other herdsmen Show's Odysseus' brutality (arguably an antihero)
Role of the Maids Report Penelope to the suitors so her scheme with the shroud fails, therefore heightens tension over whether Penelope will be able to holdout against the suitors. Raped by the Suitors (acknowledged by Od) Punished by being strung up like doves (arguably innocent)
Role of Melantho One of the maids Sleeps with Eurymachus Hanged with the other maids
Role of Eumaeus Loyal to Odysseus Helps Odysseus to reclaim his throne Dear to Homer (spoken about in the 2nd person) Shown to be a good person (gives Od. food and shelter when he is unaware) Surrogate father to Telemachus
How are the actions of immortals shown to be contradictory? Zeus is the god of Xenia but sinks the Phaeacians ship Polyphemus is shown to be unpious but the gods aid him Zeus is the god of supplication but doesn't punish Odysseus for killing Leodes (the nice suitor) when he supplicates
How does Athene help Odysseus? Troy She appeals to Zeus for Odysseus Makes him sexy (Nausicaa) Makes him stronger (Games and Irus) Prevents spears from hitting him
How does Odysseus show his want of Kleos? Tells Polyphemus his identity Hides it from the Phaeacians until after Demodocus had sang about the Trojan Horse Cries on that log Tells Achilles not to grieve because he is famous
When does Odysseus show his cunning? Nobody Tied up for the Sirens Trojan Horse Goes past Scylla (sacrifice) because they cannot pass Charybdis Makes sure he is disguised as a beggar rather than confronting 108 suitors
How are Odysseus' skills shown? Builds a raft on Ogygia Builds the wedding bed Cunning - deceitful plans Athlete - Phaeacian Games (Further than any other could shoot a bow) Experienced warrior and leader
How is Odysseus helped by women? Athene - disguise, strength and fighting Calypso - dragged him to safety on Ogygia Ino - protects him from the storm Nausicaa - clothes, food and directions Arete - xenia (he supplicates) and gifts Circe - hospitality and what to do next Penelope - deals with the suitors
What is the first Cretan tale? (To Athene who appeared as a young and attractive shepherd boy and he wants to protect his booty) He killed Idomeneus' son so he was exiled, threw himself on the mercy of a Phoenician ship. gave them booty to take him to Pylos or Elis but a strong wind blew them here where they then left him.
What is the second Cretan tale? (To Eumaeus) He fought with Odysseus at Troy (he uses this to convince Eumaeus to give him his cloak) and made it home safely, he claims, but a trip that he made later to Egypt went awry, and he was reduced to poverty. He tells Eumaeus that Odysseus is alive
List Odysseus' 12 challenges The Cicones, The Lotus Eaters, Polyphemus, Aeolus' Bag of Wind, Laestrygonians, Circe, Hades, Sirens, Scylla and Charybdis, Island of the Sun, Ogygia, Schyrie.
What happened on Ismarus? They sacked the city of the Cicones. Odysseus tried to get his men to leave but they wouldn't, the neighbours turned up and Odysseus lost 6 men from every ship
What happened with the Lotus Eaters? Sent men inland who tried the mythical lotus fruit. They lost any wish to go home. Odysseus had them tied up and dragged under the benches
What happened on Telepylus? Everyone lands in the harbour but Od's ship. Send two men who see Antiphates' daughter Led by Antiphates they throw rocks and destroy the ships 11/12 ships eaten by Laestrygonians
What happened with Polyphemus? Ate his cheese (xenia). Polyphemus ate (6 of) Odysseus' men. Nobody. Made Polyphemus drunk on Maron, Priest of Apollo's 20 strength wine. Stabbed out Poly.'s eye with a hot, sharpened olive wood stick. Escape under the bellies of tied together ewes (Od under the biggest ram.
What happened on Aeaea? Circe turns Od's men to pigs. Eurylochus reports this Odysseus heads off, receives moly and advice from Hermes. Advances on Circe with a sword and make her swear to not kill him. Then he has sex with her (domination/rape) They stay for a year until his men get bored
What happened in Aeolia? Aeolus shows xenia (they stay for a month) 9 days and nights later (smoke over homeland) Odysseus' men open the bag of wind and they are blown off course. They return but Aeolus will not helped someone detested by the gods.
At the beginning of the Odyssey, where is Poseidon and what does this mean for Odysseus? Poseidon is in Ethiopia It means that Athene can finally help him escape Ogygia after 7 years
What is Athene's disguise when she visits Telemachus? Mentes (an old family friend)
What does Telemachus complain about to Mentes in Book 1? His father is missing, it would be easier if he had died in Troy and that the suitors are courting his mum and eating his fortune
Where does Telemachus go in the Telemachiad? Pylos to see Nestor and Sparta to see Menelaus and Helen
Who is the suitor's minstrel? Phemius
What is Odysseus' 'never-failing wish'? To return home
How does Ino help Odysseus? She tells him to get off the raft and to use her veil. He has to throw it back into the sea without looking when he gets to shore
What could Odysseus sleeping in a bed of leaves symbolise? He re-birth into civilisation He has learnt much Athene send him to sleep (he continues to be a favourite of the gods)
How is Odysseus' cunning shown when he talks to Calypso? He has to reject her nicely. He claims that she is much better than Penelope but he really misses home. He can't say that a mortal is better than an immortal.
What is 'Nostos'? the idea of returning home from a long journey
How is Odysseus shown to be cunning when talking to Nausicaa? He supplicates but doesn't grab her knees He describes her as being like a palm tree and Artemis (both innocent and pious references). He also says that her parents would be very proud of her.
How are the Phaeacians threatening to Odysseus? They are descended from Poseidon (who hates him) They used to live in Hypereie (neighbours of the cyclopes must be formidable) Odysseus is told by Nausicaa and Athene to supplicate to Arete not Alcinous
Who does Athene appear as at the Phaeacian Games? A herald. (she also makes him taller and broader)
Who is the bard in Schyrie? Demodocus
What does Demodocus sing of? 1. the disagreement between Achilles and Odysseus 2. Ares and Aphrodite 3. The Trojan Horse
Who comes up from Erebus before Elpenor? unmarried women, old men who suffered, once-happy girls and warriors
What does Elpenor ask of Odysseus? To bury him properly
Name some women from the parade of women from the Book of the Dead Jocasta (Epicaste), Tyro (Poseidon was the baby daddy of her children), Antiope.
What are some parallels between Odysseus and Agamemnon? Returning home from Troy Telemachus/Orestes Penelope/Clytemnestra Aegisthus/Suitors
What are some parallels between Odysseus and Achilles? Travelled to Hades They both use the bow They both have 12 trials Odysseus must choose to die an old man rather than in battle (Achilles wants this) Achilles asks after his father Peleus
How is Odysseus' cunning shown when he tells the story of the book of the dead? He stops it halfway for sleep. Makes the Phaeacians want more and makes Arete and Alcinous give him more gifts
What is the Island of the Sun called? Thrinacie
What do Scylla and Charybdis look like?
What does Odysseus tell Eumaeus in his second Cretan tale? - He had many brother but he was the son of a concubine - Led a great fleet at Troy - This allowed him to win a lot of money - Zeus struck his ship with lightning - He forgot his cloak in Troy so Odysseus gave him his
What does Odysseus tell Athene in his first Cretan tale? - He is an exile from Crete - Killed Idomeneus - Idomeneus was the fastest man in Crete He tried to take what Od. had won at Troy -Ran away with a Phoenician ship
What is Telemachus reaction when Athene reveals Odysseus to him? Thinks that he is a god. Doesn't believe that it is his father. They hug and cry like eagles.
What does Telemachus do when he and Odysseus return to the house? Telemachus must not react badly when Odysseus is abused He tells them to give up their wild behaviour knowing full well they won't listen Hides the weapons
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