Download Book Five - Ms Faughnan`s Notes

THE ODYSSEY
BOOK FIVE
BOOK FIVE
• After talking to Athene Zeus instructs Hermes to
go to Calypso to tell her to release Odysseus,
who has been in her care for seven years.
Calypso is not happy but even she must yield
to the will of Zeus.
• The hero is to be told to build his own raft and
after twenty days he will end up on Scherie
land of the Phaeacians. These people will take
“Odysseus close to their hearts” and convey
him, by ship, to his own home.
• Calypso joins Odysseus, who is feeling sorry for
himself, and tells him he must depart. She tells
him to cut trees and make a raft. Calypso says
she will stock this raft with food for him. He
thinks it is a trick at first.
BOOK FIVE
• Calypso says to him that he could stay with
her at her cave and share immortality with
her. Odysseus replies, it is his “never failing
wish” to see his wife and home again and
rejects the offer. Although he has been
Calypso’s lover, his desire to return home to
his land and wife are made very clear
(P.76).
• With Calypso’s help, Odysseus cuts trees to
make a raft and armed with food/wine he
sets off on the high seas towards Ithaca. He
sails for seventeen days and on the
eighteenth day he sees the land of the
Phaeacians in the distance.
BOOK FIVE
• Poseidon, god of the sea, who had
returned from Ethiopia notices him
and using his trident stirred up the
seas to topple him from his raft.
• The raft sinks and Odysseus is tossed
about the oceans. A goddess called
Ino sees the distressed hero and
takes pity on him. She instructs him to
abandon his raft and gives him a veil
and tells him to head for the shore,
swimming as fast as he can.
Ino rescues Odysseus after Poseidon shipwrecks his boat.
BOOK FIVE
• Poseidon continues to whip up the seas
tormenting Odysseus. The hero thinks
he is going to die.
• Poseidon then decides to stop
whipping up the sea; he has caused
the hero enough anguish.
• Athene also calmed the winds to assist
Odysseus, she also directed him from
the rocky coastline to the safety of the
land of the Phaeacians.
• Having finally reached land, an
exhausted Odysseus falls into a sleep,
sheltered by a blanket of woven
branches and leaves.
BOOK FIVE: IMPORTANT POINTS
• Note: Our first glimpse of Odysseus is not impressive: he is
weeping, resentful and distrustful.
• However, his desire to return home, loyalty to his homeland and
his wife is admirable. These values were important for the ancient
Greeks. Odysseus fidelity to Penelope is beyond doubt: He pines
for Penelope at the beginning of book 5 (alone staring out at the
ocean etc.)
• He would also rather spend the rest of his days with his beloved
Penelope rather that commit a life time with Calypso. Something
the nymph finds baffling, for Penelope is an aging mortal.
BOOK FIVE: IMPORTANT POINTS
• Note that Odysseus may be demonstrating double
standards: He has two affairs, one with Calypso and
Circe, whist he is away from Ithaca. Penelope, on
the other hand is expected to be celibate. The
Greek audience of Homer’s time would have seen
no such contradiction. Odysseus is, after all, in the
thrall of two immortals and this might, perhaps,
enhance his status as an epic hero.
• Note the hero’s capacity to endure and his ability
to think quickly in dangerous situations.
BOOK FIVE: IMPORTANT POINTS
• Note the role of the gods in the background which
is also important. Ultimately they plan, plot and
orchestrate human affairs. All that happens on
earth takes place only with their approval.
• In this book the Gods in Olympus convene, once
again, to discuss the fate of Odysseus. Calypso is
furious to have to release Odysseus: but she has no
choice. In the hierarchy of things, she is merely a
nymph and must do Zeus’ bidding.
BOOK FIVE: IMPORTANT POINTS
• It is clear that Poseidon is not
yet finished with Odysseus and
wrecks his boat just off the
coast of Scheria. Odysseus is
saved by Ino’s veil and
Athena’s intervention. The
Gods, who support Odysseus,
are proactively on hand to
save the day.
• Note Odysseus’ emergence
from the stormy waters which
may represent his rebirth.
BOOK FIVE: QUESTIONS
1. Explain how Odysseus is released from
Calypso?
2. How does Poseidon harass Odysseus?
3. What help do Ino and Athena give to
Odysseus?