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The Odyssey---by Homer
The Stories
Book 9 – Sailing from Troy: p. 1043-1063
1) Banquet hall of king Alcinous
2) Calypso/Circe – brief description
3) Cicones at Ismarus p.1047
4) Lotus Eaters p.1048
5)The Cyclopes p.1050
Questions
Answer: Write the quote or put in your own words
Sailing from Troy p.1043
1) Speaking at the banquet hall of King Alcinnous of Phaecia who offers hospitality to Odysseus
2) Circe -- brief description
3) Cicones at Ismarus
4) Lotus Eaters p.1048
5) The Cyclops p.1050
1 How famous is he?
2 Is he bragging about
No, reputation is very important in this culture. When Odysseus
himself when he
states that his “fame has reached the skies” he is merely
introduces himself in
identifying himself – not vanity or hubris. But his pride in
this way?
his name foreshadows his questionable judgment in
identifying himself during the escape from the Cyclops.
3 Where is his home?
4 Does he love his
home?
5 What is more
important to him than
a house of gold?
6 What has kept him
from home?
7 Who are Calypso and
Circe?
3) Cicones at Ismarus p.1047
8
9
10
11
12
What does
Odysseus do at
Ismarus, a strong
point of the
Cicones?
Was this frowned
upon by Greek
society?
What did Odysseus
want to do after
storming Ismarus?
Did his men agree?
What did they do
instead?
No---POWER & WEALTH (theme) were admired in Greek society
Commentary: Odysseus either raids Ismarus because the Cicones are allies of the Trojans or
simply because it is there and piracy and marauding were legitimate professions for the
(Ithacans)Achaeans. The question is NOT about the legitimacy of the raid but Odysseus’ men’s
foolish disregard for his advice. This is a loss of power for Odysseus – a mistake on the part of a
leader. The description also talks about the greed of the men (“sheep after sheep they butchered”),
a waste of food that even today is considered a sin (seven deadly sins).Hence, Zeus punishes them
by suffering a great loss of men.
13
14
15
16
So what mistakes
do Odysseus and
his men make at
Ismarus?
Can you think of a
reason why
Odysseus didn’t
control his men?
Who attacks them?
1)
Opinion:
How long do they
fight?
17 How do they get
away?
Odysseus looses 6 benches full of men from each ship and is lucky to get away.
4) Lotus Eaters p. 1048
18 On what day do
they come to the
coastline of the
lotus eaters
19 Do the lotus eaters
mean to harm
Odysseus’ men?
20 Do they harm
them?
21 What is the danger
of the lotus plant?
Commentary: Temptation is a human failing/sin that even Greek society fought against.
Obviously, Homer has touched on a universal theme, the lure of oblivion through drugs; although
this is NOT a main theme throughout the story. Drugs make you lose your will to live, control of
your life and the things that you value. Note that “home” is very important throughout the story.
Obviously, the Greek culture valued home and family.
22
Odysseus makes a
mistake at Ismarus
by not controlling
his men. How is he
different here?
1)
2)
3)
23
Who is the main
narrator of this
tale?
What person is it
told in?
5) The Cyclops p.1050
24 Odysseus is very
contemptuous/disdainful
of the Cyclops. Why?
25
26
27
Because the Cyclops is not civilized. A lot can be learned about
the Greek culture in these paragraphs. Uncivilized living
includes:
1) not making laws
2) not cultivating the earth
3) not making wine from grapes
4) not having an armed force (muster)
5) not having meetings – thus no laws, no consultation
6) not having history---there is no passing down of ideas,
ways, and stories of the previous generations.
7) Not having any socializing
8) Treats his wife and child with disdain or with little to
no respect
How many men did
Odysseus take with him?
What else did he take?
How did Maron show
hospitality? Was he a
good host? Give
examples.
Commentary: Compare Maron’s hospitality to the Cyclops’.
28
Why doesn’t Odysseus
grab the cheese and
lambs and go back to the
ship---even when his men
plead with him to do so?
It shows Odysseus’ human failing and lack of wisdom.
Odysseus is not perfect, and here his curiosity overcomes good
judgment and common sense.
Is there any one of us who doesn’t make a mistake?
29
30
31
How does the Cyclops
close the cave?
What does this mean to
the men?
Line 199-200 what are
wandering rouges?
32
Odysseus shows bravery
in lines 203-216 by doing
what?
33
Odysseus is asking the
Cyclops to show
hospitality and if he
doesn’t…which god does
will avenge the
Achaeans?
What can be learned
about conduct and respect
for the gods from
Odysseus’ speech?
What is the Cyclops’
response?
What lie does Odysseus
tell the Cyclops about his
ship and why does he lie?
Why doesn’t Odysseus
kill the Cyclops around
line 245?
34
35
36
37
38
They fear and revere the gods. They believe the interfere or
take part in mortals daily lives.
What admirable trait is
Odysseus demonstrating
here?
Commentary: Note that Odysseus prays to the goddess Athena. In Greek epics it was common for
humans to have various gods as protectors, sometimes more than one. Odysseus’ special protector
is Athena, goddess of wisdom, skills, and warfare skills, because he is such a wily, skillful person
and so good at waging war. (Remember: Ares is the god of war and gore)
39
What is Odysseus’ plan
to deal with this cyclops?
Lines 265-284
40
When the Cyclops asks
Odysseus for his name
what does Odysseus tell
him?
41
What is the Cyclops’
name?
42
What does Polyphemus
mean when he answershis
brothers in lines 358-359
43
What do the other
Cyclopes understand?
44
What does the Cyclops
try to do when he goes
back to the cave?
45
What is Odysseus’ plan
for getting out of the cave
after injuring
Polyphemus?
Odysseus makes a bad
judgment call as he
escapes with his men.
What is it?
Besides the loss of an
eye, what is Polyphemus
upset about in lines 468471?
What curse does
Polyphemus pray that
Poseidon will put on
Odysseus?
46
47
48
430-460 He is acting in a boastful and vindictive manner-hubris. Do you know people with “big mouths” who keep on
talking even when it gets them in trouble? His need to boast and
to express his anger makes him irrational and incautious.
Commentary: with nothing but ocean between him and Ithaca and the god of the sea as his
enemy, Odysseus has paid a hefty price for his pride.
49
What does Odysseus try
to do to counteract
Poseidon’s ill will?
50
Define Allusion?
What does the allusion
mean: “blue girdler of the
islands?