trace Odysseus' relationships with female characters
through the poem (see Odyssey handout)
compare Odysseus to other epic heroes (Trojan, Gilgamesh)
read the several passages about Agamemnon's return
home (Lombardo p. 242, 267 , 343-45,
how does that story enhance the story of Odysseus' homecoming?
as in the Iliad, look at the similes carefully
Assignment for Fri. 19 Oct.
Lombardo 241-69 [from Books 1, 4]
The first four books deal with Telemachos, Odysseus' son.
Book 1 is set in on Olympus and on Ithaca at Odysseus' home
why is our introduction to Odysseus postponed?
how do the gods get involved?
what is the problem with the suitors?
what is Telemachus like at first?
how is Telemachus different after his encounter with Athena?
Book 4 is set at Menelaus' palace
what are Menelaus and Helen like? what is their relationship like?
Menelaus and Helen each tell a story about Odysseus
what do we learn about Odysseus from each story?
what do we learn about Menelaus and Helen from each story?
Menelaus gives further information about his own return, and Agamemnon's,
and about Odysseus
Assignment for Mon. 22 Oct.
Lombardo 284-98 [from Books 6, 8]
Odysseus in Phaeacia
parallels a folktale: stranger does quest, marries
princess
look at all the marriage talk around Nausicaa
how is Odysseus' approach to Nausicaa diplomatic
and effective?
why does Homer have Odysseus ask the bard to sing about the Trojan Horse?
after this tale, Odysseus reveals who he is, and from Books 9-12 narrates
his adventures trying to get home from Troy, up to his arrival at Calypso's
island
Lombardo 332-38, 342-65 [from Books
11, 12]
Odysseus in the underworld
we looked before at Homer's version of the underworld--now read it
for yourself
what useful information does Odysseus get from Tiresias? from his own
mother?
why does Homer include encounters with Agamemnon, Achilles
Odysseus with Circe and wandering
Circe instructs him what to expect next
why is the Sirens' song particularly tempting for Odysseus?
the Cattle of the Sun episode: like Polyphemus episode, an example of
men bringing trouble on themselves (see what the gods say about that on
p. 242)
Assignment for Wed. 24 Oct.
Lombardo 298-314 [Book 9]
Odysseus' men have adventures with the Cicones and the
Lotus-Eaters
They arrive at the land of the Cyclopes
how does Odysseus describe the Cyclopes? their off-shore island?
what sort of life does Polyphemus lead?
In Polyphemus' cave
how is Odysseus a bad guest? how is Polyphemus a bad host?
we will compare this story to a folktale (see Odyssey handout)
why does Odysseus say his name is "Noman"? How is the lie effective?
how does he get himself and his men out of the cave?
After escaping the cave
how does Odysseus' taunting Polyphemus make things worse for his crew?
his encounter with Athena shows what he is like, and what they think
of each other
what is Odysseus concerned about?
Odysseus and Telemachus meet at the hut of Eumaeus the
swineherd
are Odysseus and Telemachus alike? what do they think of each other?
Odysseus tells a series of lies while he is in Ithaca: why? what kind
of lies?
what's the plan for dealing with the suitors?
Lombardo 403-39
[from Books 19, 21-22]
Odysseus meets Penelope again at last
why does he lie to her?
how are they alike?
what does Homer gain by including the foot-washing
episode?
the old nurse Eurycleia is the only one who could
recognize Odysseus; why does he specifically ask for an old serving woman?
(see how Eurycleia adds to the beginning of Book 23)
Odysseus and the suitors
how are the suitors bad guests?
the trick with the bow: it works because this is
a composite bow, not a single-piece one. If you know how to string it,
it's not difficult; if you don't, it's impossible.
Odysseus, as usual, wins through cleverness and
knowledge, not brute strength
notice that Telemachus comes very close to stringing
the bow
Lombardo 454-65 [Book 23]
Odysseus and Penelope
it is Penelope's turn to trick Odysseus! she makes
a good wife for him
Homer chooses to add Odysseus' statement that he
will need to wander again (p. 462)
what parts of Odysseus' journey does Homer choose
to include in Odysseus' report to his wife of his wanderings (p. 463-64)
