Book 14–17: The Odyssey
Thursday, November 5, 2020
Class Notes:
Hodos- journey, pathway, adventure
method, period
Nostos- homecoming
Nostalgia
Telemachia
hodos →nostos
Rest of Story
“home restoration” (not in an HGTV kind of way)
Friday, November 6, 2020
Book 14
Odysseus heads to the house of the swineherd, though dressed as a beggar. Odysseus is invited to eat and drink by Eumaeus and to share his story. For his generosity, Odysseus praises the swineherd and Eumaeus replies that Zeus demands that all be kind to beggars and strangers. He serves two goats, barley, and wine to Odysseus. He complains that, without fearing the wrath of the gods who respect the righteous deeds of men, the suitors eat all the best hogs. The suitors would presume that Odysseus is gone, says the swineherd, for what was once the richest domain in this part of the world is shamelessly exhausted. Eumaeus is told by Odysseus that he was born in Crete, the illegitimate son of a wealthy man and a mistress. He enjoyed the adventure and fighting as a small boy, but not home life: he earned glory in combat and took a lot of riches from faraway places. Then, in the Trojan War, he commanded a ship, fought for ten years, and came home, but just a month after he had come home, he set out again for Egypt to search more gold. His citizens, though, were murdered and pillaged against his will in the Egyptian farms, and an army came from the Egyptian city and slaughtered or imprisoned the entire crew, while he survived by pleading the king for mercy. He spent seven years in Egypt and gained a great fortune. Odysseus left Egypt with a scammer from Phoenicia, who begged him to travel to Libya. But Zeus, with lightning, struck their boats, and he only survived. He spent nine days floating on the ship’s mast before he reached Thesprotia, where King Phidon greeted him pleasantly, telling him that Odysseus was sailing home with tremendous riches. Phidon took him by sea to the town of Dulichion, but the ship’s crew wrapped him in rags and bound him up on the beach in Ithaca. He eventually fled and came upon the house of Eumaeus. Odysseus-the-beggar ends his imagined story here. Odysseus attempts to verify the kindness of Eumaeus: during the Trojan War, he mentions an extremely cold, snowy night where he announced to Odysseus that he was going to die from the cold. Odysseus then sent on a made-up quest one of his men so that he, the beggar, could take his robe. Eumaeus praises the tale and lends a robe of his own to Odysseus.
Saturday, November 7, 2020
Book 15
Flying to Lacedaemon, Athena tells Telemachus to return to Ithaca. She warns him that, on his way home, some of the suitors are going to attempt and trap and murder him, and advises him to spare all the islands. Menelaus organizes for Telemachus to depart with Pisistratus for home the next morning. When, in his departure, Telemachus acknowledges Odysseus, an eagle with a goose in its claws flies by a positive omen. Telemachus packs his presents onto his ship at Pylos and sails to Ithaca; he brings Theoclymenus with him, the son of a prophet who murdered a man in Argos and begs for comfort. Back in Ithaca, however, Odysseus chose to find Eumaeus one more time. He informs Eumaeus that he is going to leave the palace the next morning and take his chances, but Eumaeus encourages him to wait before Telemachus comes back. In response to the questions of Odysseus, he tells him that King Laertes lives in sorrow for Odysseus and the mother of Odysseus. Odysseus then prompts Eumaeus to share his tale and happily agrees with the swineherd, dwelling on the joy of the sorrows recalled. Eumaeus states that his father was the lord of two cities on Syrie Island. One day, a Phoenician crew landed on the island and one of the men lured the Phoenician nurse from the residence of his father. And she left with them, and took the king’s child with her: the swineherd was that child. The boat finally landed in Ithaca, and Laertes bought the boy. Eumaeus’s tale ends here. Telemachus lands successfully and quietly in Ithaca the following morning. While going to Eumaeus farm, he guides the boat to go on to the area. They all see a hawk with a dove in its claws as he boards the truck. For Odysseus and his heirs, Theoclymenus perceives this omen to imply positive stuff.
Book 16
Eumaeus requests him to provide care of the stranger when Telemachus enters the farm. Telemachus happily agrees to give clothing and a sword to the stranger. Odysseus blurts to say that hearing about the miserable situation in the palace frustrates him and that he hopes he could help battle the suitors; if he were Odysseus, he suggests, if he didn’t fight his criminals, he would deserve punishment, and he would happily die attempting to fight them instead of tolerating their insulting conduct. Eumaeus is asked by Telemachus to go to the palace to inform Penelope that her son has come home safely, but not to tell anybody else, not even Laertes. Athena enters the farm, but she can only be noticed by Odysseus and the dogs. He walks to speak to her outside, and she advises Odysseus to show Telemachus his real identity so that the two can plot their vengeance against the suitors. She once again makes Odysseus appear like himself. Telemachus is shocked at the changes as he walks back inside. He assumes Odysseus must be a deity since only gods can change that quickly. Odysseus informs him that I am your father; Telemachus at first can’t quite believe it, but Odysseus reveals that Athena is accountable for his magical transformation. Telemachus is asked by Odysseus to identify the suitors so that they may prepare an assault. Telemachus fears that such a huge number of suitors, over a hundred in all, can be overcome by only two men, but Odysseus assures him that Athena and Zeus would both stand by them. He is told by Odysseus to go to the palace and to socialize with a mob of suitors. Odysseus, once again dressed as a beggar, would be taken to town later by Eumaeus. Telemachus is also advised by Odysseus to keep his return hidden, also from Laertes, Penelope, and Eumaeus. Eumaeus and a herald of Pylos are also announcing to Penelope that Telemachus has returned home. The suitors are afraid of reading the news. They assemble at the gathering premises and argue that the soul of Telemachus must have been spared by a deity. To escape persecution, Antinous proposes to kill him on home soil, although secretly. Amphinomus proposes that they can only execute the prince if the gods are in favor of the assassination, and the suitors all adhere to this more reasonable scheme. Penelope appears and asks Antinous about his plans against Telemachus from her chambers. She tells him that his father had once been rescued by Odysseus, and belittles Antinous for abusing the land of Odysseus and his companion in his absence. Penelope is told by Eurymachus that he would not allow Telemachus to be affected, but his reassurance is deceptive. Eumaeus, meanwhile, resorts to the farm, and he, Telemachus, and Odysseus disguised as the beggar once more eat and sleep.
What further signs of maturity does Telemachus exhibit in his journey homeward?
Athena informs Telemachus in book 15 that he must rush home to Ithaca before the suitors excel in winning the hand of his mother. She also informs him that they’ve set up an attack and explains how to stop it. Finally, she directs him to go first to the home of Eumaeus the swineherd, who will relay to Penelope the news of his safe return. Telemachus packs his gifts into his boat at Pylos, and sails to Ithaca. Theoclymenus asks him to venture abroad, and Telemachus welcomes him and gives him hospitality as he arrives in Ithaca. Telemachus orders the ship to go on to the city as he enters the shores of Ithaca when he goes to Eumaeus farm. Telemachus is asked by Eumaeus to take care of the stranger. Telemachus happily agrees to give clothing and a sword to the stranger. Telemachus proves his maturity when he offers to support the stranger.
What is special about his relationship with Pisistratus?
Telemachus and Pisistratus have a very connected relationship. To wake him up like a brother, Telemachus kicks Pisistratus. Often, Telemachus fears about his father while in Sparta, and Pisistratus attempts to console him and urge him to relax. I think their friendship is so similar because Pisistratus is Nestor’s son, and Telemachus sees the actions of another son. This peer leadership was never provided for Telemachus.
Tuesday, November 10, 2020
Class Notes:
What are the proofs you look for to decide if you can trust someone?
In any case, a trustworthy individual would use generally the same actions and language. And if they are tempted to take it out, they have the self-control to keep the character and follow through with what they think they’ll do. They won’t wear different masks or say they’re someone they’re not just to please. Switching gears emerges from credible new knowledge being discovered, not from self-serving whims. Moreover, what they’re doing suits what you hear from others.
Book 17
Telemachus heads to the city and he is polite to the suitors, but their motives are mysterious. He tells Penelope that Menelaus had discovered that on the island of Calypso, Odysseus was trapped. Theoclymenus adds his prophecy. He states that, as they write, Odysseus is in Ithaca, planning retribution. Eumaeus and Odysseus set out for the town not long after, with Odysseus disguised as a beggar. On their way, they run into Melanthius the goatherd, who insults them and even kicks Odysseus. Odysseus tries to strike back at him, but he’s still cool. Eumaeus warns Odysseus as the two men enter the castle that someone might strike or taunt him just for the fun of it, and Odysseus responds that after his years of wandering, he can endure some embarrassment. Odysseus sees, when they speak, an elderly dog laying in the dirt and feces overlooked. It is Argos, who was once the baby of Odysseus. The owner and the dog instinctively remember each other, but the old dog silently dies at that time. Odysseus, for the first time in twenty years, occupies his own residence. Telemachus advises Eumaeus to instruct Odysseus to go around the table to ask for scraps, and Athena’s suggestion for seconds: it’s a way to distinguish the innocent from the evil suitors. Most of the suitors feel sorry for him and send him bread, but Antinous angrily asks Eumaeus why he took the odd beggar to court. Antinous throws a stool at the king, but once again, Odysseus contained his anger and told the other suitors that such undeserved violence would be punished by the gods. The other suitors agree that Antinous will be struck down by the gods for his crime. Telemachus is anxious to see his father humiliated, but his emotions remain concealed. Eumaeus talks to the queen briefly and then goes back to his estate, but with the suitors, Odysseus and Telemachus remain behind.
How is the persona that Odysseus assumes as a beggar like, and unlike, his real self?
Odysseus has a leader’s distinguishing character traits: influence, bravery, nobility, a desire for fame, and faith in his authority. However, his most defining attribute is his sharp intelligence. He is quite hot-headed as a beggar. Odysseus is offended by him and invites him to a boxing match. He feels that he’s going to do the old man’s fast job, but Athena gives Odysseus extra power and height.
What other characters can you think of who uses disguises in film and literature? Why do they do this?
Disguises are used in comic books and superhero stories to hide secret identities and keep special powers secret from ordinary individuals. For instance, as Clark Kent, Superman passes himself off, and Spider-Man disguises himself in a costume so that he can not be known as Peter Parker.