The Odyssey Group 1 Books 1 4 By
The Odyssey Group 1: Books 1 -4 By: Firaas, Cameron, Stephen, Jacob
Book 1 - Poseidon has stopped Odysseus from returning home to Ithaka. This is a result of Odysseus poking Polyphemos’s eye out (Polyphemos is Poseidon’s son) - Odysseus is being held on an island by a nymph named Kalypso - Zeus refuses to send Hermes to the island to tell Kalypso to release Odysseus - Athena goes into disguise as Mentes, and goes to Ithaka - When she arrived there were many suitors and Telemachus - the suitors are eating Odysseus’s food and trying to get with his wife Penelope
Book 2 - Telemachus arranges a meeting with all of the Ithakan men - He talks about how the suitors invaded his house, ate his food, drank his wine, and tried to win mom over (Penelope) - Penelope stalled getting married (because if you were a queen and your husband died you were required to remarry) by weaving a funeral shroud for Laertes, Odysseus’s father, and then undoing her work at night - Antinoös, a suitor, told Telemachus that he either had to get rid of his mom or choose a suitor husband - Zeus sends two eagles to attack the city’s people; seen as an omen by Halitherses that Odysseus is still alive - Telemachus begins his expedition to Pylos, where he wants to gather news on his father
Book 3 • Telemachus and company arrive in Pylos and arrived to see a sacrifice to Poseidon in progress. • Athena advises him to seek out Nestor who had fought with his father • Telemachus wishes to discover what happened to his father. • Nestor tells him about the argument over sacrificing or not after troy had fallen. • Telemachus describes his situation with the suitors and Nestor proposes that the gods might aid him and tells him to learn from the lesson of Agamemnon who stayed away from home too long.
Book 3 continued • Nestor suggested to Telemachus to visit Menelaus and provided transportation and sent one of his sons. • They then start off to Sparta
Book 4 • They arrive to Lacedaemon(where Menelaus rules). A double wedding feast is going on for his son and daughter. • Menelaus tells them of his sorrow for those that were lost during the war, most of all Odysseus. • Helen, wife of Menelaus and igniter of Trojan War, walks in and recognized Telemachus as the son of Odysseus. • She had placed a potion of sorts in their drink to cheer everyone up and she recalled her experiences with Odysseus in Troy. • Telemachus relents to him his situation with the suitors and Menalaus Expresses his disdain.
Book 4 continued • Menelaus then shares his story about how he was stranded without wind because he had not made adequate sacrifice. • He captured Proteus who tells him what to do to return home. He is told that Odysseus is a prisoner on Calypso’s island. • Meanwhile, back in Ithaca, the suitors find out what Telemachus has done and go after him with plans of killing him. • Telemachus starts to return home. • Penelope weeps and Athena tells her that Telemachus will be safe.
Book I Question 2: Why has Odysseus not yet return home from the Trojan War? Answer: Calypso (his lover) would not let him leave because her love was too strong for Odysseus.
Book 1 Question 5: What words were used to describe the suitors? Answer: The suitors were very disrespectful people. They would not listen and treat people like trash.
Book II Question 12: Why does Telemakhos call the men to assembly? Answer: It was to show that Telemakhos is coming of age. Also, Athena insisted that he hold the assembly.
Book II Question 14: What sign does Zeus send to the assembly, and what is it’s meaning? Answer: Zeus sends two eagles to the assembly.
Book III Question 16: Where does the action in Book III take place? Answer: The action in Book III takes place in Pylos.
Book III Question 19: What happens at the homecoming of Agamemnon? Answer: Agamemnon comes home and is killed by his wife Aigisphos. His wife and another guy rule the kingdom of Mykene until 8 years later. They get killed by the son of Agamemnon.
Book IV Question 23: What is the setting of Book IV? Answer: The setting of Book IV is SPARTA!!!
Book IV Question 29: Identify the leading men of the suitors. Answer: The main leading man of the suitors is Ant. Inoös.
Odysseus Please turn to Pages: 37 -39
Analysis of the characters
Telemachus • • • Son of odysseus Devoted to his mother and his family Young and still developing Influenced by Athena to go on his quest Shares traits of his father that are referred to on many occasions
Athena • • God, daughter of Zeus. Appears in many different forms Goddess of wisdom Carries favor for Odysseus and his son. Sets Telemachus on his quest She appreciates the wisdom of Odysseus.
Penelope • Wife of Odysseus • Left at home fighting off suitors • Refuses to pick a husband with a small hope of Odysseus being still alive. • Depressed due to the constant barrage of the suitors and the degradation of Odysseus’s estate. • Worried for her son.
Helen • The original cause of the Trojan war. • Has been returned to Menelaus after the war. • First to mention the resemblance between Telemachus and Odysseus. • She knew Odysseus in the past when he infiltrated Troy. • Respects Telemachus because of father.
Theme/relevance/evidence • A Theme was that was formed in these chapters is the statement that humans may always blame the gods for good and bad things even when the gods have nothing to do with it. • This is relevant to an idea of self-reliance • “My word, how mortals take the gods to task! All of their afflictions come from us, we hear. And what of their own failings? (pg. 2)
Motifs • Loyalty of Penelope to Odysseus • Bravery of Telemachus in traveling to hear word on his father. • Loyalty of Menelaus to Odysseus in helping his son • Endurance of Penelope in keeping the suitors at bay
What establishes The Odyssey as an epic? 1. Odysseus, the epic hero, holds legendary importance because he fought in the Trojan War and has not returned home after ten years since the battle has ended; he is missed by many people and almost everyone liked him. 2. The setting takes place in many different areas of the world. Through just the first four books, Telemochas been to Pylos and Sparta, which is two days away by horse. 3. We know the hero, Odysseus, has already engaged in battle in the Trojan war. 4. Supernatural forces are at work: Poseidon cursed Odysseus to wander around the ocean for ten years because he poked out the eye of his son who was a cyclops, Athene who turned into an eagle to watch over Telemochas’s crew while he went to Sparta, and Athena sent the image of Iphthime to Penelope while she was sleeping, who then told her Telemochas would return safely. 5. A formal speech has already been made; when Telemochas arrives at Pylos. 6. The story starts in media res or “in the middle of things” with Odysseus unable to return home. It also calls upon a Muse.
Hero’s Journey Call to adventure: Odysseus has been forbidden to go home due to the fact that he poked out the eye of Poseidon’s cyclops.
Additional Questions: What role do the gods play? What kind of relationships do they have with humans? What do the humans do to please the gods? Provide examples. Who is Athena? Why is she helping Telemakhos? Who started the Trojan War?
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