Book 20 (Hailey & Katie)
Significant Quotes
“Others are quick to trust a weaker comrade, / some poor mortal, far less cunning than I. / But I am a goddess, look, the very one who / guards you in all your trials to the last. / … What a misery, / keeping watch through the night, wide awake- / you’ll soon come up from under all your troubles.” (20. 48-58).
This quote was said by Athena to Odysseus when he is very angry with the suitors. Athena comes to him and tells him how she will be there for him, like it says in the quote. She has stuck with him through the whole quest and won’t give up on him now. She is his protector. This quote is significant to the book as a whole because it shows how Athena sticks with Odysseus through the thick and the thin. Any gods are usually willing to do so for the mortal that they are fighting for, but this is a good example because is has come towards the end of the journey and Athena is still with him.
Another significant quote that we thought was important was spoken by Odysseus. “Father Zeus, if you really willed it so- to bring me / home over land and sea- lanes, home to native ground / after all the pain you once brought me- show me a sign, / a good omen voiced by someone awake indoors, / another sign, outside, from Zeus himself!” (20. 109- 113).
This is important because Odysseus wants a sign that his life as he knew it will turn back to normal after everything that he has been through. He really doubts it at the time because the suitors are still in his home and it doesn’t really feel like home yet. He also thinks that Zeus might not give him a break so he asks for a sign of confidence. This is important to the book because Zeus has given Odysseus a hard time the entire book and he wants to know if Zeus will finally let him conquer his quest and he asks Zeus so that he knows what is ahead of him.
“The heart inside him growled low with rage, / as a bitch mounting over her weak, defenseless puppies / growls, facing a stranger, bristling for a showdown- / so he growled from his depths, hackles rising at their outrage.” (20. 15- 18).
This quote is a very accurate representation of the rage that Odysseus is feeling as he watches the suitors parade around his house as if it were their own. The intensity of his feelings are portrayed by the epic simile Homer uses to describe him, and this helps us understand what Odysseus is going through in this particular section. The anger that Odysseus feels toward the suitors is to strong for him to ignore, and this quote definitely foreshadows what Odysseus will inevitably do later in the epic.
Elements of the Monomyth
Rescue from without is when the hero gets help to overcome their final battle. This occurs in Book 20 of The Odyssey when Odysseus gets mad about seeing all the suitors that have taken over his house. Athena gives him some wise words and says, “What a misery, / keeping watch through the night, wide awake- / you’ll soon come up from under all your troubles.” (20.56-58). This is Athena’s clue to Odysseus that everything will be alright in the end, and to just keep holding on. Another example is when Odysseus prays to Zeus that he will give him a sign that his life will turn back to normal. He shows him everything will be alright when he says, “And Zeus with all his wisdom heard that prayer. / He thundered at once, out of his clear blue heavens / high above the clouds, and Odysseus’ spirit lifted.” (20. 115- 116). Throughout the novel there are many times that characters get help on their quests by gods, especially when they are completing their final battles. Athena and Zeus are always there for people who need them and this shows when they help Odysseus during the last obstacles of his final quest.
Book 20 (Claire & Lexa)
Quote 1: "He must wear such rags, I know it, / knocking about, drifting through the world / if he's still alive and sees the light of day. / If he's dead already, lost in the House of Death, / my heart aches for Odysseus, my great lord and master" (20. 226-230).
Explanation: Odysseus has such powerful individual qualities about himself that make him a respected person. Even though he is gone for several years, people in his home city of Ithaca remember him in a strong image. They think of Odysseus as a kind, determined and cunning man. Due to this fact, the people in Ithaca never give up hope for him to return. There is always something in the hearts of the people, that allows them to believe Odysseus could still possibly be alive. With this in mind, when Odysseus returns to Ithaca, it won't be hard for the people to believe it's truly him.
Quote 2: "Don't let me see more offenses in my house, / not from anyone! I'm alive to it all, now, / the good and the bad – the boy you knew is gone" (20. 128-143).
Explanation: Telemachus is becoming a man. He is following his father's footsteps which will allow him to one day become a great ruler. Telemachus is maturing by taking charge of the household, as a man should do. He is standing his ground against the suitors, so they know he is a higher rank than them. This is important because it shows the growth in his character, and the amount of time Odysseus has been gone from home.
Quote 3: "Oh I can see it now – / the disaster closing in on you all! There's no escaping it, / no way out – not for a single one of you suitors, / wild reckless fools, plotting outrage here, / the halls of Odysseus , great and strong as a god!" (20. 410-414)
Explanation: The suitors are invading Odysseus's home and to defend it, Eurymachus yells at them. This is significant because it is starting to foreshadow the future. Homer enjoys using the style of foreshadowing to grab the reader's attention. In this specific quote, Eurymachus, the wise prophet, hints to the suitors that they will meet their death.
The Monomyth
Book 20 takes part in the end of stage 3 and the beginning of stage 4. Odysseus has already returned to Ithaca, but only Telemachus and Eurycliea know that it is actually him. Others think that he is a strange beggar staying in the house. Since the final battle hasn't quite started yet, You could say Odysseus is in the return stage of the Hero quest pattern. Also Odysseus gets help from Zeus and Athena, which is considered help from the supernatural world. "And Zeus in all his wisdon heard that prayer. / He thundered at once, out of his clear blue heavens / high above the clouds, and Odysseus' spirit lifted" (20. 114-116). Zeus anwsers Odysseus' prayers. This would also be called the "magic flight" stage, although Zeus and Athena also help him, not only when returning home, but in Ithaca as well.
Friday, October 3, 2008
The Odyssey: Book 21
Book 21 (Margaret & Hannah)
Quote 1:
…he leapt to his feet and dropped his bright-red cloak, / slipping the sword and sword-belt off his shoulders. / First he planted the axes, digging a long trench, / one for all, and trued all to a line / then tamped the earth to bed them. Wonder took / the revelers looking on: his work so firm, precise, / though he’s never seen the axes ranged before. (21. 135-141)
Homer’s style includes epic similes, perfect word choice, and various sentence types. We thought this passage did a good job presenting his extensive thought process. The author of The Odyssey takes the simplest scenarios and twists them with intricate language for a further more interesting reading. His word choice is very descriptive as well. It gives the reader a better idea of what to picture while reading. One by one he takes you through the events that take place. In this quote, Homer portrays Telemachus attempting to use Odysseus’s bow and arrow. He looked as though he had done this a thousand times. It’s significant for Telemachus was thought to be like his father. With all his might he tried to prove to everyone that he was the warrior they thought, except it was a great disappointment.
Quote 2:
“And stopped his short despite his tensing zeal. / “”God help me,”” the inspired prince cried out, / “must I be a weakling, a failure all my life?” / Unless I’m just too young to trust my hands / to fight off any man who rises up against me.” (21. 148-153)
Telemachus, Odysseus’s son, is thought to be just as tough as his father. In book 21, Telemachus shows a great amount of character and this quote tells a lot about who he is as a person. It’s evident that Telemachus looks up to his father and wants to be like him. He’s admitting though that he is not as great in strength as his dad. The prince is not a failure, but instead has qualities he has not yet discovered. Odysseus was born with great prudence and power which his son might not inquire, at least though Telemachus can acknowledge it which shows a big step forward for his character.
Quote 3:
“ So they mocked, but Odysseus…once he’d handled the great bow…like an expert singer skilled at lyre and song- / …with virtuous ease Odysseus strung his mighty bow” (21. 451-456).
The significance of this quote is Odysseus’ whole persona throughout this scene. An image is created of this beggar looking so poor, but on the inside a man so intellectually wealthy. Odysseus will always be a king at heart. A bow so tight that not any man in the room could string it, and Odysseus does so with eloquent ease. This passage says yet more about what a strong man- physically and mentally- he is.
Elements of Monomyth
This book of The Odyssey, “Odysseus Strings his Bow”, is the Rescue from Without portion of the monomyth hero quest. Odysseus comes home at last, just to overcome the final obstacle to get rid of the suitors in his house. When he arrives he is a total stranger and must prove his identity to the two king’s men outside of his house. He does so by revealing a scar he has on his foot. “The men gazed at it, scanned it, knew it well, / broke into tears and threw their arms around their master- ” (21. 249-250). Now that Odysseus has overcome the challenge of proving he is the king of their house, he now continues in his Rescue from Without portion of his hero quest. He receives help from a close servant of the household, Eumaeus, along the way. With the aid of Eumaeus he is given the chance to shoot an arrow through the twelve rings and win Penelope’s hand in marriage, which of course, he had all along.
Book 21 (Charlie & Greer)
Important quotes:
“Friends, / I can’t bend it. Take it, someone-try. / Here is a bow to rob our best of life and breath, / all our best contenders! Still, better to be dead / than live on here, never winning the prize/ that tempts us all-forever in pursuit, / burning with expectation every day.” (21, 172-178).
This quote is significant because it foreshadows the death of the suitors at the hand of Odysseus and his bow. The seer prophesizes this after attempting and failing to bend back Odysseus’ bow in order to win Penelope as a wife. The other suitors mock this prophesy openly but it seems as though they are slightly worried that it will come to pass. This prophesy gives the contest an air of uncertainty and intrigue, which is shown when Antinous refuses to allow the disguised Odysseus to attempt to bend the bow. This also shows Homeric style in the form of prophesies used for foreshadowing and setting moods in scenes.
“I’m right here, / here in the flesh-myself-home at last, / after bearing twenty years of brutal hardship. / Now I know that of all my men you two alone / longed for my return. From the rest I’ve heard / not one real prayer that I come back again. / So now I’ll tell you what’s in store for you. / If a god beats down the lofty suitors at my hands, / I’ll find you wives, both of you, grant you property, / sturdy houses beside my own, and in my eyes you’ll be/ comrades to Prince Telemachus, brothers from then on. / Come, I’ll show you something-living proof-/ know me for certain put your minds at rest. /
This scar, / look, where a boar’s white tusk gored me, years ago, / hunting on Parnassus, Autolycus’ sons and I.” (21, 233-246).
This quote is the return of Odysseus to those faithful to him, he chose these two as the only loyal men who had been living in his house, and courting his wife. This quote also shows the beginning of his plan to eliminate all the suitors who had been gorging themselves on his possessions. The passage contrasts between Odysseus and Achilles that we saw, Achilles rage was blind and he would allow others to suffer like the Achaean men that died because he didn’t fight. Odysseus is different. He wasn’t going to kill those who had truly been faithful to him even if they had been with the suitors. His rage is only at those who offended him and he didn’t want to hurt anybody else.
“Not a shred of sense in your head, you filthy drifter! / Not content to feast at your ease with us, the island’s pride? / Never denied your full share of the banquet, never, / you can listen in on our secrets. No one else/ can eavesdrop on our talk, no tramp, no beggar.” (21, 321-326).
This is an ironic passage because Antinous is not allowing Odysseus to use his bow and partake in the games to win his own wife as a bride. Antinous is actually proposing that the suitors are being kind by allowing him to eat his own food. This also shows that Antinous is frightened to allow this lowly beggar to try his hand with the bow, showing that somewhere within Antinous he isn’t entirely self confident if he is taking a drifter as a threat to him.
Elements of the Monomyth:
Our chapter of the Odyssey fulfils two parts of the Monomyth.
First it gives Odysseus the “Ultimate Boon”. In this book Odysseus is give back his trusty bow. This bow is taken out by Penelope and given to the suitors to try their hand with it, they had to string the bow and shoot it through axes. When it is finally Odysseus’ turn to handle the bow, it signifies his ultimate boon. An ultimate boon is a special gift that helps the hero achieve their task and currently, in this book, Odysseus is trying to clear the suitors from his home. This bow allows Odysseus to kill the suitors and find peace at home.
Secondly it is a test which falls into the “Test/Ordeals/ Hero Deeds” category. In this book Odysseus has to string his bow in a competition to see if any are as strong as Odysseus (himself). This is a test to prove his strength over the other suitors and he wins the competition over all of them. Proving that after twenty years he is still the same man. Even though Odysseus is weary from his journey home he is still able to string his old bow which awes and frightens the suitors and then he shoots. His aim perfect. Odysseus passes this test flawlessly which helps him in the next part of his quest, slaying the suitors.
Quote 1:
…he leapt to his feet and dropped his bright-red cloak, / slipping the sword and sword-belt off his shoulders. / First he planted the axes, digging a long trench, / one for all, and trued all to a line / then tamped the earth to bed them. Wonder took / the revelers looking on: his work so firm, precise, / though he’s never seen the axes ranged before. (21. 135-141)
Homer’s style includes epic similes, perfect word choice, and various sentence types. We thought this passage did a good job presenting his extensive thought process. The author of The Odyssey takes the simplest scenarios and twists them with intricate language for a further more interesting reading. His word choice is very descriptive as well. It gives the reader a better idea of what to picture while reading. One by one he takes you through the events that take place. In this quote, Homer portrays Telemachus attempting to use Odysseus’s bow and arrow. He looked as though he had done this a thousand times. It’s significant for Telemachus was thought to be like his father. With all his might he tried to prove to everyone that he was the warrior they thought, except it was a great disappointment.
Quote 2:
“And stopped his short despite his tensing zeal. / “”God help me,”” the inspired prince cried out, / “must I be a weakling, a failure all my life?” / Unless I’m just too young to trust my hands / to fight off any man who rises up against me.” (21. 148-153)
Telemachus, Odysseus’s son, is thought to be just as tough as his father. In book 21, Telemachus shows a great amount of character and this quote tells a lot about who he is as a person. It’s evident that Telemachus looks up to his father and wants to be like him. He’s admitting though that he is not as great in strength as his dad. The prince is not a failure, but instead has qualities he has not yet discovered. Odysseus was born with great prudence and power which his son might not inquire, at least though Telemachus can acknowledge it which shows a big step forward for his character.
Quote 3:
“ So they mocked, but Odysseus…once he’d handled the great bow…like an expert singer skilled at lyre and song- / …with virtuous ease Odysseus strung his mighty bow” (21. 451-456).
The significance of this quote is Odysseus’ whole persona throughout this scene. An image is created of this beggar looking so poor, but on the inside a man so intellectually wealthy. Odysseus will always be a king at heart. A bow so tight that not any man in the room could string it, and Odysseus does so with eloquent ease. This passage says yet more about what a strong man- physically and mentally- he is.
Elements of Monomyth
This book of The Odyssey, “Odysseus Strings his Bow”, is the Rescue from Without portion of the monomyth hero quest. Odysseus comes home at last, just to overcome the final obstacle to get rid of the suitors in his house. When he arrives he is a total stranger and must prove his identity to the two king’s men outside of his house. He does so by revealing a scar he has on his foot. “The men gazed at it, scanned it, knew it well, / broke into tears and threw their arms around their master- ” (21. 249-250). Now that Odysseus has overcome the challenge of proving he is the king of their house, he now continues in his Rescue from Without portion of his hero quest. He receives help from a close servant of the household, Eumaeus, along the way. With the aid of Eumaeus he is given the chance to shoot an arrow through the twelve rings and win Penelope’s hand in marriage, which of course, he had all along.
Book 21 (Charlie & Greer)
Important quotes:
“Friends, / I can’t bend it. Take it, someone-try. / Here is a bow to rob our best of life and breath, / all our best contenders! Still, better to be dead / than live on here, never winning the prize/ that tempts us all-forever in pursuit, / burning with expectation every day.” (21, 172-178).
This quote is significant because it foreshadows the death of the suitors at the hand of Odysseus and his bow. The seer prophesizes this after attempting and failing to bend back Odysseus’ bow in order to win Penelope as a wife. The other suitors mock this prophesy openly but it seems as though they are slightly worried that it will come to pass. This prophesy gives the contest an air of uncertainty and intrigue, which is shown when Antinous refuses to allow the disguised Odysseus to attempt to bend the bow. This also shows Homeric style in the form of prophesies used for foreshadowing and setting moods in scenes.
“I’m right here, / here in the flesh-myself-home at last, / after bearing twenty years of brutal hardship. / Now I know that of all my men you two alone / longed for my return. From the rest I’ve heard / not one real prayer that I come back again. / So now I’ll tell you what’s in store for you. / If a god beats down the lofty suitors at my hands, / I’ll find you wives, both of you, grant you property, / sturdy houses beside my own, and in my eyes you’ll be/ comrades to Prince Telemachus, brothers from then on. / Come, I’ll show you something-living proof-/ know me for certain put your minds at rest. /
This scar, / look, where a boar’s white tusk gored me, years ago, / hunting on Parnassus, Autolycus’ sons and I.” (21, 233-246).
This quote is the return of Odysseus to those faithful to him, he chose these two as the only loyal men who had been living in his house, and courting his wife. This quote also shows the beginning of his plan to eliminate all the suitors who had been gorging themselves on his possessions. The passage contrasts between Odysseus and Achilles that we saw, Achilles rage was blind and he would allow others to suffer like the Achaean men that died because he didn’t fight. Odysseus is different. He wasn’t going to kill those who had truly been faithful to him even if they had been with the suitors. His rage is only at those who offended him and he didn’t want to hurt anybody else.
“Not a shred of sense in your head, you filthy drifter! / Not content to feast at your ease with us, the island’s pride? / Never denied your full share of the banquet, never, / you can listen in on our secrets. No one else/ can eavesdrop on our talk, no tramp, no beggar.” (21, 321-326).
This is an ironic passage because Antinous is not allowing Odysseus to use his bow and partake in the games to win his own wife as a bride. Antinous is actually proposing that the suitors are being kind by allowing him to eat his own food. This also shows that Antinous is frightened to allow this lowly beggar to try his hand with the bow, showing that somewhere within Antinous he isn’t entirely self confident if he is taking a drifter as a threat to him.
Elements of the Monomyth:
Our chapter of the Odyssey fulfils two parts of the Monomyth.
First it gives Odysseus the “Ultimate Boon”. In this book Odysseus is give back his trusty bow. This bow is taken out by Penelope and given to the suitors to try their hand with it, they had to string the bow and shoot it through axes. When it is finally Odysseus’ turn to handle the bow, it signifies his ultimate boon. An ultimate boon is a special gift that helps the hero achieve their task and currently, in this book, Odysseus is trying to clear the suitors from his home. This bow allows Odysseus to kill the suitors and find peace at home.
Secondly it is a test which falls into the “Test/Ordeals/ Hero Deeds” category. In this book Odysseus has to string his bow in a competition to see if any are as strong as Odysseus (himself). This is a test to prove his strength over the other suitors and he wins the competition over all of them. Proving that after twenty years he is still the same man. Even though Odysseus is weary from his journey home he is still able to string his old bow which awes and frightens the suitors and then he shoots. His aim perfect. Odysseus passes this test flawlessly which helps him in the next part of his quest, slaying the suitors.
The Odyssey: Book 22
Book 22 (John & Lars)
Important Quotes
“But Odysseus aimed and shot Antinus square in the throat / and the point went stabbing clean through the soft neck and out— / and off to the side he pinched, the cup dropped from his grasp / as the shaft sank home, and the man’s life-blood came spurting / from his nostrils—“ (22; 15-20)
This passage is a classic example of Homeric style. The lengthy, detailed description of death is a constant throughout both The Iliad and The Odyssey. This over-the-top, gruesome description is not limited only to death, but is present in all of Homer’s writing. If only for a second, these passages seem to stop time as the world looks on.
“… four at the sill confronting a larger, stronger force / arrayed inside the hall—now Zeus’s daughter Athena, / taking the build and voice of Mentor, swept in / and Odysseus, thrilled to see her, cried out, ‘Rescue us, Mentor, now it’s life or death! / Remember your old comrade—all the service / I offered you! We were boys together!’” (22; 213-219)
This passage is important because it is describing a specific point in Odysseus’s hero quest. It also shows the importance of fate, not only in the novel, but in all of Homer’s works we have looked at. We know that Odysseus is fated to slay the suitors that plagued his halls, and without Athena’s help, this would have been nearly impossible. By helping Odysseus, Athena is preserving his fate.
“Then back through the royal house the old nurse went / to tell the women the news and bring them in at once. / They came crowding out of their quarters, torch in hand, / flung their arms around Odysseus, hugged him, home at last, / and kissed his head and shoulders, seized his hands, and he, / overcome by a lovely longing, broke down and wept… / deep in his heart he knew them one and all.” (22; 523-529)
This passage describes the first time that Odysseus truly returns home. He has returned from his twenty-year-long journey through many trials and hardships culminating with his return to Ithaca. For countless hours, he dreamed of this moment. And at last, he has defeated all of his foes and is finally home.
Hero Quest
Stage 4: The Return
Rescue from Without:
“At his command, / concentrating their shots, all six hurled as one / but Athena sent the whole salvo wide of the mark— / one of them hit the jamb of the great hall’s doors, / another the massive door itself, and the heavy bronze / point of a third ashen javelin crashed against the wall.” (22; 268-271) In this passage, Athena can be seen aiding Odysseus and his men. Athena turns the tide of the battle in Odysseus favor. Without her aid, it is quite possible that Odysseus and his men would have been killed.
Master of Both Worlds
“Odysseus scanned his house to see if any man / still skulked alive, still hoped to avoid black death. / But he found them one and all in blood and dust… / so the suitors lay in heaps, corpse covering corpse. / At last the seasoned fighter turned to his son: / ‘Telemachus, go, call the old nurse here— / I must tell her all that’s on my mind.’” (22; 406-417)
By returning home, Odysseus has conquered the outside world. He has slain his foes abroad, the foes of Odysseus the Warrior. When he returns home, he is faced with new foes. These men are enemies of Odysseus the Father, enemies from his world at home. And when Odysseus kills all the suitors that plague his halls, he is now truly master of two worlds.
Freedom to Live
“Then back through the royal house the old nurse went / to tell the women the news and bring them in at once. / They came crowding out of their quarters, torch in hand, / flung their arms around Odysseus, hugged him, home at last, / and kissed his head and shoulders, seized his hands, and he, / overcome by a lovely longing, broke down and wept… / deep in his heart he knew them one and all.” (22; 523-529)
Now that Odysseus has overcome his final challenge, and is master of two worlds, no longer is he burdened. He is free to live out the rest of his days in peace with his family.
Book 22 (James & Connor & Max)
Quotes
“Where’s it gone, Odysseus- your power, your fighting heart? / The great soldier who fought who fought for famous white-armed Helen,/ battling Trojans nine long years-nonstop, no mercy,/ mowing the armies down in grueling battle-/ you who seized the broad streets of Troy/(446.)”
As Odysseus cuts down all the suitors, his morale is shot down. Athena, who has been cheering Odysseus along all the way, gives him a huge boost of energy that helps him to kill off the suitors. We believe that this quote is important, because it just confirms that Odysseus is Athena’s favorite, and she will do anything to make sure he wins.
“Stop, don’t cut him down! This one’s innocent. / So is the Herald Medon- the one who always/ tended me in the house when I was little-/(450.)”
When Odysseus arrived home and took his revenge on the suitors who had plagued his house, Telemachus protected one of them from his father’s wrath. We believe this quote is important, because it show’s that even though the suitors made Telemachus life a living hell, he could forgive one of them because of the goodness in that one’s heart. That suitor had been so good to Telemachus that he was not even as horrible as all the rest. It is also important, because it show’s that his taste for blood was not as large as it would be.
“You dogs! You never imagined I’d return from troy-/ so cocksure that you bled my house to death, / ravishing my serving-woman-wooed my wife / behind my back while was still alive! No fear of the Gods who rule the skies up there / no fear that men’s revenge might arrive someday- now all your necks are in the noose-your doom is sealed!(440)”
Odysseus returns triumphant to his house and seeks revenge on all the suitors. We believe that this quote is important, because it shows that nothing will stop Odysseus. It also is the fulfillment of the prophecy that tells of the doom of the suitors. This quote shows how Homer’s hints about the end of the book have come true. It attaches the first page of the Odyssey to the end.
Monomyth
Book 22
In book 22 of The Iliad, Odysseus begins by killing the suitors. This part of the monomyth is known as the “final battle” of stage three (land of fulfillment). The “final battle” is described as the last battle that must be accomplished to fulfill the quest, which is when Odysseus, Telemachus, the cowherd, and the goatherd slaughter all of the suitors. Although Odysseus has returned home, he is not yet in stage 4 (the return) of the monomyth because he has one last battle with suitors before he can actually return to his normal life in Ithaca.
Also in book 22, the return of the hero helped by a supernatural force occurs, which is the first part of stage 4 (the return) of the monomyth. Odysseus is slightly aided by Athena in the slaughtering of the suitors. This event is the last time that Odysseus is assisted by a god in The Iliad.
Important Quotes
“But Odysseus aimed and shot Antinus square in the throat / and the point went stabbing clean through the soft neck and out— / and off to the side he pinched, the cup dropped from his grasp / as the shaft sank home, and the man’s life-blood came spurting / from his nostrils—“ (22; 15-20)
This passage is a classic example of Homeric style. The lengthy, detailed description of death is a constant throughout both The Iliad and The Odyssey. This over-the-top, gruesome description is not limited only to death, but is present in all of Homer’s writing. If only for a second, these passages seem to stop time as the world looks on.
“… four at the sill confronting a larger, stronger force / arrayed inside the hall—now Zeus’s daughter Athena, / taking the build and voice of Mentor, swept in / and Odysseus, thrilled to see her, cried out, ‘Rescue us, Mentor, now it’s life or death! / Remember your old comrade—all the service / I offered you! We were boys together!’” (22; 213-219)
This passage is important because it is describing a specific point in Odysseus’s hero quest. It also shows the importance of fate, not only in the novel, but in all of Homer’s works we have looked at. We know that Odysseus is fated to slay the suitors that plagued his halls, and without Athena’s help, this would have been nearly impossible. By helping Odysseus, Athena is preserving his fate.
“Then back through the royal house the old nurse went / to tell the women the news and bring them in at once. / They came crowding out of their quarters, torch in hand, / flung their arms around Odysseus, hugged him, home at last, / and kissed his head and shoulders, seized his hands, and he, / overcome by a lovely longing, broke down and wept… / deep in his heart he knew them one and all.” (22; 523-529)
This passage describes the first time that Odysseus truly returns home. He has returned from his twenty-year-long journey through many trials and hardships culminating with his return to Ithaca. For countless hours, he dreamed of this moment. And at last, he has defeated all of his foes and is finally home.
Hero Quest
Stage 4: The Return
Rescue from Without:
“At his command, / concentrating their shots, all six hurled as one / but Athena sent the whole salvo wide of the mark— / one of them hit the jamb of the great hall’s doors, / another the massive door itself, and the heavy bronze / point of a third ashen javelin crashed against the wall.” (22; 268-271) In this passage, Athena can be seen aiding Odysseus and his men. Athena turns the tide of the battle in Odysseus favor. Without her aid, it is quite possible that Odysseus and his men would have been killed.
Master of Both Worlds
“Odysseus scanned his house to see if any man / still skulked alive, still hoped to avoid black death. / But he found them one and all in blood and dust… / so the suitors lay in heaps, corpse covering corpse. / At last the seasoned fighter turned to his son: / ‘Telemachus, go, call the old nurse here— / I must tell her all that’s on my mind.’” (22; 406-417)
By returning home, Odysseus has conquered the outside world. He has slain his foes abroad, the foes of Odysseus the Warrior. When he returns home, he is faced with new foes. These men are enemies of Odysseus the Father, enemies from his world at home. And when Odysseus kills all the suitors that plague his halls, he is now truly master of two worlds.
Freedom to Live
“Then back through the royal house the old nurse went / to tell the women the news and bring them in at once. / They came crowding out of their quarters, torch in hand, / flung their arms around Odysseus, hugged him, home at last, / and kissed his head and shoulders, seized his hands, and he, / overcome by a lovely longing, broke down and wept… / deep in his heart he knew them one and all.” (22; 523-529)
Now that Odysseus has overcome his final challenge, and is master of two worlds, no longer is he burdened. He is free to live out the rest of his days in peace with his family.
Book 22 (James & Connor & Max)
Quotes
“Where’s it gone, Odysseus- your power, your fighting heart? / The great soldier who fought who fought for famous white-armed Helen,/ battling Trojans nine long years-nonstop, no mercy,/ mowing the armies down in grueling battle-/ you who seized the broad streets of Troy/(446.)”
As Odysseus cuts down all the suitors, his morale is shot down. Athena, who has been cheering Odysseus along all the way, gives him a huge boost of energy that helps him to kill off the suitors. We believe that this quote is important, because it just confirms that Odysseus is Athena’s favorite, and she will do anything to make sure he wins.
“Stop, don’t cut him down! This one’s innocent. / So is the Herald Medon- the one who always/ tended me in the house when I was little-/(450.)”
When Odysseus arrived home and took his revenge on the suitors who had plagued his house, Telemachus protected one of them from his father’s wrath. We believe this quote is important, because it show’s that even though the suitors made Telemachus life a living hell, he could forgive one of them because of the goodness in that one’s heart. That suitor had been so good to Telemachus that he was not even as horrible as all the rest. It is also important, because it show’s that his taste for blood was not as large as it would be.
“You dogs! You never imagined I’d return from troy-/ so cocksure that you bled my house to death, / ravishing my serving-woman-wooed my wife / behind my back while was still alive! No fear of the Gods who rule the skies up there / no fear that men’s revenge might arrive someday- now all your necks are in the noose-your doom is sealed!(440)”
Odysseus returns triumphant to his house and seeks revenge on all the suitors. We believe that this quote is important, because it shows that nothing will stop Odysseus. It also is the fulfillment of the prophecy that tells of the doom of the suitors. This quote shows how Homer’s hints about the end of the book have come true. It attaches the first page of the Odyssey to the end.
Monomyth
Book 22
In book 22 of The Iliad, Odysseus begins by killing the suitors. This part of the monomyth is known as the “final battle” of stage three (land of fulfillment). The “final battle” is described as the last battle that must be accomplished to fulfill the quest, which is when Odysseus, Telemachus, the cowherd, and the goatherd slaughter all of the suitors. Although Odysseus has returned home, he is not yet in stage 4 (the return) of the monomyth because he has one last battle with suitors before he can actually return to his normal life in Ithaca.
Also in book 22, the return of the hero helped by a supernatural force occurs, which is the first part of stage 4 (the return) of the monomyth. Odysseus is slightly aided by Athena in the slaughtering of the suitors. This event is the last time that Odysseus is assisted by a god in The Iliad.
The Odyssey: Book 23
Book 23 (Alli & Makeena)
Important Quotes:
“The more she spoke, the more a deep desire for tears welled up inside his breast- he wept as he held the wife he loved, the soul of loyalty, in his arms at last (463. 259-261).”
This is the happy part of The Odyssey. Odysseus and Penelope are finally reunited, for real. Penelope knows that it is her husband, and she is happy to have him home. You can feel how much they missed each other. They have been telling each other their stories about what has happened over the past 20 years. It is sweet to know how Odysseus was feeling at this time, he felt so sad that his wife had to go through all of those hard times; he wanted to cry for her. They both felt whole again with each other, their missing piece had finally become whole.
“Dear woman… We have still not reached the end of all our trails. One more labor lies in store- boundless, laden with danger, great and long, and I must brave it out from start to finish (463.282-285).
This is a major turn in the plot. We finally thought that Odysseus and Penelope were done with all of their troubles. We thought that they could finally live happily ever after together. Now Odysseus has to leave once again, leaving Penelope alone again.
“Penelope’s heart burst in joy, she leapt from bed, her eyes streaming tears, she hugged the old nurse and cried out with eager, winging word, “Please dear one, give me the whole story (456.35-37).”
This shows good Homeric style, he describes the feelings of Penelope in great detail. This was we can connect with her emotions, and really feel what she is feeling. This quote is important because this is when Penelope finds out that Odysseus may be home finally. Her hopes arise and she is excited to see her husband after 20 years of separation.
Elements of a Monomyth:
This book is the last stage, stage 4, the return home, Odysseus has already had his magical flight home and he has also overcome his last obstacle, the suitors. His Elixir was his wife and son, his palace and his status was given back to him after many years with out it. He has become the master of two worlds, his real life, and his life as a warrior. Although, Odysseus is at the fourth stage of the monomyth, he has not yet started living at peace, because he still has a task to complete, he will have to go back to the “Land of Fulfillment”.
Book 23 (Sarah & Linnea)
Important Quotes
"A long while she sat in silence... numbing wonder/ filled her heart as her eyes explored his face./ One moment he seemed... Odysseus, to the life-/ the next, no, hew was not the man she knew,/ a huddled mass of rags was all she saw" (23.106-110).
This quote shows Penelope's internal struggle with accepting Odysseus. It shows the reader how lost she is because she doesn't know what to make of the man before her. She wants him to be Odysseus, her husband, the man she loves, but she doesn't want to get her hopes up to find that it was never him.
"There's our secret sign, I tell you , our life story!/ Does the bed, my lady, still stand planted firm?-/ I don't know- or has someone chopped away/ that olive trunk and hauled our edstead off?" (23.226-229).
In this quote, Odysseus gives Penelope the secret sign that confirms to her that she is talking to her husband and not another man. The secret sign is the story of the olive tree that Odysseus built his bed and room around. No one but Penelope and Odysseus know that story, so when Odysseus tells it to her, she knows that it is really him.
"Joy, warm as the joy shipwrecked sailors feel/ when they catch sight of land- Poseidon has struck/ their well-rigged ship on the ocean sea with gale winds/ and crushing walls of waves, and only a few escape, swimming/ struggling out of the frothing surf to the shore,/ their bodies crusted with salt but buoyed up with joy/ as they plant their feet on solid land again,/ spared a deadly fate. So joyous now for her/ the sight of her husband, vivid in her gaze,/ that in her white arms, embracing hi neck/ would never for a moment let him go..." (23.262-272).
This is an example of Homer's style. He uses an epic simile. It is significant because this is when Penelope finally accepts Odysseus back home. When Penelope realizes that it is him. It is Odysseus's return to his family. Penelope had not believed he was Odysseus, but in the passage, she believes it is him and she is filled with joy. Her hoy is so great that it is compared to a sailor seeing land for the first time after a long and rough travel on the sea.
Elements of the Monomyth
In this book, Odysseus is in the "return" stage of his hero quest. He is back to his "real world" life with his wife. Specifically, this is his "rescue from without" where he gets help to overcome a final obstacle. The obstacle he has to overcome is Penelope not believing that he is Odysseus. Penelope helps him overcome this obstacle by prompting him to give their secret sign. She says, "Come, Eurycleia,/ move the sturdy bedstead out of our bridal chamber" (23.197-198). She knows that the real Odysseus would know that the bed can't be moved and that he would object to moving it. After she prompts him, he gives the sign and Penelope welcomes him home at last.
Important Quotes:
“The more she spoke, the more a deep desire for tears welled up inside his breast- he wept as he held the wife he loved, the soul of loyalty, in his arms at last (463. 259-261).”
This is the happy part of The Odyssey. Odysseus and Penelope are finally reunited, for real. Penelope knows that it is her husband, and she is happy to have him home. You can feel how much they missed each other. They have been telling each other their stories about what has happened over the past 20 years. It is sweet to know how Odysseus was feeling at this time, he felt so sad that his wife had to go through all of those hard times; he wanted to cry for her. They both felt whole again with each other, their missing piece had finally become whole.
“Dear woman… We have still not reached the end of all our trails. One more labor lies in store- boundless, laden with danger, great and long, and I must brave it out from start to finish (463.282-285).
This is a major turn in the plot. We finally thought that Odysseus and Penelope were done with all of their troubles. We thought that they could finally live happily ever after together. Now Odysseus has to leave once again, leaving Penelope alone again.
“Penelope’s heart burst in joy, she leapt from bed, her eyes streaming tears, she hugged the old nurse and cried out with eager, winging word, “Please dear one, give me the whole story (456.35-37).”
This shows good Homeric style, he describes the feelings of Penelope in great detail. This was we can connect with her emotions, and really feel what she is feeling. This quote is important because this is when Penelope finds out that Odysseus may be home finally. Her hopes arise and she is excited to see her husband after 20 years of separation.
Elements of a Monomyth:
This book is the last stage, stage 4, the return home, Odysseus has already had his magical flight home and he has also overcome his last obstacle, the suitors. His Elixir was his wife and son, his palace and his status was given back to him after many years with out it. He has become the master of two worlds, his real life, and his life as a warrior. Although, Odysseus is at the fourth stage of the monomyth, he has not yet started living at peace, because he still has a task to complete, he will have to go back to the “Land of Fulfillment”.
Book 23 (Sarah & Linnea)
Important Quotes
"A long while she sat in silence... numbing wonder/ filled her heart as her eyes explored his face./ One moment he seemed... Odysseus, to the life-/ the next, no, hew was not the man she knew,/ a huddled mass of rags was all she saw" (23.106-110).
This quote shows Penelope's internal struggle with accepting Odysseus. It shows the reader how lost she is because she doesn't know what to make of the man before her. She wants him to be Odysseus, her husband, the man she loves, but she doesn't want to get her hopes up to find that it was never him.
"There's our secret sign, I tell you , our life story!/ Does the bed, my lady, still stand planted firm?-/ I don't know- or has someone chopped away/ that olive trunk and hauled our edstead off?" (23.226-229).
In this quote, Odysseus gives Penelope the secret sign that confirms to her that she is talking to her husband and not another man. The secret sign is the story of the olive tree that Odysseus built his bed and room around. No one but Penelope and Odysseus know that story, so when Odysseus tells it to her, she knows that it is really him.
"Joy, warm as the joy shipwrecked sailors feel/ when they catch sight of land- Poseidon has struck/ their well-rigged ship on the ocean sea with gale winds/ and crushing walls of waves, and only a few escape, swimming/ struggling out of the frothing surf to the shore,/ their bodies crusted with salt but buoyed up with joy/ as they plant their feet on solid land again,/ spared a deadly fate. So joyous now for her/ the sight of her husband, vivid in her gaze,/ that in her white arms, embracing hi neck/ would never for a moment let him go..." (23.262-272).
This is an example of Homer's style. He uses an epic simile. It is significant because this is when Penelope finally accepts Odysseus back home. When Penelope realizes that it is him. It is Odysseus's return to his family. Penelope had not believed he was Odysseus, but in the passage, she believes it is him and she is filled with joy. Her hoy is so great that it is compared to a sailor seeing land for the first time after a long and rough travel on the sea.
Elements of the Monomyth
In this book, Odysseus is in the "return" stage of his hero quest. He is back to his "real world" life with his wife. Specifically, this is his "rescue from without" where he gets help to overcome a final obstacle. The obstacle he has to overcome is Penelope not believing that he is Odysseus. Penelope helps him overcome this obstacle by prompting him to give their secret sign. She says, "Come, Eurycleia,/ move the sturdy bedstead out of our bridal chamber" (23.197-198). She knows that the real Odysseus would know that the bed can't be moved and that he would object to moving it. After she prompts him, he gives the sign and Penelope welcomes him home at last.
The Odyssey: Book 24
Book 24 (Rebecca/Olivia)
Quotes
1. “So she commanded. He obeyed her, glad at heart. / And Athena handed down her pacts of peace / between both sides for all the years to come- / the daughter of Zeus whose shield is storm and thunder, / yes, but the goddess still kept Mentor’s build and voice,” (24.598-602).
This quote is important because it brings peace between the Achaeans and the Trojans after years of war. The gods finally finish what they started. Also, this quote includes an important element of Homeric style, an epithet. It says “the daughter of Zeus whose shield is storm and thunder,” describing Athena. The quote really just finishes the whole tale of war that was followed through The Iliad and The Odyssey.
2. “Do as your heart desires— / but let me tell you how it should be done. / Now that royal Odysseus has taken his revenge, / let both sides seal their pacts that he shall reign for life” (24. 531-534).This quote is significant because Zeus is giving Athena advice that is not based on something to either amuse himself or to mess with the mortals (as it’s known to all that messing with mortals is something gods enjoy very much so).
In the quote, Zeus is giving into only justice and is urging an end to this long time conflict. He isn’t calling for more slaughter, and he isn’t favoring one side over the other on a whim, but he is hoping that Athena heeds to his advice. Because of this call for an end to violence, Athena begins to feel the same way as Zeus about the issue and does as he says, not because she was forced, but she does so freely and on her own accord.
“‘My friends, what a mortal blow this man has dealt to all our people! …Quick, after him! Before he flees to Pylos or holy Elis, where Epeans rule in power--up, attack!’ ” (24.471-478).
This quote solidifies the fact that its all too easy for a war to erupt so suddenly--especially with the help from gods (Athena in this case). This is important because is shows how the gods can bring about violence (since Athena killed the suitors along side Odysseus). Also, it connects to the first part of the story that was written in the Iliad. That conflict too was caused and intensified by the gods actions, making battles all too easy to produce.
Book 24 (Aimee/Katherine)
Important Quotes
“‘The fame of her great virtue will never die. / The immortal gods will lift a song for all mankind, / a glorious song in praise of self possessed Penelope’” (24. 216-218).
This quote is important to the epic because it shows how Penelope’s choice to remain faithful to Odysseus will be rewarded. With many suitors invading her home she could easily ran off with one of them. Instead she chooses to wait twenty years for the return of Odysseus. This was a respectable decision and the gods will recognize her for her wisdom and virtue.
“‘Father, son of Cronus, our high and mighty kind, / now let me ask you a question…/ tell me the secrets hidden in your mind. / Will you prolong the pain, the cruel fighting her / or hand down pacts of peace between both sides?’” (24. 563-566).
This quote is significant because it shows how the gods control the mortal’s fate. Throughout the whole epic Athena aids Odysseus and Telemachus. Athena is asking Zeus whether he thinks she should prolong the fighting between the suitors’ families and Odysseus or end it quickly. Zeus replies that since it was her plan, she is now in charge of the outcome. She chooses to stop the war and restore the peace.
“‘Now you’ll see, if you care to watch, father, / now I’m fired up. Disgrace, you say? / I won’t disgrace you line!’” (24. 563-566).
This quote shows how thanks to Telemachus’ hero quest he now understands the concept of glory. He is prepared to fight valiantly for his father if need be. His grandfather and father have both received glory during their lifetime and now it is his turn. The war is stopped before Telemachus can prove himself, but he is young and will have more opportunities to receive glory like his father and make his family proud.
Elements of the Monomyth
One element of the monomyth that is present in book twenty-four is step four, the master of two worlds, “‘Odysseus! You-you’re truly my son. Odysseus home at last? / Give me a sign, some proof-I must be sure’” (24. 365-366). After Odysseus greets his son, wife, and friends, he lastly goes to visit his father. Laeters has been depressed for many years because Odysseus has been away. After Odysseus greeted him, his father was lifted from his grief. Laeters at first does not truly believe it is Odysseus until he shows him the scar he received as a child. Odysseus is now officially welcomed home from his voyage and accepted back into Ithaca. The very last phase of the monomyth, the freedom to live, is present in book twenty-four when Athena stops another war from breaking out; “‘Hold back, you men of Ithaca, back from brutal war! / Break off-shed no more blood-make peace at once!’” (24. 584-585). The families of the suitors are very upset when they hear about the death of their sons. One wise man suggests that since Odysseus succeeded in killing so many men at once, he must have had help from the gods. He recommends that no one challenge Odysseus. The other families refuse to listen and attack Odysseus’ home anyways. Athena steps in and prevents the start of yet another war. Peace is finally restored to Ithaca and Odysseus now has the freedom to live with his family.
Quotes
1. “So she commanded. He obeyed her, glad at heart. / And Athena handed down her pacts of peace / between both sides for all the years to come- / the daughter of Zeus whose shield is storm and thunder, / yes, but the goddess still kept Mentor’s build and voice,” (24.598-602).
This quote is important because it brings peace between the Achaeans and the Trojans after years of war. The gods finally finish what they started. Also, this quote includes an important element of Homeric style, an epithet. It says “the daughter of Zeus whose shield is storm and thunder,” describing Athena. The quote really just finishes the whole tale of war that was followed through The Iliad and The Odyssey.
2. “Do as your heart desires— / but let me tell you how it should be done. / Now that royal Odysseus has taken his revenge, / let both sides seal their pacts that he shall reign for life” (24. 531-534).This quote is significant because Zeus is giving Athena advice that is not based on something to either amuse himself or to mess with the mortals (as it’s known to all that messing with mortals is something gods enjoy very much so).
In the quote, Zeus is giving into only justice and is urging an end to this long time conflict. He isn’t calling for more slaughter, and he isn’t favoring one side over the other on a whim, but he is hoping that Athena heeds to his advice. Because of this call for an end to violence, Athena begins to feel the same way as Zeus about the issue and does as he says, not because she was forced, but she does so freely and on her own accord.
“‘My friends, what a mortal blow this man has dealt to all our people! …Quick, after him! Before he flees to Pylos or holy Elis, where Epeans rule in power--up, attack!’ ” (24.471-478).
This quote solidifies the fact that its all too easy for a war to erupt so suddenly--especially with the help from gods (Athena in this case). This is important because is shows how the gods can bring about violence (since Athena killed the suitors along side Odysseus). Also, it connects to the first part of the story that was written in the Iliad. That conflict too was caused and intensified by the gods actions, making battles all too easy to produce.
Book 24 (Aimee/Katherine)
Important Quotes
“‘The fame of her great virtue will never die. / The immortal gods will lift a song for all mankind, / a glorious song in praise of self possessed Penelope’” (24. 216-218).
This quote is important to the epic because it shows how Penelope’s choice to remain faithful to Odysseus will be rewarded. With many suitors invading her home she could easily ran off with one of them. Instead she chooses to wait twenty years for the return of Odysseus. This was a respectable decision and the gods will recognize her for her wisdom and virtue.
“‘Father, son of Cronus, our high and mighty kind, / now let me ask you a question…/ tell me the secrets hidden in your mind. / Will you prolong the pain, the cruel fighting her / or hand down pacts of peace between both sides?’” (24. 563-566).
This quote is significant because it shows how the gods control the mortal’s fate. Throughout the whole epic Athena aids Odysseus and Telemachus. Athena is asking Zeus whether he thinks she should prolong the fighting between the suitors’ families and Odysseus or end it quickly. Zeus replies that since it was her plan, she is now in charge of the outcome. She chooses to stop the war and restore the peace.
“‘Now you’ll see, if you care to watch, father, / now I’m fired up. Disgrace, you say? / I won’t disgrace you line!’” (24. 563-566).
This quote shows how thanks to Telemachus’ hero quest he now understands the concept of glory. He is prepared to fight valiantly for his father if need be. His grandfather and father have both received glory during their lifetime and now it is his turn. The war is stopped before Telemachus can prove himself, but he is young and will have more opportunities to receive glory like his father and make his family proud.
Elements of the Monomyth
One element of the monomyth that is present in book twenty-four is step four, the master of two worlds, “‘Odysseus! You-you’re truly my son. Odysseus home at last? / Give me a sign, some proof-I must be sure’” (24. 365-366). After Odysseus greets his son, wife, and friends, he lastly goes to visit his father. Laeters has been depressed for many years because Odysseus has been away. After Odysseus greeted him, his father was lifted from his grief. Laeters at first does not truly believe it is Odysseus until he shows him the scar he received as a child. Odysseus is now officially welcomed home from his voyage and accepted back into Ithaca. The very last phase of the monomyth, the freedom to live, is present in book twenty-four when Athena stops another war from breaking out; “‘Hold back, you men of Ithaca, back from brutal war! / Break off-shed no more blood-make peace at once!’” (24. 584-585). The families of the suitors are very upset when they hear about the death of their sons. One wise man suggests that since Odysseus succeeded in killing so many men at once, he must have had help from the gods. He recommends that no one challenge Odysseus. The other families refuse to listen and attack Odysseus’ home anyways. Athena steps in and prevents the start of yet another war. Peace is finally restored to Ithaca and Odysseus now has the freedom to live with his family.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
12 Hours, 14 minutes
That's how much time you have before your Odyssey group work is due to me. So, get it done, get it emailed to your partner, and get it sent off to me!
Tomorrow you'll start presenting what you've done. First up: Book 13. I've received work from Julie, Michaela, Gabbie, Mattie, Leah, and Katherine C. I've already reviewed the work from these 6 ladies and it is excellent work! So, keep it coming...
Tomorrow you'll start presenting what you've done. First up: Book 13. I've received work from Julie, Michaela, Gabbie, Mattie, Leah, and Katherine C. I've already reviewed the work from these 6 ladies and it is excellent work! So, keep it coming...
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Type it up...
I suggest you type at least some of your Odyssey work tonight so you don't leave it all for tomorrow. You'll have another full class period tomorrow to work on completing the entire assignment which must be emailed to me by 8:00am, Friday.
**I posted the Monomyth powerpoint to Edline today for your reference.
**I posted the Monomyth powerpoint to Edline today for your reference.
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