Book 1 - Athene Visits Telemachus Flashcards
1
Q
book 1
How does the narrator start book 1
A
- The narrator of The Odyssey invokes the Muse, asking for inspiration & guidance in telling the story of Odysseus
2
Q
book 1
What is established about Odysseus at the start of book 1
A
- Beginning 10 years after the Trojan War, all of the Greek heroes except Odysseus have returned home afterwards
- Odysseus has been deteriorating on the island Ogygia with the goddess Calypso, who has fallen in love with him and refuses to let him leave for 7 years
- Odysseus has incurred the fury of Poseidon by blinding his son Polyphemus the Cyclops.
3
Q
book 1
What is established about Penelope’s situation
A
Suitors are devouring Ithaca and courting Penelope, in hopes of taking over
4
Q
book 1
What is established about Telemachus’ situation
A
- Telemachus, an infant when Odysseus left but now a young man, is helpless to stop the suitors
- He has resigned himself to the likelihood that his father is dead
5
Q
book 1
What Godly intervention does Athene suggest should take place at Mount Olympus
A
- At a divine council on Mount Olympus, Athena pleads with her father, Zeus, to take pity on Odysseus and allow him to return home.
- She suggests that Zeus dispatch Hermes to liberate Odysseus from Calypso
- while Athena visits Ithaca to advise King Odysseus’ son, Telemachus
6
Q
book 1
Who does Athena diguise herself as
A
Mentes, an old friend of Odysseus
7
Q
book 1
What happens when Athena, disguised as Mentes, mentors Telemachus
A
- Predicts that Odysseus is still alive & will soon return to Ithaca.
- She advises Telemachus to call together the suitors and announce their banishment from his father’s estate
- She tells him that he must make a journey to Pylos and Sparta to ask for any news of his father
8
Q
Book 1
What does Telemachus do after encountering “Athena” with Penelope
A
- Telemachus encounters Penelope in the suitors’ quarters, upset over the bard singing about the sufferings experienced by the Greeks on their return from Troy
- Yet, Telemachus rebukes her
- He reminds her that Odysseus isn’t the only Greek to not return from Troy and that, and let him look after the suitors.
9
Q
book 1
What does Telemachus say after encountering “Athena” to the Suitors
A
- He gives the suitors notice that he will hold an assembly the next day at which they will be ordered to leave his father’s estate
- Antinous and Eurymachus, 2 particularly defiant suitors, rebuke Telemachus and ask the identity of Athene
- Although Telemachus suspects that his visitor was a goddess in disguise, he tells them only that the man was a friend of his father
