Book 12 - Scylla & Charybdis Flashcards
Book 12
Whats the first thing Odysseus brings closure to in book 12
Odysseus returns to Aeaea, where he buries Elpenor
and spends one last night with Circe
Book 12
What advice does Circe give
- Circe is helpful once more, providing supplies and tells him how to negotiate the imminent obstacles he will face on the journey to begin the next dawn:
- Sirens, then Clashing Rocks then either Scylla or Charybdis
Book 12
What happens when the crew & Odysseus encounter the Sirens
- Approaching the island of the Sirens, Odysseus, as instructed by Circe, plugs his men’s ears with beeswax and has them bind him to the mast of the ship.
- He alone hears their song flowing forth from the island, promising to reveal the future.
- The Sirens’ song is so seductive, talking of his victory in Troy and their knowledge of the world, that Odysseus begs to be released,
- but his faithful men only bind him tighter.
Book 12
What happens after to Odysseus & his men encountering Scylla & Charybdis
- As instructed by Circe, Odysseus holds his course tight against the cliffs of Scylla’s lair.
- As he and his men stare at Charybdis on the other side of the strait,
- inevitably, & as Odysseus anticipated, the heads of Scylla swoop down and gobble up six of his men
Book 12
Who is Scylla
- Scylla is a six-headed monster who, when ships pass, swallows one sailor for each head
Book 12
Who is Charybdis
- Charybdis is an enormous whirlpool that threatens to swallow anything that goes near it more than 3 times a day
Book 12
Where does Odysseus & his crew go after Scylla & Charybdis
Thrinacia, the island of the Sun-God, Hyperion, with his cattle
Book 12
Why was Odysseus reluctant to go on the Sun-Gods island
- Tiresias & Circe had both warned him to stay clear, as eating the cattle would be detrimental
Book 12
Who speaks out against Odysseus not wanting to seek refuge on the Sun-God’s island
Eurylochus
Book 12
What does Eurylochus say in his speech against Odysseus not wanting to seek refuge on the Sun-God’s island
- the risk of being shipwrecked is incredibly high
- he confides in the rest of the crew who also do not feel Odysseus strength & resilence to keep on the straight home to Ithaca
Book 12
What happens when Odysseus & his men stay on the Sun-Gods island
- A storm keeps them beached for a month,
- and at first the crew is content to survive on Circe’s provisions in the ship
- When these run out, however, Eurylochus persuades the other crew members to disobey Odysseus
- and slaughter the cattle of the Sun-God
Book 12
What did Hyperion do when he heard of his cattle being slaughtered
asks Zeus to take venegance against Odysseus and his men
Book 12
How does Zeus punish Odysseus, for his men eating Hyperion’s cattle
- Zeus kicks up another storm,
- which destroys the ship and kills the entire crew
- As had been predicted, only Odysseus survives, but barely,
- narrowly escaping Charybdis for a second time
- eventually reaching Ogygia, Calypso’s island
Book 12
How does Book 12 end
- Odysseus here breaks from his story,
- stating to the Phaeacians that he sees no reason to repeat to them his account of his experience on Ogygia.
