Family

Question 1

1 events:

Answer 1

Athena jokes with Zeus

Telemachus isn’t sure if Odysseus is really his father

Athena encourages Telemachus to defend his father’s honour by being ‘as brave as orestes’

Telemachus starts to take on more of a commanding role in the family, commanding Penelope

Question 2

1 quotes:

Answer 2

‘Why are you at odds with Odysseus’

‘No man can be certain of his parentage’

Question 3

1 analysis:

Answer 3

• Familial revenge presented as heroic

Question 4

1 scholarship and analysis:

Answer 4

‘The Odyssey appears to be set in motion by Zeus’ consideration of the revenge of Orestes on Aigisthus’
M. J. Alden

Familial revenge is what starts the Odyssey off, showing the significance of family in the plot.

Question 5

2 events:

Answer 5

Telemachus says it would be impossible for him to remove Penelope from her home against her will

Question 6

2 analysis:

Answer 6

• Shows his respect for Penelope, and hints at a more compassionate way of leading the family

Question 7

3 events:

Answer 7

Nestor and his family show a strong sense of familial order and harmony

Question 8

3 analysis:

Answer 8

• Increases the sense of loss for Telemachus and Penelope, as it emphasises what Odysseus and his family don’t have

Question 9

4 events:

Answer 9

Menelaus entertaining relatives during the marriages of his son and daughter

Menelaus treats his family equally despite their parentage

Menelaus’ and Helen’s stories of the Trojan war suggest at Helen being on different sides, shows their relationship might not be as strong as it appears.

Question 10

4 quotes:

Answer 10

‘A slave had borne this son to Menelaus, for the gods had given no other child to Helen’

Question 11

5 events:

Answer 11

Odysseus chooses his mortal family over an immortal life with Calypso, showing the power of his love for his family.

Question 12

6 events:

Answer 12

Nausicaa thinks often about marrying, showing the importance of marriage and household in Homeric society.

Question 13

7 events:

Answer 13

Arete takes a key role in the family and also as a ruler, showing slightly unusual family dynamics in Scherie

Question 14

7 quotes:

Answer 14

‘Gave her such honour as no other woman receives who keeps house under her husband’s eyes’

Question 15

7 analysis:

Answer 15

• Shows a more matriarchal model of family and society- suggests that theres variations in family structure across cultures.

Question 16

8 events:

Answer 16

Odysseus cries during the bard’s song, suggesting at how much he longs to return home to his family.

Question 17

9 events:

Answer 17

Despite Odysseus being well known, he chooses to mention his parentage before any of his achievements, underlining the importance of family in Homeric society.

Even monsters such as the Cyclops have family- Polyphemus calls out to his father Poseidon to curse Odysseus

Question 18

9 quotes:

Answer 18

‘I am Odysseus, Laertes’ son’

Question 19

9 analysis:

Answer 19

• Family identity is a source of pride and status in Homeric society

Question 20

9 scholarship:

Answer 20

‘All the important figures in the Odyssey identify themselves by reference to their families’

• J. McDonald

Question 21

10 events:

Answer 21

Odysseus stays with Circe for a year- shows his desire to get home cant be that strong, undermining the importance of family. It’s Odysseus’ crew that encourage him to leave as well, suggesting he would have stayed longer if he could.

Question 22

10 quotes:

Answer 22

‘What possesses you to stay on here? Its time you thought of Ithaca’

Question 23

10 analysis:

Answer 23

• Shows that temptation and personal satisfaction can threaten duty to family.

Question 24

11 events:

Answer 24

Emotional moment where odysseus meets Anticleia, and mourns not being able to embrace her.

He also enquires about the rest of his family.

Agamemnon warns Odysseus to never be too trustful of even his wife, showing the unstable nature of some Homeric marriages

Question 25

11 analysis:

Answer 25

Prioritises duty over family in this instance, as he lets Teiresias speak first. However he needs to hear what he has to say to get home- he’s undergoing hardships to ensure he can see his family by originally having to ignore Anticleia. - Shows a fear of betrayal and instability in marriage.

Question 26

11 scholarship:

Answer 26

‘The Odyssey explores the wife’s mobility in the figures of Helen and Clytemnestra, and… invites consideration that Penelope too might make such a move’ R. Nickel

Question 27

12 events and quote:

Answer 27

Scylla has a mother ‘Call on Cratais, Scylla’s mother… she will prevent her from pouncing out again’

Question 28

12 analysis:

Answer 28

- Reinforces the universality of parent-child bonds, and at children obeying their parents.

Question 29

12 scholarship:

Answer 29

‘There is something necessary and natural about the family; there is an ideal norm for it’ J. McDonald

Question 30

13 events:

Answer 30

Odysseus reaches Ithaca His return to his homelands represents a connection to his family, but he also shows his strength as he can’t reveal his identity to them yet, to ensure he can properly get revenge for the suitor’s acts

Question 31

14 events:

Answer 31

Zeus reaches an agreement with his brother so he can exact some revenge on the Phaeacians

Question 32

14 analysis:

Answer 32

Even as King of the Gods, the familial bond between the pair mean that Poseidon isn’t afraid to go against his brother.

Question 33

14 scholarship:

Answer 33

When it is time to fulfill the prophecy concerning the Phaiakians, he strikes a very cordial compromise with his divine brother. There is here an order… and it is of a clearly familial nature’ - J. McDonald

Question 34

16 events:

Answer 34

Eumaeus speaks lovingly of Odysseus and treats Telemachus like a son- stepped up as a surrogate family figure Father and son are reunited Telemachus rejects Eumaeus’ suggestion to tell Laertes of his return, showing a possible lack of care towards him.

Question 35

16 quotes:

Answer 35

‘Like a fond father welcoming back his son after nine years abroad’ ‘They cried aloud more piercingly and convulsingly than birds of prey'

Question 36

16 analysis:

Answer 36

- Shows true family is about emotional bonds, not just blood. - Could suggest a generational disconnect

Question 37

16 scholarship:

Answer 37

‘The confirmation of the father-son relationship may signify the restoration of order on Ithaca’ M. J. Alden

Question 38

19 events:

Answer 38

Penelope and Odysseus (in disguise) speak Penelope’s dream about the eagle suggests deep, subconscious recognition of her husband

Question 39

20 events:

Answer 39

Odysseus prepares to avenge his family. Justice for his family is the main motivation for his imminent massacre of the suitors

Question 40

21 events:

Answer 40

The bow symbolises Odysseus’ rightful place as head of the household. Only he can string it- a sign of unique family identity and authority

Question 41

22 events

Answer 41

Odysseus slaughters the suitors Telemachus deliberately disobeys his father, and decides to hang the maids in order to exact his own revenge.

Question 42

22 quotes:

Answer 42

‘I swear I will not give a decent death to women who have heaped insults on my head and on my mother’s’

Question 43

23 events:

Answer 43

Reunion of Odysseus and Penelope Penelope tests him and their shared secret (the bed) provides her with the evidence she needs to welcome home her husband

Question 44

23 quotes:

Answer 44

Homophrosyne ‘What a strange woman you are!’ ‘What a strange man you are’

Question 45

24 events:

Answer 45

Reunion with Laertes Potential lack of care on odysseus’ behalf, as he knows laertes suffered enormously, but still draws out the recognition scene.