Female characters Flashcards
(57 cards)
Book 1 events:
Athena intervenes to help Telemachus, disguised as Mentes
Athena encourages Telemachus to be like Orestes, who avenged his father by killing his mother
Penelope gets upset by a bard’s song and is commanded by Telemachus to go to her rooms.
1 analysis:
Athena shows her role in shaping the mortal world by encouraging heroic action in Telemachus
1 scholarship on Clytemnestra:
‘The Odyssey appears to be set in motion by Zeus’ consideration of the revenge of Orestes on Aigisthus’
M. J. Alden
1 scholarship on Athena:
she is acting as the instigator of the initiation quest into
manhood, preparing Telemachus for a new life stage.
F. Merritt
2 events:
Eurykleia obeys Telemachus’ command to not tell Penelope about his journey
2 analysis:
Eurykleia’s actions reinforce the expectation that women should be faithful and loyal.
4 events:
Helen drugs wine with a potion to ease grief
Helen and Menelaus tell stories that suggest at Helen being on alternating sides of the Trojan War
4 analysis:
Helens actions show female unpredictability- as she could be both a helper or a potential traitor
5 events:
Calypso keeps Odysseus captive in a breach of Xenia
When Hermes comes to tell her to let Odysseus go, she complains to him about the double standards between male and female gods having relationships with mortals
Ino helps Odysseus survive when his boat is destroyed by Poseidon
5 scholarship:
‘suffering and enduring is part of the heroic pattern’
S. Schein
‘suffering and enduring is part of the heroic pattern’
S. Schein
This means that Odysseus’ endurance on Ogygia forms the suffering he needs to endure the rest of his journey home and recover his kingdom
6 events:
Athena sends a dream to Nausicaa to ensure she goes to where Odysseus is sleeping
Athena put courage in Nausicaa’s heart when the other girls were scared of Odysseus, ensuring he received aid from her
Nausicaa looks out for her own image and reputation by telling Odysseus to not come into town directly with her, as she would blame any girl she saw entering town with a strange man.
6 scholarship:
‘The speech can be read as a charmingly naive confession; but it can also be seen as a skilful negotiation or manipulation of the rules for male/female interaction’
L. Doherty
7 events:
Athena, disguised as a young girl, shows Odysseus to Alcinous’ palace, and hides him in mist away from the Phaeacians
Athena explains Arete’s unusual influence
Odysseus appeals directly to Arete when he reaches the palace.
7 quotes:
‘Gave her such honour as no other women receives who keeps house under her husband’s eye’
7 analysis:
Odysseus’ direct appeal to Arete shows that powerful women can be crucial allies, not just threats
7 scholarship:
‘It is important to emphasise that in Homer the Gods help only those who are worthy of it’
- Jones
8 events:
Arete shows influence by being the one to question Odysseus about his identity and his clothes
9 events:
Odysseus describes plundering of the city of the Cicones, talks about women as if they’re goods
9 quotes:
‘The women and the vast plunder that we took from the town we divided so that no one should go short of his proper share’
9 analysis:
Women are commodified in war narratives, reinforcing their vulnerability
10 events:
Circe turns Odysseus’ men into pigs
Circe becomes Odysseus’ lover after he overcomes her magic
Circe tells Odysseus what he has to do to get home, and instructs him carefully on how to perform the rite to talk to Teiresias
11 events:
Anticleia tells Odysseus of her death and the sorrow of Penelope
Agamemnon warns Odysseus not to trust women because of Clytemnestra
12 events:
Circe helps Odysseus again by explaining the dangers to come and how to survive them
Sirens try to lure sailors to their death
Female monsters- Scylla and Charybdis- Odysseus’ men killed, and Odysseus nearly dies.
Lampetie, Helios’ daughter, tells her father that Odysseus’ men have killed his cattle- this leads to their death
