Quiz 7 Flashcards
(15 cards)
What does Zeus say in the opening of Odyssey 1 about human suffering? Whom does he use
as an example?
Zeus talks about how mortals blame the gods for all of their misery when in reality the gods only give them a smaller amount of misery. It is their own fault for inflicting more misery on themselves than their proper share. He refers to Aegisthus. He stole Atrides’ wife,
he murdered the warlord coming home from Troy
The Iliad is oriented to the east, the Odyssey to the west. What social realities does the
Odyssey’s orientation reflect?
This reflects Greek interest in the new colonies in Italy such as Pithecusae, Marseille, and Nice. It also reflects their encounters with native peoples, both hostlie and friendly. They describe the natives as fantastic and dangerous.
What does the Odyssey’s suppression of its hero’s name till line 21 tell us about this poem and
its hero?
It tells us that Odysseus knows when reveal or conceal his name. It tells us that the book is as complicated as its hero.
What is Odysseus’ main trait as evidenced in this poem?
Mentis: cunningness
What adjective/adverb in English is most often used to describe Odysseus or his actions in
the opening lines?
andra : mortal and anonymous man. Husband
What is the name of the monster who kills and eats Odysseus’ men in the cave? This
Cyclops is the son of whom?
Polyphemus
Son of Poseidon
If the Odyssey poem is about Odysseus, why do we spend Books 1-4 on Telemachus?
List three answers.
- Shows the problems in Ithaca
- It allows us to learn of Odysseus’s character as Telemachus learns. He is more like us.
- Contrasts Nestor and Menelaus as positive examples of xenia (contrast to the suitors)
Define xenia
Concept of hospitality
Define atashalia
Recklessness/folly
Define nostos
trips home
Define theoxeny
Visitation of a god among men to note their behavior
Name one of the most important customs in Greek culture that plays a central role in the
Odyssey.
Name one person who is the epitome of the violation of this custom.
Name one person who is the epitome of the observance of this custom.
xenia
Violation: Antonius. He eats all their food and gives nothing in return. Speaks harshly to Telemachus when he is emotionally hurting about his father.
Observance: Nestor. In Pylos, he gives him food, gifts and transportation to Sparta
Not to be outdone by her husband, Penelope is equally as clever as Odysseus. Name the first
ruse that she employs to keep the suitors from pressing more urgently for her to make a
choice of a husband from among their members.
She promises to remarry after she is done weaving a loom dedicated to her father Icarius. However, she would unweave her daily progress every night for almost four years so that she could continue to wait for Odysseus to return
In Odyssey 6, Odysseus meets the young and charming Nausicaa, daughter of King Alcinous
and Queen Arete. Odysseus is compared (in a simile) to what when he approaches her? She
is compared to whom by Odysseus? What important concept does he tell her at this point in
the poem about what is the best thing in life?
Odysseus is compared to a montain lion about to stalk its prey of the heard of women. Odysseus compares her to Artemis because she is known as a youthful virgin.
Homophrosyne: same minds, line-minded
How does Calypso come to have Odysseus with her on Ogygia? How long does he stay with
her? What does her name mean? Why does he decide to turn down her offer of immortality?
Odysseus drifted for nine days in the open sea after losing his ship and army to the mosters of Italy when coming back home from Troy. Calypso welcomed him to the island.
Seven years, going on 8
“to conceal”
He decides that the concept of kleos is more important to him that immortality. It goes against the warrior tradition in that his kleos wouldn’t be widely known if he were to be held in obscurity for eternity.
