A place for students to express themselves
Do you think Odysseus’ revenge is justified? Even though some suitors have been crueler than others, why does Odysseus take equal revenge on all of them? How do you think the problem of the suitors should have been handled? Why?
How does Penelope feel about the suitors in her house? How might these feelings differ from Odysseus’ feelings? Why doesn’t Odysseus reveal himself at once to his wife? Is it wrong for Odysseus to deceive his wife?
How does Eurylochus persuade the men to kill the cattle? Would you have done the same? Why is Odysseus unable to keep his men from killing the cattle? Do the members of the crew deserve the punishment they receive for disobeying Odysseus and killing the cattle? What lesson should we take away from this final demise of the rest of Odyssesus’ crew?
What heroic quality does Odysseus show in lines 823-825? How does this also make him human? Be sure to use plenty of text-based details in your response. Please be sure, also, to respond to at least one other comment in this thread, unless you are the very first person to respond.
A descent to the underworld (Greek Nekuia) is a standard feature of virtually all epics. Why might that be? Does Odysseus actually descend to the underworld? What are the most important things he learns from the ghosts? What do we learn? What special heroic characteristics do you think he will need to survive his journey?
First paraphrase Polyphemus’ prayer to Poseidon, (p. 997, lines 484-493 in the new version of your textbook that you have at home) then explain the significance, based on what you know from having read the synopsis of the whole plot in Edith Hamilton’s Mythology. What heroic flaw of Odyssesus’ caused this to come about? What life lesson can readers of today draw from this episode?
An epithet (from Greek epitheton, neut. of – epithetos, “attributed, added”) is a descriptive word or phrase accompanying or occurring in place of the name of a person or thing. It has various shades of meaning when applied to seemingly real or fictitious people, divinities, or objects. In particular, Homer is well known for his use of epithets throughout both The Iliad and The Odyssey. Odysseus, for example, is often called the “man skilled in all ways of contending.”
Re-read the portion of The Odyssey which we read in class today, pp. 981-992 (to line 322). Then explain, with as much text-based detail as you can, both from this reading and everything else we know already about him, why Odysseus’ epithet is so appropriate. How is he, in fact, the man skilled in all ways of contending?
