Blogger #27 Sophia Ripoll 10/28/2021 P2
Aim: How does The Odyssey, Book X further enhance our understanding of Odysseus’ plight; through his journey as a hero?
Do Now: WHOLE CLASS DISCUSSION
Describe a time when you, or someone you know, felt something had to be done out of obligation (a person is morally or legally bound; a duty or commitment). Tell the outcome.
An obligation I feel I need to do is to take care of my family and loved ones. When I used to live with my grandparents, I would help my grandmother sort her pills so she has the correct intake each day.
After our class discussion, we went over new terminology to help guide us before reading the rest of The Odyssey.
Epithets
→ an adjective or a descriptive phrase that expresses a quality character of the person or thing mentioned
→ a common element of epic poems -- allows the reader to easily identify a character or object
→ a character or object can have many epithets associated with them
(throughout Homer’s writing, he repeatedly uses the same phrase to describe a person or object)
Why do you think Homer may use epithets?
I think Homer may use epithets to flesh out a character or object and show their unique attributes. Along with that, it is to help the reader associate certain words or phrases with said character or object.
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Afterward, we reviewed some examples of epithets present throughout our reading thus far.
Epithets Examples:
Odysseus:
→ "The great tactician"
(tactician definition - a person who uses a carefully planned strategy to achieve a specific end -- used to paint Odysseus as intelligent and resourceful)
→ ”The man of twists and turns"
(used to describe how quick-witted he is and the clever plans he devises when in conflict)
Athena:
→ "The clear eyed goddess"
(used to describe how Athena is extremely wise and farseeing -- goddess of wisdom)
Sunrise:
→ “Rosy Fingered Dawn”
(describes the beauty of dawn)
Zeus:
→ “Son of Cronos”, “Who marshalls the thunderclouds”
(used to describe how powerful Zeus is and his rule over thunder -- god of the sky)
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Once we went over these examples, we watched a video further explaining epithets present in literature.
Video
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The last part of today’s lesson was the questions we were to answer as a group about Book X of The Odyssey.
Group Discussion:
Book X:
1. How does Odysseus and his men find themselves faced with a plethora of problems?
a. Evaluate the types of problems that they face. Can you assess if Odysseus’ men are solely to blame for their problems, and does Odysseus appear to be the constant problem-solver? Or can you provide some other explanation for what’s at hand?
Odysseus and his men find themselves faced with a plethora of problems because of the curse that was placed upon them by Polyphemus. At the beginning of the passage, Odysseus is given a bag of wind by Aeolus to help guide him back home to Ithaca. However, it is eventually opened by his crew because they believed he was getting treasures and praised by others, while they reaped none of the benefits. Along with that, later on in the story, Odysseus sends three of his men into the land of the Laestrygonians, who turn out to be giants that kill a large sum of his companions. The last main challenge was the goddess Circe, who turns around half of his crew into pigs. Once this happens, Odysseus returns to her, with the guide of Hermes, and sets them free. Yet, he still manages to get them trapped there for one year, as they return to her again, this time as a complete group. In these situations, both Odysseus and his companions are to blame. In the first conflict of the story, it is the crew’s fault for being envious and suspicious of Odysseus’s bag, thinking that he was getting riches. In the second conflict, it is neither of their faults since there wasn’t a real way to know the people inside were cannibals. Lastly, in the third conflict, it is both of their faults, and half of the crew originally gets tricked into entering Circe’s home, and afterward, once Odysseus saves them all, they return once again and stay for a year.
2. How does Circe’s Island compare to the Land of the Lotus Eaters?
Circe’s Island and the Land of the Lotus Eaters are somewhat similar in the way that they both deal with magic and an escape from reality. Along with that, they both involve consuming a sort of hallucinogen. In the Land of the Lotus Eaters, it is a quick hallucination that doesn’t change much about them. However, Circe’s spells make them forget their home and eventually turn them into pigs.
b. How does her actions towards the men compare to the actions of the Lotus Eaters?
The Lotus Eaters tried to feed the men hallucinogens so the men want to stay, but Circe focuses on Odysseus and makes him sleep with her so that his men become human again. So, The Lotus Eaters were more welcoming and tried to appeal to the whole crew, while Circe scared them and made them into pigs.
c. Can one treatment be deemed as worse than the other? Why/Why Not?
I believe that the treatment that Circe gave them was significantly worse. Even though both situations caused them to not be able to make their own decisions, Circe turned the crew into pigs and put them in a pen.
3. Describe the “deal” Odysseus strikes with Circe, as well as her response/instructions.
The deal Odysseus strikes with Circe is that if he were to sleep with her, she would swear an oath to never hurt him. The passage states in lines 450-453 “‘But I will not agree to go to bed, unless, goddess, you will agree to swear a solemn oath that you’ll make no more plans to injure me with some new devious trick.’” They both agree to the deal and she swears the oath that Odysseus requests of her.
d. How does he feel about her directives?
Odysseus
e. Why is Odysseus’ heart “sore” and “troubled”? What does this reveal about his character?
Odysseus’s heart is “sore” and “troubled” because he knew that Penelope was most likely waiting for him at home, and by doing this act, he was being unfaithful. This reveals that he cares about his wife and doesn’t want to hurt their relationship when he eventually will return to Ithaca. Along with that, it fleshes out his character, showing a relationship with his family.
f. Has he been faithful?
It’s really up to a debate for this question because he was under obligation by Hermes to sleep with Circe to save his companions. However, it doesn’t stop the fact that he did sleep with her, in turn being unfaithful towards his wife, Penelope.
4. Consider the “Do Now” topic of “obligation.”
a. In which instances does Odysseus demonstrate his actions are motivated through “obligation” and not through some other force or factor?
Odysseus feels obligated to save his men, even if he has to be unfaithful to his wife, Penelope. He feels, as the captain of the crew, that he should help them get out of danger which leads him to return to Circe’s house.
b. Consider the fact that a role-reversal occurs when Odysseus’ men remind him, after a year, that it’s time to return home. Does this change your view of his “obligation”? Why/Why Not?
The fact that Odysseus’s men had to remind him that they should all return home after staying an entire year at Circe’s home makes me believe that Odysseus was only obligated when he had to save them. Once he had safely brought all of his crew back to the ship, he could have chosen to just set sail and return. However, he chooses for him and his crew to stay with Circe and live a life of luxury.
5. Hermes has a reputation for “trickery.” Consider that he is the one who informed Circe that Odysseus would be coming, as well as he advised Odysseus as to how to “best” Circe with her magic potions and wand. Do you believe that Hermes has used his “trickery” on one or both of them? Why/Why Not?
I believe that Hermes used his “trickery” on both of them. Hermes did help Odysseus get his crew back to the ship as humans, but it also got him involved in another trip to the underworld. Along with that, Hermes told Circe that Odysseus was destined to come which leads her to strike a deal with him.
c. Given this information, do you believe that Odysseus had to go through with the “deal” with Circe? Why/Why Not?
I believe that Odysseus didn’t necessarily have to go through with the “deal” with Circe because it might have been his fate after Polyphemus’s curse. The curse was that he would have to go through a difficult journey in which he loses all of his companions and returns home after a long time. So if he were to not have saved his men, there would be a chance he would still have to go to the underworld or complete another tedious and challenging task.
6. Based on your understanding of Epithets and their use, identify some epithets in Book X or from previous readings.
“Circe, a goddess skilled in magic potions”
“Hermes of the Golden Wand”
“Resourceful Odysseus, son of Laertes, and child of Zeus”
“Fair-haired Circe”
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Reflection:
Throughout this lesson, there have been many things I have learned. I now know of epithets, which are adjectives or descriptive phrases that express a quality character of the person or thing mentioned. Along with that, I learned how to identify epithets within literature. I learned this in order to further my understanding as we continue reading The Odyssey, as there are many instances of epithets throughout Homer’s writing to help describe the unique characteristics of characters or objects. An example would be the constant repetition of “Resourceful Odysseus, son of Laertes, and child of Zeus.” This phrase is meant to describe how intelligent, resourceful, powerful, and hero-like Odysseus is, as it paints him in a positive connotation to the reader. I will use what I have learned to have a deeper understanding of the characteristics and traits of characters throughout The Odyssey.
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