STUDY QUESTIONS: ODYSSEY 12-18
Geometric Art Conundrum: Who are these people, and where are they going? Mythological Candidates: Paris/Helen, Jason/Medea, Theseus/Ariadne... Or is it just a farewell scene?
ODYSSEY 12
0. Circe warns Odysseus about the Sirens, Scylla, and Charybdis, and tells him how best to survive hem. How does he follow her advice?
1. What is the Sirens' song? What about the song do you think is so appealing to Odysseus --judging from what you know about him already in this epic?
2. Why does Odysseus not mention to his men Circe's warning about Scylla? (231) Was this a wise decision on his part? Why or why not?
3. What was the most pitiable thing that Odysseus had ever seen? (257ff)
4. Why do Odysseus and his men put in at Helios' island, when Circe and Teiresias both had told Odysseus to avoid Thrinacia? Why does Odysseus not stop his men from killing Helios' cattle? What does this say about Odysseus' relationship with his men?
5. What do Odysseus' men do in an attempt to lessen the sin which they commit against the sun god's cattle? What does this say about the efficacy of prayer?
6. How did Odysseus know that Lampetie had tattled on his men to Helios, and that Helios had gone to Zeus to get revenge? (400)
7. How does Odysseus escape from Charybdis for a second time?
ODYSSEY 13
8. What is the importance of wine after Odysseus' "farewell dinner" on Scheria
-- for religion, human social interaction, and for sustenance?
9. What happens when Poseidon (the Earthshaker) sees how the Phaeacians have helped Odysseus? (128)
10. Why is Odysseus confused when he wakes up on Ithaca?
11. What is the first thing that Odysseus does when he first wakes up on Ithaca? What do his first speech and his first actions there tell us about his character?
12. Important things happen in the Odyssey when Odysseus is asleep. What happens in this book? What happened in book 12? Why do you think the poet uses this technique? Look at Penelope's sleep in book 18.
13. How does Odysseus' speech to a disguised Athena show his character? How does Athena react to his lies?
14. How do Odysseus and Athena compliment each other? How do they criticize each other? How would you characterize the tone of their conversation?
15. In what three ways does Athena help Odysseus before he goes to Eumaeus' hut?
ODYSSEY 16
16. How do dogs help Odysseus recognize his son?
17. Why is the simile beginning at line 19 an appropriate one for this context?
18. What dilemma does the disguised Odysseus represent to Telemachus? (73ff)
19. Where do you think that the Greek word "hubris" occurs in Telemachus' speech to Eumaeus (75-98)? To whom is it applied?
20. How does Telemachus show respect for his father even before he knows his identity?
21. What role does Athena play in the recognition of Odysseus by Telemachus? How do the dogs react to her?
22. In the anagnorisis (recognition) central to this book, how does Odysseus prove that he is Telemachus' father? Why does Telemachus not believe him at first? Why does he finally believe him? What does this say about Telemachus' character?
23. What non-verbal signal does Athena give to Odysseus to let him know that she wants him to come out of Eumaeus' hut (174)? What non-verbal signal will Odysseus give to Telemachus to signal that he should hide the weapons? (297) What do these non-verbal communications tell us?
ODYSSEY 17
24. How does the goatherd Melanthius greet Odysseus and Eumaeus? What does he have in common with the suitors? How do Odysseus and Eumaeus react to his abuse?
25. How does a dog almost create a premature anagnorisis?
26. Who is the only Suitor not to give food to the beggar Odysseus? What does his name mean? Why is it appropriate? What does he do instead of give alms?
27. How is Odysseus' reaction to Antinous' abuse similar to his reaction to Melanthius earlier in the book? What is the reaction of the other Suitors to Antinous' action?
ODYSSEY 18
28. How is Irus like the Suitors?
29. How did Irus get his name?
30. How is Odysseus' treatment of Irus a foreshadowing of future events? Why are lines 107-108 ironic?