Essay/Term paper: The odyssey

Essay, term paper, research paper:  Book Reports

During the night Odysseus tosses and turns, worrying about

the outcome of his encounter with the suitor. Athena appears

to himin a dream and promises that he will aid in the struggle.

Penelope also unable to sleep and prays to Artemis, begging

that she be rescued from marriage to another man, even if it

means her death. In the morning Odysseus appeals to Zeus

for a sign of his favor and is answered by the rumbling of

thunder and lightning. Others notice the sign and a general

mood of imminant danger sets in. Odysseus observes the

behavior of his servants to identify the faithful. Melanthius

arrives with the goats for the banquet and persists in

harasses Odysseus. Eumaeus comes to the place, driving the

hogs for the slaughter, demonstrating his goodness. Another

loyal servant, Philoetius, the chief cowherd, arrives from the

mainland. The suitors, again plotting to assassinate

Telemachus, eventually return to the place. As they lunch,

Ctesippus insults Odysseus and throws a bone at him.

Telemachus is outraged and gives a scolding to the suitors in

which he lists all the bad stuff they have done.. His

unexpected boldness shocks the group, but they are drunk

and laugh at his warnings. , Theclymenus cautions them that

a catastrophe is impending in which they will suffer for their

evil ways, but they mock the him until he leaves the palace in

a rage. The suitors continue to drink, and dont heed the

warning. New Charters: Philoitios - the cattle foreman

Vocabulary banter v. - to speak to or address in a witty and

teasing manner. lustrous adj. - radiant in character or

reputation. dregs n. - the most undesirable part stint n. - a

definite quantity of work assigned coverlets n. - bedspread

saunter v. - to walk about in an idle or leisurely manner

hulking adj. - massive sardonic adj. - disdainfully or

skeptically humorous : derisively mocking jeered v. - to

speak or cry out with derision or mockery braying v. - to

crush or grind fine Epic Conventions Epic Similies p. 411 -

line 14 "as a bitch mounting over her weak, defenseless

puppies growls, facing a stranger, bristling for a showdown-

so he growled from his depths, hackles rising at their

outrage." p.411 - 28 "as a cook before some white-hot

blazing fire who rolls his sizzling saussage back and fourth,

packed with fatand blood- keen to broil it quickly, tossing,

turning it, this was, that way- so he cast about" Supernatural

Involvment In this book the gods are constantly involved.

Once, when Athena visits Odyssues in a dream to tell him

that she favors him. A second time, when they pray to Zeus

and he makes lightning and thunder, and a thrid time, when

Theoklymenos, the visionary, sees blood running down the

walls and ghosts crowding the courtyard and entryway. The

first 2 accounts are only supernatural involvement if you

consider intervention by the gods supernatural. Archetypal

Themes What does it mean to be an adult? Throughout the

book Telemachus shows traits of being grown up. When he

is mocked by the suitors, he doesnt react in the way that a

child would, he simply, keeps it to himself. What is the

relationship of men to God? God and the gods are always

protecting man. Athen and Zeus are going to protect

Odysseus, showing the the gods care for the best intrest of

man. Is man free? Man he the freedom of choice, but he is

not totally free, because the gods intervene with each

situation, not having men make the own decision 100%.

What is the ralationship between men and women? In this

book, Penelope, has to make a decision of which sutior to

choose. In the begining of the book, it describes Odysseus

tossing are turning at the thought of Penelope sleeping

upstairs alone, showing that he cares for her. What is the

role of suffering in out lives? To fully live life we must suffer

to really see what the world is about, becuase with the bad

come good and viceverse. Throughtout this book and the

rest of the stoy, Odyesseus strugles with the different issues.

In this book being the impending catastrophe. What are the

heroic qualities that set man apart from other men? In this

book the qualities displayed by Odyseus that he care for the

well being of everyone else, shows that he is a true hero.

Whats man"s responsibility to other men? Man is support to

look out for the best intrests of his fellow man, as Odysseus

does when he prays to have the protected. What is the

nature of good and evil? As in the traditional good and evil

relationship, good will always prevail over evil, in the way

that Odysseus will prevail over the suitors. What does it

mean to "accept individual responsibility in out lives" mean?

Odysseus accepts responsiblity over his life in the way that

he tries constantly to prevent impending danger. In this book

being the conflict that will take place.