6. Book 8 - Due Friday, 10/2

6.   Alcinous keeps asking Odysseus for his story. He says, “Where have your rovings foced you? What lands of men have you seen, what sturdy towns, what men themselves? Who were wild, savage, lawless? Who were friendly to strangers, god-fearing men? Tell me …(641-648). Why is Odysseus’ story actually important? Remember, Odysseus already gave a quick recounting of what happened to him. Why does Alcinous want details? How does this relate to his own generosity in lines 265-287?

5. Book 8, Due Friday, 10/2

5.   Lines 430-512 narrate many of the gives Odysseus will take away from Phaeacia. Nausicaa’s response is “a winning flight of words”, that Odysseus should “remember me at times. Mainly to me you owe the gift of life” (516-520). Odysseus leaves with goods, but he also leaves with a burden. Which is greater (bigger, grander), the good or the burden? Why? Consider lines 520-525.

4. Book 8 - Due Friday, 10/2

4. Athena previously shielded Odysseus from “any swaggering islander who’d cross his path, provoke him with taunts and search out who he was” (7.18-20). Describe what happens in lines 145-259). Why is this whole sequence of events significant? Consider that Athena did not prevent the contest this time.

3. Book 8 - Due Friday, 10/2

3. The bard Demodocus (pp. 193-195) is thought to be most like Homer -- that Homer created this bard with himself in mind. What similarities/differences can you see between Demodocus and Homer? Look at your Homer sheet as necessary. Use specific line references/quotations from book 8.

2.Book 8 Due Friday, 10/2

2. Alcinous, even before he has heard Odysseus’ story, has promised him passage home, saying, “no one, I tell you, no one who come to my house will languish long here …” What is at stake for Alcinous?

1.Book 8 Due Friday, 10/2

1. Choe's favorite lines:

"Great Odysseus melted into tears, running down from his eyes to wet his cheeks ... as a woman weeps, her arms flung round her darling husband ..." (8.585-588)

Sigh. Such gender-normative language.


"Nausithous use to say that lord Poseidon was vexed with us because we escorted all mankind and never came to grief. He said that one day, as a well-build ship of ours sailed home on the misty sea from such a convoy, the god would crush us ..." (632-637).

Oops. Guess what'll happen. Oh, Odysseus.

Commenting Changes

Oh. Hello again. Again.

I'm trying a new comment widget on Blogger. You can choose to log in with your school Google account, or just post as a guest (which is what I recommend). However, posting as a guest became a little trickier. I do trust in your ability to find it though, you tech-savvy young-uns.

1. Type your amazing comment into the provided comment box.
2. Click in the "Name" box and type your name.
3. For e-mail, use your school e-mail address.
4. Check "I'd rather post as guest"
5. Done.

I suppose you could sign up for Disqus, but why?

Hopefully, this eliminates all of the dropped comments. Plus, I suppose it's ... prettier? Bubblier, at least. E-mail me if you still run into problems, please.

5. Due 9/29

5. Consider Book 6 as a whole in the context of the view of women and gender roles in society. Include discussion of lines 300-320 and the idea of acting for an audience/according to expectations. Any connections to current society?

4. Due 9/29

4. What rhetorical strategies does Odysseus use to get what he wants from Nausicaa? How does he manipulate her? Consider the Greek custom of hospitality (xenia) (5.161-270)

3. Due 9/29

3. While Nausicaa and her maids are playing on the beach, Odysseus, "a terrible sight, all crusted, caked with brine" and naked except for "a leafy branch from the tangled olive growth ... stalked as a mountain lion exultant in his power ... [and like a lion] charges sheep or oxen or chases wild deer ... his hunger drives him on to go for flocks, even to raid the best defended homestead" (6.140-152).

And then while all the girls flee, "only Alcinous' daughter held fast, for Athena planted courage within her heart" (153-154).

Discuss these lines/the scene.  Consider that Odysseus is probably 40+ and Nausicaa much younger than 20 (the girls wear their hair in "lovely braids").

2. Due 9/29

2. How does Athena define the role of women? What specific connections can you make between these lines and other texts we have read in class? Or what connections can you make to current society? (6.28-45) Also, consider Nausica's actions in lines 60-80.

1. Due 9/29

Choe's favorite lines:


1. "'I pine all my days to travel home and see the dawn of my return ... Much have I suffered, labored long and hard by now in the waves and wars' ... And now, withdrawing into the cavern's deep recesses, long in each other's arms they lost themselves in love" (5.240-251).

Odysseus suffers. No wonder he cries so much.

2. "Great Odysseus crept out of the bushes, stripping off with his massive hand a leafy branch from the tangled olive growth to shield his body, hide his private parts" (6.140-143).


Do you have any favorite lines? What are they and why do you think they're amazing? (You actually have to do analysis for this post, unlike Choe) 

Discussion Directions

Discussion Directions:

1. Everyone is responsible for making at least TWO posts for each assignment. One post MUST be a direct response to a question. The second post can be a direct response to a question OR a response to a peer's comment from a different question.

2. Responses must be thoughtful. While they don't necessarily have to be "right," you must show that you are reading and processing The Odyssey, working with it, making the information yours, and really thinking.

3. If you are responding to a peer's comment, keep it respectful. You are allowed to agree or disagree, but the the comment must be academic.

4. Some sentence starters for responding to peers:

a. ____, I agree when you say "___". Additionally, ___.

b. ____, it's interesting that you point out ___. I would though because ___.

c. ___ and ___ bring up great points because ____.

d. ___, I agree when you say ____. However, I disagree that ____ because ___. 

5. If someone comments on your post, you can reply back, but this will not count as a second response. Also, while it could be appropriate to bring in new evidence to justify your answer, please refrain from bickering or being worried about not being right. You're learning.

6. Every comment, whether a question response or a peer response, must be thorough and thoughtful to receive full credit. "I agree with Bob" is neither thorough nor thoughtful. You're adding no value to the conversation. Remember, these discussions are replacing your question sheets. Move discussions forward.

7. Even though you are only working with two questions directly, I do fully expect that you will be thinking about all of the questions. Moreover, you will be responsible for knowing all of the information related to these questions as well as the reading.

Though there is no sentence limit, your responses must be thorough and show that you are thinking and processing the information of The Odyssey.

Also, the minimum is two responses. You may respond to as many as you like as long as you are not dominating conversation. There's no extra credit for more responses, but isn't the learning process reward enough?

Each response will be worth 2.5 points for a total of 5 points/book. Full credit is not guaranteed.

Choe's Favorite Lines of Book 5

1.      "Hermes the guide, the mighty giant-killer, stood there, spellbound … But once he’d had his fill of marveling at it all, he briskly entered the deep vaulted cavern” (5.84-87). 

Hermes is a creeper … Just sayin’.

2.      Odysseus wept “since the nymph no longer pleased. In the nights, true, he’d sleep with her … he had no choice …” (5.170-171). Just sayin’.



Do you have any favorite lines? What are they and why do you think they're amazing? (You actually have to do analysis for this post, unlike Choe)

5.4

Analyze 5.131-160. Why would gods be against goddesses mating with mortals? How is this a double-standard? What does this passage say about the role of women, even goddesses? Use the words of the quotation to back up your response!

5.3

“As one god to another, you ask me why I’ve come” (108).

“It was Zeus who made me come, no choice of mine” (111).

The whole exchange in lines 121-128

Explain ONE of the contradictions in this exchange between Hermes and Calypso (there are a few contradictions. Choose the one you feel most strongly about). They contradict each other and other directives the gods have made so far. Use the words of the quotations to explain the contradiction and significance.

5.2

a. Zeus sends Odysseus to Scheria, the land of Phaeacians on a raft. Why is Zeus doing this? 

b. (5.33-48) Considering the power of Zeus to send Odysseus to Scheria, why do you think Zeus does not send Odysseus straight to Ithaca? (Hint: Try to relate your answer to what Odysseys needs to gain from Scheria).

You must answer BOTH parts of this question.
a. blahblah

b. blahblah