5. Due Tuesday, 10/13

5. What are your favorite lines? Why? How do these lines reflect anything Odysseus has done/said/seen in the past? What do they show about his personality? Consider aspects of FLAME (flaws, longings, attitudes, motivations, ethics).

6. For Funsies for Tuesday, 10/13

6. Post your favorite picture/image representing part of Odysseus' journey in books 9-12. No extra points. Just funsies. No comments necessary, but tasteful sarcasm always welcome.

4. Due Tuesday, 9/13

"Friends ... it's wrong for only one or two to know the revelations that lovely Circe made to me alone. I'll tell you all, so we can die with our eyes wide open now or escape our fate and certain death together. First, she warns, we must steer clear of the Sirens, their enchanting song, their meadow starred with flowers. I alone was to hear their voices, so she said, but you must bind me with tight chaving ropes so I cannot move a muscle, bound to the spot, erect at the mast-block, lashed by ropes to the mast. And if I plead, commanding you to set me free, then lash me faster, rope on pressing rope

...

'Come closer, famous Odysseus -- Achaea's pride and glory -- moor your ship on our coast so you can hear our song! Never has any sailor passed our shores in his black craft until he has heard the honeyed voices pouring from our lips ...'

So they sent their ravishing voices out across the air and the hear tinside me throbbed to listen longer. I signaled the crew with frowns to set me free -- they flung themselves at the oars and rowed harder."


4.1 Does this story reflect Odysseus' hubris? Or his kleos? How/why? Do you think he's being truthful to his crew? To the Phaeacians?
4.2 How is the story reflected similarly/differently in the vase pictured below?

3. Due Tuesday, 9/13

3. Odysseus says that Zeus said he would punish Odysseus, heard from Calypso from Hermes. How many times removed from Odysseus is this story? Does invoking the gods like this add to or detract from Odysseus' credibility as a narrator? Why? Include details from at least one other story Odysseus tells in books 9-12 to justify your claim regarding Odysseus' credibility as a narrator.

2. Due Tuesday, 9/13

2. Explain what happens between Odysseus, his men, and the sun god. Include Circe's warning and where we have heard this warning before. Then address, what is the difference between withholding information and lying? What is your view of Odysseus at this point as a leader?  Include a detail from another scene in books 9-12 to help justify your stance on Odysseus' leadership. No one answer is correct as long as you back up your opinion.

1. Due Tuesday, 9/13

1.1 What are Scylla and Charybdis? What does Circe say Odysseus must do when passing between them (12.94-120).

1.2 Often when we tell stories to people, we edit out unfavorable details or make slight changes. Consider again that this is all still part of Odysseus' story. How could the story of Scylla and Charybdis be an edited version of Odysseus story? What might he have edited into/out of the story and why?

5. Due Wednesday, 10/7 -- EXTRA CREDIT (2 pts)

What is your favorite "I" statement from Odysseus in books 9-10? Why?

I statement = "I called back ..."; "I sent ..." etc. What actions are Odysseus taking ownership of?

4. Due Wednesday, 10/7

Ms. Choe's favorite lines ...

1. "Mulling it over, I thought I'd scout the ground -- that fire aglow in the smoke, I saw it, true, but soon enough this seemed the better plan: I'd go back to shore and the swift ship first, feed the men, then send them out for scouting" (10.169-170).

Odysseus is so brave.


2. "Come, sheath your sword, let's go to bed together, mouunt my bed and mix in the magic work of love -- we'll breed deep trust between us" says Circe.

Odysseus responds, "Mount your bed? Not for all the world. Not until you consent to swear, goddess, a binding oath you'll never plot some new intrigue to harm me!" (10.370-382).

Protip from Odysseus: Never engage in trustful conversations until you are assured that you'll be safe from intrigues.


What are your favorite lines? Why?

3. Due Wednesday, 10/7

3. What kind of a leader does Odysseus seem to be? How does he respond to the problems his crew faces? How does he respond to individual crew members, especially those who stand against him? Reference at least one specific incident from books 9-10 and quote lines from Odysseus to validate your claim.

2. Due Wednesday, 10/7

2. Do you believe Odysseus’ story of the actions of his crew in books 9 and 10? Why or why not? Remember Odysseus is telling the story to the Phaeacians. Often, he was not actually there to overhear the conversation. Yet, does he have a reason to lie, considering the ruin that was brought to his crew? There is no correct answer. Reference at least one specific instance in Odysseus' journey that points to the reliability of Odysseus as a narrator. 

1. Due Wednesday, 10/7

1. Consider all of Odysseus' problesms and his reactions and his actions regarding them. Also, consider the decisions he makes regarding himself and his crew with the Laestrygonians, lotus eaters, Polyphemus, Aeolus, and Circe. In your opinion, who is responsible for all of Odysseus' troubles? Why? Reference at least one specific situation in your answer.

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)