The Odyssey, Book 12: The Cattle of the Son (personal response)

    I would have to say that this is my favorite book of the Odyssey we have read yet.  At the end, everything seems to be brought full circle, and I finally see where our hero has come from.  A few exciting "tests" that are apart of the "road of trial" are also found in this book.  To me, it was a little disappointing at first when Circe outlines the troubles that Odysseus will have to face.  Yet these brief descriptions from the "nymph with lovely braids" are nothing compared to Odysseus' story of conquering these tasks.  I also found it interesting that Circe gives Odysseus a choice, when it comes to telling him what lies ahead of him, of which path he could take.  After choosing the Scylla and Charybdis path, he then seems to feel that he does not need the advice of others and he "cleared [his] mind of Circe's orders" and enters into the passage between the cliffs (lines 245-30).  So we do see this continuing sense of arrogance that Odysseus carries with him.
    I also find it interesting that we see some epithets in The Cattle of the Son even though this entire book is an autobiographical story of Odysseus' challenges before reaching Calypso's island.  For example in the very beginning of the book, Odysseus mentions "Dawn with her rose-red fingers" (line 8).  These epithets might be a way for Homer to insure that the Phaecians and us as the readers all know who is doing what.  
    We also see one of the first rebellions against Odysseus by his men, when they break the oath on the island of the Sun.  Perhaps Odysseus should take this as a reminder that he is not the only one who is on this journey.  This "fatal plan" of Eurylochus later causes the entire crew to fall into danger (line 365).  Yet of course, our hero comes through alive even when his crew unintentionally is keeping him back.  This raises an interesting point, is Odysseus really a hero when he saves only himself and not the crew that is dead because they rebel against their leader?

The Odyssey, Book 11: The Kingdom of the Dead (personal response)

     Book 11 was an interesting book.  I was really confused, when all of a sudden Odysseus' story is stopped, but then Alcinous encourages for him to continue (page 261).  This really made me recognize the use of quotation marks.  Homer uses double marks when he is in the "present," while when Odysseus is telling of his journey in the past, he uses single quotation marks. We also find in this book the recollection of all of the men and women that he sees while in the underworld.  Some of these meetings are very informative for both the reader and Odysseus himself, but it was boring for me to read about many seemingly unimportant people.  I think there is an interesting connection between the Greek culture and why Homer includes these passages.  In some Greek artifacts, including Homer's The Iliad, there is a very meaningful view towards death.  If you die in war, for example, you were thought to have left the world with honor.  This is where the term "death before dishonor" was used.  In Book 11, I think Homer uses many lines as a time to pay respects to those who passed away, especially on the battlefield.  Yet it is also interesting to me why Arete and Alcinous are so amazed about these stories.  Alcinous does state that Odysseus "told [his] story with all a singer's skill," yet I was having trouble staying awake through these parts of recollection of deceased friends and comrades (line 417).

The Odyssey, Book 9, In the One-Eyed Giant's Cave

1)  Why does Odysseus say they sacked the city of Cicones?

Well this is the truth.  Odysseus and his men sacked and plundered the city, but then the defeated men rallied and forced our hero to flee.

2)  What does the lotus have on anyone who tastes it?

The lotus makes everyone forget their previous obligations and want to stay with the other lotus-eaters.  Odysseus' men even fall into their trap and our hero himself has to bring them back to the ships and set sail.

3)  What was unusual about the island that lies near the island of the Cyclops?

There is no human-life on the island next to the Cyclops' island, and since these one-eyed beasts don't have any ships, they can not reach the island.  The entire island is a habitat for large flocks of goats, while the sheep are with the Cyclops.

4)  What is the occupation of the Cyclops?

Well as we see from Odysseus' view, the main action of the Cyclops is tending to his sheep.  When Odysseus and his men are trapped in the Cyclop's cave, he has a routine.  First he milks his sheep, eats, then leads out his animals.  When he returns, he eats again and then falls asleep.

5)  What does Odysseus take with him when they go to investigate the Cyclop's cave?

Odysseus brings wine in a great goatskin and provisions in a leather sack.  At first they do not realize the danger of these giants.  They set up a fire first and eat the cheeses of the Cyclops.

6)  How many men does the Cyclops eat each time?

The Cyclops eats two men each time.  The book states that he was then "full," after he ate these men.  Homer also goes into great gruesome detail describing how the Cyclops prepares this meal.

7)  Why doesn't Odysseus just kill the Cyclops?

In planning for their escape from the cave, they have to somehow get through the opening of the den that is protected by a massive boulder.  There is no way, even with Odysseus' pride, that the men alone could move the boulder out of the way.  They need to have the Cyclops alive to really be able to escape.  So of course, Odysseus comes up with this brilliant plan to only blind the Cyclops.

8)  How does Odysseus trick the Cyclops with his name?

Because of the Cyclops' stupidity, Odysseus convinces the giant that his name is "Nobody."  This follows along with the theme of Odysseus trying to hide his identity, yet this name happens to also aid their escape.  When Odysseus and his men blind the giant, the Cyclops cries out to his other neighboring Cyclops, but when they hear "Nobody is attacking me," they do not worry.  It seems that this was just by accident, but none-the-less it worked.

9)  How is Odysseus able to blind the Cyclops?

Odysseus and his men blind the Cyclops by taking his club, roasting it in the embers of his fire and smashing it into the giant's eye.  This also is told on great detail.  I am just glad I had not ate yet.

10)  What boastful acts does Odysseus do which could set up his suffering later?

Well, when Odysseus talks, he takes credit for everything and how he conquered these people and how he blinded the Cyclops.  This boastful behavior usually will create many enemies, that could gain up against you and eventually brings you down.  Even after the victory over the Cyclops, Poseidon is upset even more with Odysseus.  It will be interesting to see what all does come out of his boastful acts.

The Odyssey, Book 7-8,

Book 7:  Why is Arete so greatly honored?

     The Greeks honored their gods very highly.  Each of the twelve major gods ruled over different actions and people, and so all of the gods were honored all of the time.  Apollo, god of music, was highly praised by the Greeks.  Arete, who Athena says "answers all their prayers," is the grand-daughter of Apollo (line 63) With this heavenly relation, Arete was naturally praised and honored very highly.  She is viewed "as a god" (line 82).  According to Pallas, she was also always taking care of her people, and if she hears Odysseus' wishes, they will be granted.  The epithet that is assigned to Arete is also interesting.  "The white-armed Queen" is Homer's description (line 269).  In other cultures you see art work depicting hard working men in darker skin tones.  A good explanation for this is because usually the more laborious tasks done in that time period happened outside in the sun.  The lighter-skined people found on these same artworks are usually women and elite because the work that they do, if any, is done inside the house.  This is one good detail to argue that Homer also believes that this Arete is so highly honored.  She is heavenly royalty and does not do as much work, especially outside.

Book 8:  What song does Demodocus sing?

     Demodocus first sings of the Trojan War and of the ingenious plan of the Trojan Horse.  Odysseus' successes were also mentioned at the end of the first song, but even this does not prevent the tears that are shed from the hero.  However, it is very much expected that we see this emotion when the stories of war are brought up around someone was a part of the action.  Probably bad memories, especially of friends that had died, were recalled. Yet why do we see a hero as great as Odysseus crying to such an extent?  We must remember, though, that with becoming such a hero, that usually means you have faced much more challenges then anyone else.  Some of these challenges were probably very emotional and difficult to overcome, in the example of Odysseus and his fallen comrades.  Yet the interesting thing in Demodocus' songs, and Odysseus' discussions with Athena as the girl and royalty, such as with Arete, is that these people do not seem to recognize that they are talking to THE Odysseus.  He never does introduce himself, and is often called stranger and guest.  These titles would not be used for such a hero. So it seems that he does not want to be bothered nor distracted by the glory that would be given to him if his identity was exposed.  This may give the reader an impression that he was a wise man, but this is only if this was truly the reason for not exposing his name.

The Odyssey, Book 6: The Princess and the Stranger

     After Odysseus comes out stark naked from the bushes, the one girl that helps him, is the same girl that stays with him for the rest of the book.  This Princess is different from all the other girls because she did not run away from him.  According to Homer, this is because Athena "planted courage within her heart" (line 152-153).  The clear-eyed Pallas, who has been trying to help Odysseus the entire time and even convinced Zeus to move him off Calypsos island, may have been trying to help him again. If she had fled with the rest of the girls, Odysseus would have been stuck, a helpless, naked man.  Even Nausicaa admits that after he washed up, she wished that he could be her husband (line 268-270).  Perhaps the view of the other Phaeacians is more accurate, that the princess is always looking for a foreign man to call her husband (page 177).  Perhaps when Odysseus comes out of the olive thicket, this man is a dream come true for the daughter of Alcinonus.

The Odyssey, Book 5: Nymph and Shipwreck

     In Homer's The Odyssey, there are many different repeating sections, phrases, or ideas.  In Book 5, we see an example of this repetition when Athena addresses the council of the gods, and begins "recalling Odysseus to their thoughts" (line 5).  Yet it seems that she is almost copying the beginning of Mentor's argument, found in Book 2, as he is addressing the absence of Odysseus as well.  The first seven lines are almost exactly the same.  The only difference is that in Mentor's, he is addressing the men of Ithaca, while in Athena's, she is talking to Zeus and the gods.  They both go on to praise Odysseus.  Then they continue on different paths, but say practically the same thing... we have forgotten about Odysseus.  This is interesting, though, that the gods have seem to come to a mortal level in their logic.  Usually, gods are able to see a mortal's future, while the humans can not see beyond today.  However, Mentor states his opinion to the assembly and then later, Athena goes on to say almost the same thing on Mount Olympus.  This is interesting that we finally see the mortals observing critical points before the gods, who can view anyone at anytime.

     Another case of repetition is also found in Book 5 again when we hear Athena complaining to Zeus a second time.  We first heard her in the very first book, Athens Inspires The Prince, as she addresses her father and says her "heart breaks for Odysseus" (line 57). Then in Book 5, the man she pities is still with Calypso.  She begs her father to do something.  She complains a second time because nothing was done to help Odysseus the first time.  This brings out the relationship between Athena and Odysseus.  It almost seems that Athena is almost a caregiver, who watches out for Odysseus.  

     Calypso's response to Hermes' orders are quite believable.  She states a very valid point, that many other goddesses have slept with mortal men, but now the gods are attacking her, when she has done nothing worse than Dawn, Artemis, or Demeter (page 156).  However she does not spend long considering what she should do about the orders.  She realizes that Zeus is the issuer of this order.  Therefore in her mind, she has no other choice.  This shows the level of power not just in the hands of the gods, but especially in Zeus himself.  

     The first example I can find from Book 1 of a deception, is the concern of Odysseus, when he finds out that he is being let free.  The connection between Odysseus being a hero and the fact that he has to wait for divine intervention to get him out of this situation is interesting.  The cautious hesitant response to that situation is also very natural for a mortal.  What is important to remember is that, even though Odysseus is a hero, he is still only a human.  Mortals cannot see into the future, so neither can Odysseus. Should he trust Calypso?

     In book 5, Odysseus himself refers to his Penelope as "wise," but "falls far short of you," when referring to Calypso (line 239).  Obviously a god that never dies nor ages will be more beautiful than an older woman who has been waiting for the return of his husband with their son for twenty years.  Yet Odysseus is smart in realizing that a wife isn't all for the beauty.  What the reader has to remember is that all Odysseus longed for on Calypso's island was to be home.  According to Odysseus, home is where his son and true loved one is.  Reaching his homeland also means his return to power.

     Odysseus' fight to reach land really begins when he is still on Calypso's island.  He first has to build some kind of craft to carry him across the water.  With a small amount of help from the lustrous goddess, this task was incredibly easy for Odysseus' skill.  Then he sets sail, and has a pretty smooth ride until the god of the earthquake, Poseidon, notices that he is almost to land.  So a great storm is sent form Poseidon, and the horrible winds and waves, completely destroy his boat.  So he floats for a little while and realizes that his best option is to try and swim ashore.  Yet once he reaches close to the shore, he finds that he has to cross a deadly reef.  The reason for the large danger of usually such a harmless marine terrain is that the waves would carry you and drag you along the rough coral and rocks.  With the magnitude of the storm, this unfortunate experience would lead to death.  And Odysseus begins to doubt that he will come out alive, yet he does with the help of the goddess Pallas.  This bright-eyed goddess saves Odysseus two separate times from such a death.  Why is Odysseus considered to be such a hero, if he wouldn't have even been alive to step ashore and claim this glory if it were not for the gods.  The more and more I read mythology, the more and more I think that your status and future in Ancient Greece would depend mostly on your relations to the gods and goddesses.