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The Odyssey Books 1-4
An Uncertain Identity
Prince Telemachus is the first human character whom the reader meets
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Telemachus is too young, too untested, too unsure to have a firmly established sense of identity
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The goddess Athena appears to him in the form of a family friend, a captain named Mentes
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Making Personal Connections
How would you feel and what would you do if you were in Telemachus’ position?
If I were in Telemachus’ position I would feel pretty furious
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Would you feel capable of taking the initiative to rid the house of the suitors? Or would you, like Telemachus,
feel powerless and resort to fantasies about how you would fight the suitors if you could?
It’s hard to tell, with my current background I think I would feel capable of taking initiative, but if I
had grown up fatherless I might not feel as prepared for something like that
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When I was too short to reach the door handles I managed to get “locked” out many times and I
thought that I would never be able to get in
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Do you think of yourself more in terms of being a child or of being an adult?
I am at an in between area where I feel I am much like an adult, yet I am not ready to completely
accept the responsibilities of being an adult
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Key Features of the Odyssey Books 1-4:
Stock Epithets: A descriptive word or phrase which an author uses to regularly describe a person or an
object
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Write one about yourself:
Greek Values and Beliefs:
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Honoring the gods
Hubris was considered one of the gravest sins of the Greek world – believing oneself to be above the gods, or
failing to properly honor the gods, brings punishment down upon the offender
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After setting sail “they set up bowls and brimmed them high with wine and poured libations out to the
everlasting gods” (Homer 2
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Telemachus’ crew honors the gods with a gift of wine
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Telemachus says to Mentes “stay longer, keen as you are to sail, so you can bathe and rest and lift your
spirits, then go back to your ship, delighted with a gift” (Homer 1
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When meeting Mentes he knew
Mentes “was a god, he knew it well” (Homer 1
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3
...
5-6)
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List 2 examples of people who do NOT properly honor the gods, and the consequences of those actions:
1
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200), he
is disrespecting a message sent from Zeus
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2
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391-94)
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The Behavior of Civilized Greeks
Focus on the descriptions of the palaces of Nestor and Menelaus
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445)
“Chambers deep within his lofty house” (Homer 3
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18)
What tone (writer’s attitude toward subject matter) is used to describe these homes? How does Homer’s
word choice (L2) help to illustrate Greek values (L4)?
The author’s tone is excited yet maintains a calmness, like someone in modern times might talk
about something expensive that they bought
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The use of words like “feasted” and “echoing” helps in demonstrating the enormity of what they do for
things that may seem like every day encounters, such as having a visitor over
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Focus on the manners of hosts and guests
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:
“Just think of the hospitality we enjoyed at the hands of other men before we made it home” (Homer 4
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And bring them in, strangers, guests, to share our flowering feast” (Homer 4
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48-49)
What tone is used to describe the hosts’ hospitality (xenia)? How does Homer’s word choice (L2) help to
illustrate the importance of hospitality in Greek culture (L4)?
The tone used to describe hospitality is a friendly voice
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The use
of the word feast gives an idea that nothing is taken lightly with guest, always to the extreme
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•
The Belief in Omens and Prophecies
What are some of the omens or prophecies described in Books 1-4?
One of the first was that derived from the eagles sent down by Zeus, which says the Odysseus will
return soon and remove the suitors from his home
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In which instances do the characters have trouble deciphering the omens and prophecies?
In the instance of Menelaus’ journey home he had trouble deciphering the prophecy
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What comparisons do they make between Telemachus and his father?
One of the first things they say is the confidence that both him and his father possessed in speech,
they also say he is clever like his father, and sometimes referenced is the physical appearance where they
look the same in the hands, feet, and face
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“[Telemachus’] words have all [Odysseus’] wisdom
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” (Homer 4
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“And you, my friend how tall and handsome I see you now” (Homer 3
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How do you think these comparisons will affect
Telemachus?
I think because of how amazing Telemachus is told Odysseus is, and how similar they are,
Telemachus will have more courage and be inspired to continue with renewed faith and confidence
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Identify these characters and their roles:
Telemachus Yearns/Searches for his ever
Suitors
missing father so he will not
need to continue fending of
suitors
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Constantly bent on marrying Penelope,
since Odysseus appears to have died
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A very present suitor
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Nestor
King of Pylos, fought alongside
Odysseus
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Penelope Wife of Odysseus
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Menalaos
King of Sparta, banished to
Egypt for sometime, fought
alongside Odysseus
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Athena
Gives much needed assistance
to both Odysseus and
Telemachus
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What happened to Agamemnon when he returned from the Trojan War? Why might his situation relate to
Odysseus?
His wife’s new husband set a trap for him and killed him
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What do you learn about Odysseus based on what other people say about him or how they react to
his absence (i
...
through indirect characterization)?
Based on what others say it can be said that Odysseus was an amazing warrior, more
cunning than most of Greece, brave, confident, and strong
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