Is the Slaughter Justified?

In Book 22 Odysseus with the aid of his son and loyal servants slaughters all the suitors (despite the pleas of mercy from some of them), all the maids, and even the priest Leodes. Are these killings justified? Could he have punished them wihout killing them? Could he have driven them from the house. Are some of the killings justified, but others not? What about the people they spared (Phemius and Medon) -- what was Telemachus' reasoning? Was it wise or prudent to kill them all?

I've Got a Bad Feeling About This . . .

Throughout the Odyssey we encounter omens and prophesies. For example, Penelope dreams about twenty geese killed by an eagle (as reported in Book 19) and Theoclymenus has a vision (in Book 20) that all the suitors will be dead. Are these omens or prophesies proof that the characters' actions are predestined? Or are these merely predictions, given what we know about the characters? Why are they important?

She Loves Me, She Loves Me Not, . . .

In Book 19, Penelope shares an intimate moment with her guest, Odysseus disguised as a beggar. From the things they discuss is there any hint that Penelope suspects the beggar is her long lost husband? Does Odysseus think she may suspect him? Why doesn't he openly reveal his identity? Does he still doubt her fidelity, her loyalty or her love?

What Has Odysseus Learned?

In Book 18, Odysseus, still disguised as a beggar, “[a]nd the one who knew the world” (144), comments to one of the kinder suitors:

So I will tell you something. Listen. Listen closely.
Of all that breathes and crawls across the earth,
our mother earth breeds nothing feebler than a man.
So long as the gods grant him power, spring in his knees,
he thinks he will never suffer affliction down the years.
But then, when the happy gods bring on the long hard times,
bear them he must, against his will, and steel his heart.
Our lives, our mood and mind as we pass across the earth
turn as the days turn . .
as the father or men and gods makes each day dawn.
I, too, seemed destined to be a man of fortune once
and a wild wicked swath I cut, indulged my lust for violence,
staking all on my father and my brothers.
Look at me now.
And so, I say, let no man be lawless all his life,
just take in peace what gifts the gods will send (18.149-63)


What do the lines above reveal about the impact of Odysseus own journey on him? What has he learned? What insights has he gained? What values does he advocate? What other episodes in the poem up to this point contribute to the viewpoint expressed by Odysseus in these lines? Is Odysseus' journey similar or different to Telemachus' journey to manhood?

Deceit & Distrust

Since Odysseus arrived home in Ithaca in Book 13 he had deceived several people, even close family members, about his true identity, including Eumaeus, Telemachus (briefly) and even Penelope. What is the value of deception, cunning, and trickery in Mycenaean society? Is it a necessary survival skill? A wise precaution after 20 years away? Or does it have a cost? Is there a down side to Odysseus' proclivity for distrust?

Argos

In Book 17 Odysseus, disguised as a beggar, encounters his faithful dog Argos, flea-infested and laying on a pile a dung. At the moment the dog recognizes his master he dies. What is the significance of this incident? Another chink in the emotional armor of Odysseus? Another example of the abuse that loyal servants of Odysseus must endure under the suitors? An example of the subservient status of animals in the world of the Odyssey? Are animals the play things, pawns, and victims of humans in the same way that we humans are the playthings of the gods.

Odysseus v. Rama (v. Gilgamesh?)

Both the Odyssey and the Ramayana feature a hero who suffers a series of misfortunes. They both are separated from their wives and risk losing them to another man. Both heroes also undertake a journey. How are Odysseus and Rama similar? How are they different? In what ways are their journeys similar or different? How does Gilgamesh and his journey fit into this picture?

In Media Res: Narrative vs. Chronological Order

In class we observed the narrative order of the Odyssey, the order the event are retold in the epic, are different from the chronological order, the order the events occur in time. The epic begins in media res, literally in the middle of things. What is ONE reason that the story begins in this way? Why doesn't the story begin with Odysseus leaving Troy?

Seductresses in The Odyssey

In The Odyssey women play a big role in that they are most of the time seductresses what does this show about the book. Give an example of a seductress and what she does to to another character. Possibilities are Calypso, Circe or even Sirens.

The Sirens' Song

In Book 12 we learn about the siren's song that is irresistible to men but lures them to their doom. Odysseus orders his men to cover their ears with bee's wax to avoid the deadly voices. He himself wants to hear it, but orders his men to lash him to the mast and refuse any request to free him. Does this episode remind you of anyone else's journey? Can you make connections with other literary characters, historical actors or people you know? Could this incident be a metaphor for the journey of our life?

"The Great Teller of Tales"

At the beginning of Book 9, just before he tells the Phaeacians about his ill-fated journey, Odysseus is described as "the great teller of tales." In a sense, then, Odysseus is bard. What are his motives in telling his tale? Does he have the same motives as other bards in the story (such as Demodocus in Book 8)? Does his tale serve the same purpose or a different one? Finally, we know that Odysseus is a master of deceit and guile who concocted the scheme for the Tojan Horse. Should we take his story of one-eyed monsters and visits to the underworld at face value? Is there reason to believe his story is a fabrication?

Fame -- I Want to Live Forever

Odysseus demonstrates a passionate desire for kleos or fame through much of the Odyssey. Consider, for example, his taunting Polyphemus with his name as he escapes his island (and there are other examples) Yet, is it presented as an unequivocally good pursuit? Does the search for kleos help or hinder his journey? What about situations in which he disguises his identity? What is the importance of kleos to Odysseus and the Odyssey (the two may not be the same answer)?

I'll Follow You to Hell and Back: Odysseus' Leadership

Odysseus leaves Troy with nine ships full of men. By the time he is rescued by Calypso, however, all his men have perished. Furthemore, it takes him a full ten years to find his way home. Is Odysseus a good leader who is just cursed by the gods? A good leader with a mutinous crew? Or is he a bad leader who causes his own problems because of misplaced ideals or poor leadership skills? Or perhaps somewhere in between or none of the above? Explain your answer using examples from the text to support your point.

Fathers and Sons

In the first four books of the Odyssey, Telemachus journeys to Pylos and Sparta in search of news of his father, Odysseus. Along the way he meets Nestor and his son Pisisastros, Menelaus and one of his sons and hears the story of Agamemnon and his son Orestes. Why do we have all these fathers and sons? Is there an implicit comparison to Telemachus and his situation? How does this relate to what is happening in Ithaca? Is there any connection to Odysseus's rejection of immortality in the next book? What is the significance of the the father-son relationship in the epic?

The Guest-Host Relationship

Thus far in the Odyssey, both Telemachus and Odysseus have been strangers in a strange land. What kind of reception did they receive? What does this reception tell us about the duties of a host? Do guests have a corresponding duty? What is the ideal guest-host relationship?

Competition in Greek Society

While reading The Odyssey, we can see that the epic poem continually alludes to the competitive nature of society in Ancient Greece. The sole objective of life in Greece is to build a reputation for one’s self and to “make something of one’s self”. How does this type of mindset lead to a competitive lifestyle throughout Greece? How does this lifestyle shape the nature of the lives of Greek heroes such as Odysseus? Is competition a beneficial/ productive aspect of society or is it a negative aspect of society? And finally, how is this aspect of Greek society similar to modern day views on life such as American Capitalism? Feel free to take this prompt any direction you would like.

Odysseus's Character

So then,
royal son of Laertes, Odysseus, man of exploits,
still eager to leave at once and hurry back
to your own home, your beloved native land?
Good luck to you, even so. Farewell!
But if you only knew, down deep, what pains
are fated to fill your cup before you reach that shore,
you'd stay right her, preside in our house with me
and be immortal. Much as you long to see your wife,
the one you pine for all your days. . . and yet
I just might claim to be nothing less than she,
neither in face nor figure. Hardly right, is it,
for mortal woman to rival immortal goddess?
How, in build? in beauty?(Book 5.223-247)

To this statement Odysseus replies that he does not want to stay with Calypso. What does this show not only about Calypso but Odysseus's character?