Proem -beginning of an epic, ends when narrator says “begin our story”.
Andra moi ennepe Mousa (tell me muse of the man) Calliope – epic
Invocation – always appeal to a muse in epic.
The man – the general subject of epic, man.
Odyssey as instruction – fraught with journeys literal and figurative, use as instruction for our personal lives.
Kalypso – Odysseus is the only one not to return home. With Kalypso, has taken shipwrecked Odysseus, been with her 7 years, wants him for her husband.
Poseidon and his absence – Poseidon caused the shipwreck, all gods pity him except Poseidon. He is now with Ethiopians.
Council of the gods – Zeus begins the council by mentioning Aigisthos (Agamemnon sacrificed daughter to get favorable winds and brought home war prize, Cassndra. Disagreement between Agamemnon’s war prize. Clytemnestra (wife) got lonely and got with his cousin Aigisthos, who enflamed her anger against her husband, Clutemnestra combined to kill Agamemnon. Zeus blames death on Aigisthos. Orestes kills Clytemnestra and Aigisthos. (fate that gods must obey allows for some free will of man).
Mortals’ relationship with gods (e.g. Aigisthos) –
Athene’s championship of Odysseus – Aigisthos deserved death, but Odysseus doesn’t. Zeus says not me, it’s Poseidon. Poseidon is angry because Odysseus he blinded his son Polythemus (cyclopes). Zeus says everyone else can help though. Athena’s plan, Hermes sent to Kalypso to let Odysseus go, Athena goes to Ithaca to be with Tolemachus (ego building mission, inspire, confidence, send on way to maturity).
Telemachos’ xenia – offers dinner before anything else. Xenia is huge theme. Feast. Bard Cthemius begins to sing. Telemachos notices that suitors are enjoying things, but wants his dad there. Telemachos asks what Mentes story is, a friend of his father. Atena tells him he isn’t dead, but only delayed. Telemachos isn’t really excited (not convinced). That Odysseus will return, Tele says yes hes the son but I wish he weren’t. Athena asks about the suitors. Suitors not showing proper xenia. Dad isn’t here, they are suitors of Penelope, who has been stringing them along.
Athena’s news of Odysseus and plan for Telemachos – Athena tells Tele to tell the suitors to leave, send Penelope to her father (Icharus), father is the only one with right to give away to daughter, and may give the bridgifts away. Then they (the suitors) will have to go to Icharius’ house. Telemachos should go to Pylos an Sparta to find out news about dad. If alive, wait a year for him to return. If he is dead, then show mourning, build a tomb, and marry off Penelope. Athena knew or would bring about how the epic ends. After these matters are over, kill the suitors by treachery or by open attack. (In the mouth of a goddess). Shouldn’t cling to childhood, grow up, take action. (first several books follow Telemachos and his coming of age). The model offered is Orestes, came back after uncle had murdered father and killed him. Revenge owed by a son to his father. Mentes has to go. Telemachos asks to give him a gift. She doesn’t want a gift. (line 323, Telemachos understands the workings of the gods, gods come amongst men, he suspects that Mentes was a divinity). Goes to sit with suitors as Phemios sings song about returns of soldiers from Troy.
Phemios’ song of nostoi – about men returning from Troy
Introduction of Penelope – Penelope comes in during song, weeping.
Telemachos’ reply to Penelope – Tele says go to your room and cry, first time Telemachos stands up to anyone. Shows that Penelope is still sad after 10 years. Tele has taken Mentes words to heart and trying to be more of a man. Pen crys herself asleep.
And to the suitors – Tele tells them off too. The song is important, listen to the words. Tomorrow there will be an assembly where I will order you out of here, one way or another you will pay for what you have done. Two leaders of suitors: Antinoos, Eurymachos.
Antinoos – Some god’s gotten to you. Hope you don’t become king in Odysseus’ place, we would have to deal with that. Tele says he wants to be king, but its not in my power. But the lord in my own house is in my power.
Eurymachos – Kingship is in the hands of gods, who knows. Who was that stranger? Tele says nope, some guy, friend of father’s. Carry on, then go home, I’m going to bed. Goes to bed guided by Eurkleia.
Introfuction to Eurykleia – nurse maid, slave of Laertes, nurse to Odysseus as well as Telemachos. Deep commitment.
Telemachos’ assembly – Athena bestows grace upon him
Aigyptios – why assembly? Not since Odysseus went to Troy. Must have someone with at least Odysseus’ character calling this assembly. (must fill Odysseus’ shoes, son must become like the father, already Tele is showing change).
Scepter – scepter passed to Telemachos. Episode shows us how Bronze age and communal living and business was transacted. In order to keep order, the scepter is passed to the man who has the floor, whoever speaks without interruption, when done passed to someone who would like to speak or rebut. Value of elderly, wise. Telemachos holding the scepter is symbol of respect that towns people hold for him. Makes speech, suitors are problem, wasting resources, him and mom cannot prevail against them, people should be embarrassed that they are taking advantage of Tele’s youth. Calls on Zeus (justice) and Themis (right), in anger throws down the scepter, no one can reply to it. Pity of all who are assembled is roused.
Antinoos rebuttal – leader, bad guy. Comes forward and says it’s Pen’s fault for stringing us along.
Penelope’s ruse – she would chose one when she had completed weaving a burial shroud for Laertes. The suitors believed her. Pen unweaves the shroud every night. One of the maid’s let it slip (Melantho – her name is no good, means the black one). (Eurikleai means white glory).
Penelope’s wisdom – The suitors think it’s a good trick, men don’t look at tapestries. Penelope (means duck) is well known for wisdom, perfect consort for Odysseus (cleverest of Greek soldiers). Telemachos says he won’t forcer back to father’s house against her will. Calls again on the gods.
Omen: 2 eagles – appear in the sky and fight against eachother.
Halitherses (the seer): Odysseus returning; late return foretold – warning, Ody is alive and returning to they should really stop and go away. I told you guys after much suffering after all companions lost, not recognized, in 20th year, he would come home. Now it’s coming true.
Eurymachos’ rebuttal – He says no, birds mean nothing. Auguree (looking at birds to determine future). Augree means nothing. Huberous. Men know morethan gods do. Gods send birds. Insists Ody is dead, Halitherses is just stirring Tele up. Let Pen go back to father and get married and everything will be over. Tele says no, I want a ship and to go to Sparta and Pylos for news of Ody. Repeats the plan that Mentes gave him, if alive, wait a year, if dead build tomb.
Telemachos’ request
Mentor – says we should beashamed for letting this happen to Ody’s house.
Leokritos – you can’t help him anyway, too many suitors 180.
Athena as Mentor – Tele prays to Athena, not sure he can make the journey. Comes as Mentor, she says you can do this, go get ready, I’ll help you.
Telemachos prepares for journey – suitors offer help, he declines, wants to do it all ontheir own. He leaves them, they plot against him. Tele goes to the store room and asks for Eurykleia’s help
Euryleia – she is scared for him. He says it’s a god’s wil that he go, asks that she not tell his mother. Not instantly man, Pen shouldn’t really know.
Athena – Hires sailors for the journey, and hires a ship from Noemon. Puts suitors to sleep, calls Tele to go to the ship.
Noemon
Departure – Athena and Tele off in the boat.
Pylos
Nestor – king of Pylos, sacrificing to Poseidon. Showing proper duties to the gods. Tele and Athena join in. Hold a feast. Nestor Shows proper xenia
Xenia – after feast, Nestor asks who is tele. Looking for news about dad.
Nestor’s story – 70, fought in Troy, wise old man, voice of reason. Knows some men died. Knows there was disagreement btw Agamemnon and menelaos. Ag wanted to stay and sacrifice, Menal leaves immediately. Ody had stayed with Ag. They were separated. Heard about some people got back. Ag’s death brought up again. Tele says that orestes is the model for young men to follow. Nest says that if Athena is on your side, you’ll be fine.
Orestes the model
Why Menelaos could not save Agamemnon – Tele asks Nestor. Nestor says that Menelaos was not at home yet. Delay, burial, Egypt, 7 years later. When Menelaos did get back, there was nothing left to do. Encourages Tele to go see Menelaos to see if he knows more about Ody, offers a chariot and a son. Nestor offers to let Tele and companion to sleep in the palace with royal family, Athena says that’s nice for Tele, and Athena morphs into the form of a vulture and flies away. Nestor takes it as a good sign, obviously Athena.
Athena’s departure and its aftermath – Tele has devine favor. Sacrifices made to Athena, Tele awakened and bathed by a daughter of Nestor, another feast. Tele and Nestor’s son Peisitratos go off. Travel all day. The next day. Arrive in Sparta.
Peisistratos
Sparta – they come upon weddings and feasting, Hermoine (Helen and Menelaos’ daughter), and illigitamite son’s wedding as well.
Weddings – strangers arrive and are announced, asks them to come in. Tele and Peis give chariot to the stable men, bath and join the feast.
Admiration of Menelaos’ palace – Peis’ house must be like Zeus’ house, menelaos jumps up and says NO man can rival the gods. My house isn’t nearly that good. I am rich, but I am only rich after spending a lot of time away from home, and while away brother was killed, my stuff gives me no joy. Continues to grieve for his fellow soldiers, esp Ody. Menelaos notices that Tele starts to weep.
Helen – enters and sees Tele, recognizes him. The only wife and mother so far (aside from Pen), happy that her husb is back, normal peace time activities, holding wedding. From character point of view Homer is trying to build us up with a dif picture of Helen as the every woman. Clytomnestra is bad wife, Pen is good wife. Peis says yet, it is him. Men says he would have honored Ody if he had returned. Everyone starts getting weepy. Peis says, lets get on with the visit. Eat, feast. Then Helen knowingthe emotional nature of theme, puts a drug in the men’s wine bowls so that they will not weep anymore. Then tells stories.
Drug against weeping
Story of Odysseus entering Troy in disguise – went on a spy mission, disgused himself in Troy, she knew it was him.
Testing the Trojan horse – Mena says, oh you are sneaky too, calling out to men in the horse. Tele is still under the cloud of pessimism, dad was clever but it didn’t get him home. They go to bed. Mena asks why are you here, Tele wants news of his father. Mena tells about what happened to himself. Got ship wrecked, on Pharos for 20 days with fellow sailors. Wouldn’t eat, the daughter of Proteus, a sea goddess named Eidothea came and asked what his problem was and what help he needed. Mena told her that he offended the gods somehow. Ask Proteus for help, but he is a shapeshifter and old men in the sea. You have to hold him down, he tries to change shapes on you, hold on until he gives in. Plan to help, hide in seal skins. Proteus suns himself with some seals, gives them ambrosia for their noses so they cant smell the seal stink. They go to the lounging spot, holds Proteus, Should have sacrificed to Zeus, can remedy if he goes to Egypt and does it. Pharos is now part of Egypt.
Menelaos’ story
Pharos
Eidothea
Proteus
Sacrifice necessary
Nostoi of others – Ajax the lesser was killed by lightening because he raped Cassandra, Agamemnon is dead. Proteus tells Mena that Aigisthues had ambushed Agamemnon and convincedthem to join, and then killed Agamemnon and his men, non of Aigistheus men survived either.
Odysseus with Kalypso – with no ships or men
Menalaos destiny – bound to go to the isles of the Blessed, husband of Helen, son in law of Zeus.
Menelaos xenia – invites tele to stay a while. Will take a gift, but no horses. Ithica is small rocky island. Gives him instead a mixing bowl.
Meanwhile, back in Ithica
Noemon suprises the suitors – asks about his boat. Suitors didn’t know Tele had already left. They are mad.
Antinoos plots against Telemachos – Anti thinks Tele is too big for britches, says they told him not to. Thinks they should ambush Tele on his way back.
Medon informs Penelope – Medon the herald, neutral character, works for the suitors on occasion. Some loyalty to house of Ody as well. Tells Pen about the planned ambush. Pen can’t comprehend it, didn’t know Tele was gone.
Penelope’s reaction – worried immensely, tries to make orders to see to Tele’s safety, tries to send a messenger to father, nurse says don’t do it. Calm down. Pen makes prayer to Athena for Tele’s safety. Antinoos arranges for the ambush, and set off to hide in theharbor for Tele.
Penelope’s dream – sick with worry, Athena sends her a dream, to reassure her. Athena appears as Pen’s sister Iptheme, and tells her that Athena is taking care of tele and will protect him. What about Ody, Iptheme can’t say. Pen sleeps, suitors lye in wait.
Council of the gods – Athena says, why isn’t Ody home? Says that suitors are waiting to ambush Tele. Zeus says fine, we will follow your plan, you save Tele, Hermes will go to Calypso. Hermes had been delayed. Now we are looking at Ody. Zeus forshadows that Ody will come back by way of Schyria
Hermes mission – arrives at Kalypso’s island. Ody is weeping (7 years). A man who very much wants to come home. Hermes tells Kaly to send Ody back. Kalypso objects about the double standard. Cannot avoid the will of Zeus, concents. Kalypso is minor goddess, sea goddess associated with sorcery. Kalypso means I will hide. Hermes leaves and informs Ody that he can go and build a raft. Ody thinks it’s a trick, but she swears by the river Styx. He says oh okay. Oath by river Styx is strongest oath a god can make, if broken, cease to be a god or goddess. They eat, build a boat. She says he can stay if he wants, offers immortality, does not accept. Eternal youth is not enough. Builds raft for 5 days, heads east, Sees Scyria, Poseidon sees him before he can arrive. Poseidon will not let him get home.
Odysseus on his way
Poseidon intervenes – sends powerful thunderstorm, thinks he will die, raft is wrecked
Ino/Leukothea – Leukothea sees him. (mortal name Ino, daughter of Kenus and sister of Simale, Simale mated with Zeus and was killed, fetus sewn into Zeus thigh, born Dionysus. Ino appointed to be nurse maid of Dion, Ino went on to marry king later, Othamus. Hera hates Zeus’ illegitimate children, and hated anyone who had benefited Dionysus, Ino fell into Hera’s wrath. Punsihment made Ino and Othamus go mad. One son stayed with Othamus and he killed him, Ino minded to kill the younger son. Ino managed to recover her sanity and realized and held her hand. Othamus came after him anyway. Ino scooped up son and ran to cliff. Othamus followed. Ino called for protection from gods and dove into the sea. When she struck the sea, heard prayer and morphed Ino into the goddess into Leukotheo, son into sea god Polymon. She is probably a merperson.
Leukothea comes to Ody in the guise of a sea bird a gannet. Tells Ody to take off his clothes and swim for it. Also gives him her veil, to wrap himself which will protect him. At first he decides to stay with the raft as long as he can, Poseidon still after him, sends a massive wave, Ody lets go.
Athena – Calms the storm, swims for 3 days. On third day he sees land approaches the island but it is rocky, no where to wash up upon, when he tries he is swept off the rocks back to sea. Swims about and notices mouth of river. Prays to river god to grant save arrival.
Supplication of the river – River so appeased allows him to come into the river. Takes off the veil, and makes his way ashore. Only place to rest is under some shrubs. Falls instantly to sleep.
History of Phaiakians – Schyria inhabited by Phaiakians
Athena and Nausikaa – Athena appears in a dream to Nausikka the princess of Phaiakians, tells her to go wash her clothes, she is at an age to get married, need clean clothes. People who are dear to Poseidon, descended from sea gods and favored by them.
Nausikka’s chores – Nausikaa and her maids go off to wash the clothes of all people of the palace, washes the clothes, eat and then play ball. Miss a catch, which she does the other girls shout, awaken Ody. Ody wakes up, doesn’t consider his nakedness, emerges and frightens the teenagers, all runa way except Nausikaa.
Discovery of Ody – Nausikaa stands there, Ody falls on his knees and clasps her knees with his hands, formal hikesia (supplication). Flatters her, tells his story, asks her to show him the way into town and give him something to cover himself with. Nausikaa grants him his requests, tells who she is, and assures him, calls back the girls, give him food and drink and bath him, clothes, oil his body. When emerges from the river, Athena enhances him with grace.
Athena’s help – he comes out looking fantastic. Nausikaa is impressed (line 242), he resembles the gods. Starts to fall in love with the stranger. Nausikaa gives him orders.
Nausikka’s plan – must follow behind the wagon until reaching the city, to avoid scandal and gossip he must wait in the grove until they are in palace, then once they are away he can come in the palace. Once inside she says not to ask dad, but ask mom Arete, clasp her knees, make supplication, and she will grant any request you make. They take off, Ody hides in the grove and prays to Athena.
Heather Goes to College 
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