[Homer2009-1] Conference call this Monday, Nov. 2, 8pm EST -- RSVP + q's

[Beckwith Cynthia]

I will be on the call. Looking forward to it!
Cyndie

Sent from my iPhone

On Oct 30, 2009, at 7:03 AM, Andre Stipanovic <astipanovic at mail.hockaday.org 
 > wrote:

> Hi fellow readers--
>
> How's your reading of Books 9-16 going?  Any interesting  
> discoveries?  Feel free to post them--just "reply all" to this  
> email, so that it cc's
> homer2009-1 at readingodyssey.org.
>
> Just a reminder that our next call is coming up THIS Monday,  
> November 2, 8pm EST (7pm Central).
>
> Call-in information:
> Dial-in number: 1 (888) 350-0075
> Type in conference room number / passcode:
>      1100494#
>
> (The exact same info as last time)!
>
> Please drop me a note confirming:
> [ ]  Yes, I'll be on the call Monday.
> [ ]  No, I won't be able to make it.
>
> Looking forward to the call, very much!!  I really enjoyed the last  
> one!   I've included the questions we'll be looking at below.
> Happy reading, and talk to you all soon!
>
> Warm regards,
> Andre
> ------------------------------
> Study Guide Questions  - Discussion #2
>
> Books 9- 16 Reconciliations
>
> 9-12 Odysseus’ wanderings, “reconciling” Poseidon’s curse
>
> 1. Book 9 - wise leader?
> Odysseus is often referred to as “wily, crafty and wise.”  How  
> wise of
> a leader is he in the events of Book 9 concerning the Cicones (pp.
> 126-127), Lotus Eaters (127), and Cyclopes (128-140)?  How much of
> these hardships are Odysseus’ own fault?  How much of these hardshi 
> ps
> are pre-determined by prophecy?
>
>
> 2. Book 10 - crew morale?
> In Book 10, morale among Odysseus’ crew continues to decline.  How  
> do
> the events of Aeolus’ bag of winds (pp. 141-143), Laestrygonians
> (143-145), and Circe (145-157) contribute to the decline in morale of
> the crew?  What do we learn about Odysseus’ leadership and his
> cleverness?  Just when Odysseus is able to rescue his crew from
> Circe’s bewitchment, he is notified of a very dangerous voyage he mu 
> st
> make to Hades.  With Circe’s help, Odysseus must consult Tiresias t 
> he
> prophet.  Why? (see Books 10 & 11)
>
>
> 3. Book 11 - Hades
> In Book 11, the shades/ghosts of many reveal themselves to Odysseus at
> Acheron, the entrance to Hades.  Before talking even to his mother
> Anticleia, Odysseus makes sure to talk with Tiresias first.  Then
> Odysseus allows himself to talk to his mother and other famous Greek
> women who appear.  What is the significance to the plot of mentioning
> these various Greek heroines (pp. 164-167)?  As Odysseus continues to
> tell of Agamemnon, Achilles and other famous Greek men, what does this
> panorama of shades suggest about the Greek concept of Hades?  of
> Odysseus’ own fears?
>
>
> 4. Book 12 - Odysseus alone
> How do the series of adventures in Book 12 (Sirens, Scylla, Oxen of
> the Sun, Thunder & Lightning, Charybdis, Calypso) compare to the
> series of adventures (Books 9-10) before Odysseus’ trip to Hades (Bo 
> ok
> 11)?  Book 5 opens with Odysseus alone and Book 12 ends with Odysseus
> alone.  Now that Odysseus has come full circle in his flashbacks, what
> is the relatonship between Odysseus and his crew?  How are Odysseus’
> feelings compounded by the lack of a crew?
>
>
> 13-16 Odysseus’ return to his native land, “reconciling” with  
> Telemachus
>
>
> 5. Book 13 - Ithaka
> In Book 13, Poseidon is not happy with the Phaeacians for conveying
> Odysseus home safely.  Given what happens to the Phaeacians in
> response to Poseidon’s feelings, how is this action just?  What does
> Zeus think about it?  Why does Zeus have anything to do with this?
> Athena appears to Odysseus as he wakes up on his own island.  What
> part does she play in helping Odysseus?  As clever as Odysseus is, why
> would Athena’s help be necessary at this stage of the epic?
>
>
> 6. Book 14 - Hospitality revisted?
> In what ways does Book 14 illustrate the ancient custom of
> hospitality?  How does hospitality in this chapter compare with the
> hospitality of the Phaeacians (Books 8-13) or Nestor (Book 3) or
> Menelaus (Books 4 & 15)?  In Book 14, Odysseus tells two long tales
> about both his origin and an incident with a cloak during the Trojan
> War.  His stories are inspired by Athena, the goddess of wisdom.  How
> does Odysseus balance the level of fiction with the level of truth in
> his stories?
>
>
> 7. Book 15 - Piety
> In Book 15, both Odysseus’ and Telemachus’ piety (i.e. duty to the
> gods) is revealed in auguries (or bird signs).  How do the auguries
> support the intertwining of Odysseus’ and Telemachus’ lives? How  
> does
> Telemachus’ piety show with respect to Theoclymenus?  How does
> Eumaeus’ piety show with respect to Odysseus?  According to Greek
> thinking, is Telemachus’ and Odysseus’ reunion left to chance in a 
> ny
> way?  In many ways, this book is about origins.  Why do you suppose
> Homer chose this moment to unveil Eumaeus’ origin, Theoclymenus’
> origin and even information about Odysseus’ father, Laertes and
> mother, Anticleia?  What do Eumaeus’ and Theoclymenus’ stories  
> tell us
> about nobility as an inner quality or characteristic of a person?
>
>
> 8. Book 16 - Telemachus and Odysseus
> As dawn breaks at the opening of Book 16, Telemachus arrives safely to
> the swineherd’s hut.  Before the day is over, he will be re-united
> with his father Odysseus.   Having been only an infant when Odysseus
> left for Troy, how does Telemachus recognize his father? Why then
> does he still doubt his senses?  (see pp. 245-246).  How is Penelope 
> ’s
> character defined in this book?  Ignorant of Odysseus’ return, what  
> do
> Penelope’s actions reveal about her situation with the suitors?  How
> does Eurymachus’ pretending contrast with Penelope’s honesty  
> about the
> situation?  By the end of the day, Eumaeus returns to his hut and
> Telemachus asks about the plot against him by the suitors.  How do
> Telemachus’ and Odysseus’ pretending contrast with Eumaeus’  
> honesty
> about the situation?
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