[Homer2009-1] Study Guide Questions for Books 9-16

[Andre Stipanovic]

Dear fellow readers,
I hope you are enjoying reading Homer in the autumn.  Please look over the
study guide questions listed below for our next section of the Odyssey. 
These questions are to help you navigate the reading and get you thinking
about it.  They are also posted on the Reading Odyssey website.  
We will be discussing Books 9-16 on Monday November 2 @8pm EST.  The phone
# to call in is:  1-888-350-0075 with passcode:  1100494#.  Feel free to
email me and the group with your questions, observations and comments in
the next two weeks as we approach our next conference call.  I will be
contacting some of you to 'take on a question' for our discussion if you
are willing.  Thanks for your enthusiasm and happy reading!
Andre

Discussion #2 (Lombardo translation pp. 125-255)
Books 9- 16 Reconciliations
9-12 Odysseus’ wanderings, “reconciling” Poseidon’s curse
13-16 Odysseus’ return to his native land, “reconciling” with Telemachus

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 hardships  
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 must  
make to Hades.  With Circe’s help, Odysseus must consult Tiresias the  
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 (Book  
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 any  
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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