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

[Nan Okarma]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Andre Stipanovic" <astipanovic at mail.hockaday.org> 
To: homer2009-1 at readingodyssey.org 
Sent: Friday, October 30, 2009 10:03:21 AM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern 
Subject: [Homer2009-1] Conference call this Monday, Nov. 2, 8pm EST -- RSVP + q's 


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: 
[x ] 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 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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