The Odyssey Themes
The main themes in The Odyssey are hospitality, loyalty, and deception and dissimulation.
- Hospitality: The importance of the code of hospitality in ancient Greek society is stressed throughout The Odyssey, with Odysseus relying on a variety of hosts in order to survive his journey home.
- Loyalty: The virtue of loyalty is embodied in Penelope, Odysseus’s wife, who faithfully awaits his return for twenty years, as well as in Eumaeus, the swineherd.
- Deception and dissimulation: Odysseus relies on his craftiness, his ability to deceive others and manipulate situations to his advantage, both during his journey and when he returns to Ithaca in disguise.
Hospitality
In The Odyssey, hospitality is a virtue which is demonstrated time and time again, as Odysseus wanders far from home, stumbling on the homes of others countless times. Throughout the tale, he consistently relies on the hospitality of strangers, taking for granted that hosts have a responsibility to entertain whoever knocks at their door. In the Homeric universe, there are certain customs revolving around hospitality, such as that of providing one’s guest with food and drink before asking questions. Another custom is that of furnishing one’s guests with gifts before sending them on their way.
Hospitality also prevails as a moral code which separates god-fearing mortals from heathens. This can be seen in books 15 to 16, when Odysseus, disguised as a beggar, knocks on the door of the swineherd Eumaeus and asks for food and shelter. Eumaeus happily obliges, stating that beggars and wanderers are tests of virtue from the gods. This is in contrast with book 9, when Odysseus ventures into the Cyclops Polyphemus’s cave and asks him to show him and his men kindness. Polyphemus scoffs at Odysseus’s request, as he has no respect for the laws of gods and men. In fact, Odysseus’s encounter with Polyphemus is a gruesome subversion of the customs and conventions of hospitality. Polyphemus does not provide them with food and drink, as is custom; rather, he makes Odysseus’s men his food. Hosts are also expected to provide their guests with splendid gifts. What Polyphemus does, however, is give Odysseus the gift of promising to eat him last.
Another subversion of hospitality can be seen in the unfortunate fate of Agamemnon, which is recounted and referenced several times in The Odyssey. When Agamemnon and his men return to Argos from their victory at Troy, they are slaughtered in the middle of a banquet by Agamemnon’s unfaithful wife, Clytemnestra, and her lover, Aegisthus. This is one of the ways in which Agamemnon serves as a foil to Odysseus, who fears that the same fate may await him upon his return. Odysseus subverts Agamemnon’s fate, however, by being the one to slaughter the wicked suitors in the middle of their feasting.
Loyalty
The Odyssey elevates loyalty as one of the noblest virtues. Eumaeus, one of the most loyal characters in the poem, is the only character Homer addresses directly and, indeed, lovingly. In contrast, Odysseus’s servants who have betrayed him in his absence are met with swift retribution. This includes the goatherd Melanthius, who has befriended the wicked suitors, and the maidservant Melantho, who regularly sleeps with the suitor Eurymachus. Some of Odysseus’s maidservants also betrayed Penelope in Odysseus’s absence, as they revealed to the suitors Penelope’s disingenuous plot to keep them at bay with her weaving of Laertes’s shroud. After Odysseus slaughters the suitors, he orders the execution of all of these servants.
Odysseus’s shipmates are also punished in all the instances in which they exhibit disloyalty to their master, Odysseus. One of these instances is when they raid Ismarus against Odysseus’s wishes and so are massacred by the Ciconian forces. Another is when they open Aeolus’s ox-skin pouch of winds when Odysseus is asleep, thwarting their journey homeward. Their gravest disobedience, however, is slaughtering one of Helios’s cattle, which Odysseus had made them swear not to do. This invokes the gods’ wrath, and all of Odysseus’s men subsequently perish in a great storm sent by Zeus.
The theme of loyalty, however, is most prominently seen in the character of Odysseus’s wife, Penelope. Throughout the poem, Penelope emphasizes her longing for her husband’s return and the fact that she has no desire to remarry. Even when Eurycleia joyfully informs her that Odysseus has returned and slaughtered all the suitors, Penelope remains cautious. This is because she knows that the gods might be testing her loyalty as a wife. In the Homeric universe, wives are judged more harshly than their husbands, as seen in the case of Clytemnestra, who is repeatedly condemned by different characters for her infidelity. Unlike Clytemnestra, Penelope remains faithful and loyal to Odysseus for almost two decades. In contrast, Odysseus has affairs with Circe and Calypso and yet is not condemned or judged harshly for it. It is fitting, therefore, that Penelope sees fit to test Odysseus before embracing him. Even with the suitors dead and Odysseus standing before her, she still refuses to believe he has returned. When she hints that their marriage bed has been moved, Odysseus loses his composure, one of the only times he does so in the poem. In the end, therefore, Penelope proves to be Odysseus’s equal in wit. It is only after Odysseus reveals his knowledge of their marriage bed that Penelope tearfully reunites with her husband.
Deception and Dissimulation
In many ways, Odysseus is a deviation from other classical heroes such as Heracles and Achilles. This is because he does not rely on brute strength alone, even though he possesses it, as evidenced when he strings the great bow and slaughters the suitors in the main hall. Instead, Odysseus chooses to rely on deception and dissimulation. This is one of the ways in which he is comparable to a god. In fact, Athena even lovingly compares Odysseus to herself because of his wit and cunning.
In The Odyssey, Odysseus is repeatedly forced to forego brute force in favor of deception and dissimulation. This is seen in his encounter with the Cyclops Polyphemus, as Odysseus immediately recognizes that Polyphemus is far too strong to be beaten in direct battle. One of the most famous events of The Odyssey is when Odysseus fools Polyphemus into thinking he is “nobody,” thus successfully escaping with his men from Polyphemus’s cave. This heroism is undone by his pride, however, as he is unable to resist revealing his true name to Polyphemus in the end. This pride leads Poseidon to curse Odysseus and his journey homeward.
In the latter half of The Odyssey, Odysseus is portrayed as having learned to swallow his pride. When he disguises himself as a beggar on Ithaca, the suitors aggressively insult and assault him. Odysseus tempers his pride, however, and commits fully to his disguise. This is how he is able to successfully slaughter the suitors and reclaim his estate.
Expert Q&A
What does the quote "Where shall a man find sweetness to surpass his own home and his parents? In far lands he shall not, though he find a house of gold" from The Odyssey mean?
2 Educator Answers
In book 9, Odysseus is explaining that he was held captive by the "lustrous goddess" Calypso, as well as by Circe, the "bewitching queen of Aeaea." Obviously, these immortal women are incredibly beautiful, and they would have been quite happy to keep Odysseus with them, as their lover, forever. However, he suggests that—no matter where he was or what beautiful goddess he was with—he has never forgotten his home and family back in Ithaca. He says that even if a man leaves home and finds a place that seems better or more lovely, it can never, ever, take the place of his home in his heart. No matter what beauty or luxury he finds abroad, it can never equal the beauty of his own home and family.
Odysseus' remark, which he makes on the island of Calypso, is perhaps one of the driving forces in his journey. Despite all of the exciting adventures he has and people (not to mention, goddesses) he meets, Odysseus yearns to return to Ithaca, his home. Nowhere else will he find happiness but at home where he can be reunited with his family, including his father, the only parent still surviving. Odysseus could have chosen to remain at any number of places where he was treated lavishly, but he continues his quest for home, even daring to visit the Land of the Dead to ask Tiresias for directions. He makes this comment shortly before he is allowed to leave Ogygia; soon after the Phaeacians will take him back to Ithaca. Until he is home again, Odysseus will not be satisfied.
His words remind readers of The Odyssey of the importance of home and family.
What does Maron's encounter in The Odyssey reveal about ancient Greek hospitality?
3 Educator Answers
The description of Maro, son of Euanthes, occurs in Book 9 of Homer's Odyssey, a book mainly devoted to Odysseus' encounter with the Cyclops Polyphemus. As mentioned above, the notion of "xenia" or hospitality to strangers and reciprocal gift exchange was a key element in Greek ethics. Zeus is sometimes referred to as the "god of strangers" and responsible for rewarding those who follow the dictates of xenia and punishing those who do not.
In contrast to Maro, whose gifts form the basis of a civilized interaction between host and stranger, Polyphemus violates the dictates of hospitality by killing and eating his guests. The detail that it is Maro's wine Odysseus uses to get Polyphemus drunk links the example of the positive hospitality of Maro to the negative one of Polyphemus.
In blinding Polyphemus, however, Odysseus himself violates the rules of hospitality, thus provoking the revenge of Poseidon.
The encounter with Maron shows just how important hospitality (also called xenia, meaning roughly the duty of a host to a guest) is to the Greeks. They spare his life when they are destroying the entire rest of the city; he gives them wine in return. An exchange of gifts or services binds the two parties, and will bind their offspring as well. They are strangers no longer.
What does the encounter with Maron reveal about ancient Greek attitudes toward hospitality?
One important theme throughout Greek mythology is the hospitality theme. Gods and goddesses could take the form/shape of anything and could often pose as people. Greeks knew to be very hospitable to any strangers and/or beggars in case they were gods. They would offer them food, drink, and if needed they would offer clothing. After the stranger was comfortable, the host would begin asking questions. Strangers and beggars were always taken in and given what they needed because of this rule. One example from the Odyssey that goes against this rule is when Odysseus encounters Polyphemus. Because he is the son of Poseidon, he feels he can get away with doing as he pleases.
What's a thesis statement for an essay on xenia and respect for gods in Homer's Odyssey?
1 Educator Answer
One of the dominant themes in Homer's Odyssey is found within the Greek word, xenia, which is translated as "hospitality" or "guest-friendship." Throughout Homer's epic poem, we find relationships between hosts and guests depicted. Unlike the host-guest relationship in modern American society, in which polite guests often bring their hosts a gift, in Homeric society it was customary for the host to provide the guest with a gift. Furthermore, unlike modern American society, where religion ordinarily does not play a role in the host-guest relationship, in Greek culture, the host-guest relationship was overseen by the gods. Thus, in Odyssey 9, the title character tells the epic's worst host, the Cyclops:
Good sir, do not refuse us: respect the gods. We are suppliants and Zeus protects visitors and suppliants, Zeus the god of guests, who follows the steps of sacred travellers. (A.S. Kline translation)
Given Odysseus' remark here, we can see that in Homer's epic religion and hospitality are intertwined. Given this, we can explore how Odysseus' numerous encounters with various hosts (e.g., the Cyclops, the Phaeacians, Eumaeus) throughout the epic teach him how hosts should behave and reinforce to him why he is justified in destroying the Suitors who infest his house on Ithaca.
Why is hospitality important in Homer's Odyssey? Give examples of characters who honor and abuse it.
1 Educator Answer
Quick answer:
Hospitality was an important virtue during the time of Homer. A person's ability to abide the laws of hospitality determined nobility and social standing. The relationship between guest and host was very important in both religious and moral standards. Those who were considered noble were expected to be good hosts. However, the law of hospitality did not just make demands of the host, but also of the guest. It was expected that the guest would act honorably to the host while in his household.Hospitality is...
...the relationship between guest and host...this includes the reception and entertainment of guests, visitors, or strangers...
The concept hospitality (known as "xenia") is an ancient one— still very important in many cultures today.
Extending hospitality to someone was ritualistic in nature. It not only referred to feeding and housing a guest, but also in providing him protection from harm while under one's roof—even if the guest is an archenemy.
In Greek society a person's ability to abide the laws to hospitality determined nobility and social standing.
Those who were considered noble were expected to be good hosts. However, the law of hospitality did not just make demands of the host, but also of the guest. It was expected that the guest would act honorably to the host while in his household.
The Greek god Zeus...was the god of, among other things, travelers. [So there was a] religious obligation to be hospitable to travelers, but guests also had responsibilities, beyond reciprocating hospitality.
Being hospitable was not only one's moral obligation, but it was also a religious obligation. In Shakespeare's Macbeth, when Macbeth murders Duncan (his King), of all the other reasons he had not to kill the King, the biggest was that Duncan was there in trust as a visitor, believing he was safe in Macbeth's home. We see this theme again in Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist. When Santiago is without food or money, he asks a crystal merchant for a job. The merchant explains that his religion required him to help Santiago before anything else simply because the boy was in need.
"Philoxenia" is extending hospitality to one far from his home. The host respected the guest, providing food and bathing. Conversation was never addressed until the guest was taken care of. The guest was expected to respect his host, showing courtesy, and refraining from abusing the hospitality that had been extended. When the guest left, the host would give a gift to his guest; this expressed the host's sense of privilege in having had the guest visit with him.
These laws are conveyed in Homer's epics The Iliad and The Odyssey. It is of particular importance in The Odyssey, as it creates a major conflict for Odysseus' household (in his absence), and is finally addressed when Odysseus returns to Ithaca.
In this story, Odysseus enjoys the hospitality of several people as he returns to Ithaca—having been absent twenty years.
In Book VII, we see the epitome of a motif that runs throughout The Odyssey: the relationship of host to guest.
Odysseus is stranded "in the wilderness of Scheria." In Book Six, Nausikaa (princess of the Phaeaceans, daughter to King Alcinoös) is kind to Odysseus. Later, in Book Seven, he enters King Alcinoös' palace and sits in the ashes. Echeneus, "the old hero," chides the King:
“Alcinous,” said he, “it is not creditable to you that a stranger should be seen sitting among the ashes of your hearth..."
The old man reminds the King of his duty as host: Odysseus should have a place to sit, and be fed—especially in that Zeus protects travelers.
At Odysseus' home, the suitors are disrespectful guests. Athena sends Telemachus (Odysseus' son) home. She warns him:
Telemachus, you should not remain so far away from home any longer, nor leave your property with such dangerous people in your house; they will eat up everything you have among them...
Odysseus kills each guest as punishment.
Based on Odysseus's criticism of the Cyclopes in The Odyssey, what society did the Greeks value?
6 Educator Answers
Quick answer:
The Greeks valued elements of society that would create a strong polis (city), such as laws, councils, and other civic activities. They also valued hospitality and the great religious festivals and games (the Olympic, Nemean, Corinthian and Pythian Games). This is a good question. You can tell from your question that you have been paying attention to detail. The first thing we need to do when we translate a passage is to break it down into its basic parts. In this case the basic parts are nouns, adjectives, adverbs and verbs. This passage does not seem complicated at all. I will go through each line and do a translation with my own words. The first line says: "Homer definitely makes a strong case for the value of wit and an agile mind. Odysseus' cunning helps deliver him and his fellow sailors from an extremely precarious situation. In this way, Homer suggests that often intelligent thinking may be a better solution to solving difficult problems than charging in for a direct fight. If Odysseus had not been so sneaky and had tried to take Polyphemus straight on in an open fight, he would have lost, and his men would have become the giant's dinner. Part of his success comes from Odysseus' ability to think strategically and make the best choice that could save his men. Was his strategy to trick the Cyclops particularly honorable? Well, no, and the reader could draw a conclusion from this incident that Homer suggests that there are times when cunning and self-preservation must come before honor.
It's interesting to note that while, as post #2 correctly states, the Greeks placed a great value on hospitality, Odysseus himself is repeatedlly faced with hostility and danger as he tries to make his way home.
Another value we see in his encounter with Cyclops is that of intelligence. Odysseus is able to save most of his men and himself with his wits, not his strength. He devises several ingenious plans to protect his men from Cyclops. Otherwise, they would all have perished.
One thing that we can learn about Greek society from this part of the epic poem is that the Greeks valued hospitality in their society. Many pre-modern societies were like this. They felt that it was important for people to treat their guests well even if their guests would otherwise have been their enemies. Homer criticizes the Cyclops for breaking this particular rule. He criticizes the fact that it would turn on Odysseus and his men and that it would speak about defying the gods and their command to treat guests well. So one aspect of Greek society that is being shown here is the ideal of respecting and honoring guests.
What kind of society do the Greeks value based on Odysseus's criticism of the Cyclops?
The Greeks very much valued hospitality. In fact, it was somewhat of a religious imperative because Zeus was the god of travelers, and they believed that he offered protection to those who were far from home. Thus, if you were kind and hospitable to any strangers who came to your home looking for shelter, food, and the like, you were actually paying homage to the most powerful of the gods. This religious imperative was called xenia, and it entailed a reciprocal relationship between guest and host. The host should offer what he could to any guest, and the guest should never take advantage of the host's generosity and should try to offer something in return if he were able.
Because of this tradition, Odysseus and his men expect that whoever lives in the cave they find will automatically share his food and supplies. Odysseus brings a skin of wine as a gift for whoever this person is as well. When the cyclops, Polyphemus, returns to his home and finds the men eating and drinking, he says that he doesn't fear Zeus at all nor have any reverence for Zeus's traditions. He then proceeds to eat two of Odysseus's men (and he eats a total of four more before the men eventually escape).
Odysseus's criticism of the cyclops for his violent response to what the Greeks' view as a reasonable expectation shows just how prevalent this concept of xenia was. It shows us that the Greeks valued hospitality and reciprocity in a world that, if inhospitable to travelers, would very seriously limit all possibility of travel. Those communities or characters in this poem who do not offer hospitality are all monstrous, and Polyphemus is no exception.
What kind of society do the Greeks value based on Odysseus's criticism of the Cyclops?
In comparing and contrasting Odysseus with the cyclops Polyphemus, it becomes rather apparent that the Greeks valued intelligence over brute strength. Despite his gigantic stature, Polyphemus was defeated by Odysseus simply because Odysseus was smarter. Had it not been for Odysseus' arrogance in revealing to Polyphemus that it was he, Odysseus, who had blinded him, Polyphemus would have never known whom to blame. One could also look at the race of the Cyclopes as a whole as a condemnation of a life lived without law, order, or civilization. The Greek audience of Homer's tale would have certainly been appalled at the inhospitable and barbaric creatures who enjoyed only the most basic and carnal of human pleasures: food, drink, and violence.
What kind of society did the Greeks value, based on Odysseus' criticism of the Cyclopes?
This is a great question, because it shows that you have a great eye for historical and social detail.
First, we should give a summary about what Odysseus thought about the Cyclopes. In short, according to Odysseus, this race of one-eyed giants was barbaric. Polyphemus and the other giants had no laws, no councils, and no traditions of civility or hospitality. Luckily for them, they lived in a fertile place that did not need to be cultivated. When Odysseus tried to see if these creatures would show hospitality, which was expected, he entered into a mess, where a number of his men were eaten.
Based on these criticisms, it is clear what virtues the Greeks valued. The Greeks valued elements of society that would create a strong polis (city), such as laws, councils, and other civic activities. If we think about the Athenians and Spartans, it is clear that they valued laws. All we need to think about is Solon and Lycurgus (the great lawgivers of Athens and Sparta). Also if we look at the traditions among the Greeks, such as the great religious festivals and games (the Olympic, Nemean, Corinthian and Pythian Games), it is clear that the Greeks prized city life.
Finally, the Greeks valued hospitality. This is why Odysseus actually stayed. He expected Polyphemus to be hospitable. When Odysseus was given nothing, he could only say that they were barbarians.
What does food in the Odyssey reveal about Greek culture?
1 Educator Answer
In contrast to the Iliad, Homer's Odyssey has a more domestic feel to it. One manifestation of this is the fact that the characters in the Odyssey are constantly feasting. The main staples of the Homeric diet are wine mixed with water, bread, cheese, and roasted meat (from sheep or goats).
Whereas wine and cheese would have been common part of the Greek diet, I doubt that the ancient Greeks ate as much meat as Homeric poetry portrays them as doing. I'm surprised that Homer does not mention the consumption of fish more frequently. In fact, in Odyssey 12, Odysseus' crew seem unsatisfied wiht fishing and they kill the forbidden cattle of the Sun for food.
In my opinion, the most interesting thing we learn about Greek culture in the Homeric epics is not what they eat but the way they behave in dining contexts. Polite Greeks, even the poorest (like the swineherd Eumaeus in Odyssey 13-16), offer strangers to their homes food and drink before even asking the stranger their name or reason for stopping by the house. In contrast, barbarians like the Cyclops feast on their guests rather than feasting them. Also, it is interesting to note that the Cyclops get drunk on the wine Odysseus gives him (a sign of his barbarity).
So, in Greek culture, it was very important to be a good host. Failure to do so could incur the wrath of the gods, especially Zeus, who was the god most associated with hospitality (Greek: xenia). Guests, though, did have some responsibility. We should note that impolite guests, like Penelope's suitors, overstay their welcome and wipe out the resources of Odysseus' home.
What theme does Homer present when Odysseus's men forget home after eating the lotus?
2 Educator Answers
Homer seems to be presenting the idea that it isn't just external forces that can hinder us but internal ones as well. On this journey, Odysseus and his crew are attacked by cannibals and monsters, and even gods, and all of these encounters eventually prevent his men from returning to Ithaca. But the lotus-eaters are peaceful; they do not entrap or confine or consume Odysseus's men. Rather, they simply offer them something to eat, and the men choose to accept. Once they do eat the lotus, though, they no longer want to return home. Through this encounter, Homer shows that we sometimes get in our own way. Even though we know, and Odysseus knows, that the men desperately want to return to their homes, the men lose their way and need the assistance of their good friend and captain to remind them of it. Homer, therefore, shows us how we can actually hinder ourselves by making questionable choices and how important it is that we be able to rely on our friends during these times.
Homer presents the theme of self-indulgence through the adventure with the Lotus-eaters. The theme of self-indulgence is shown throughout The Odyssey, and in this case, self-indulgence is shown as intoxication through consuming the lotus fruit. Odysseus and his men have just survived a harrowing nine day journey across the Mediterranean Sea through forceful winds and treacherous weather to arrive at a peaceful land. These men are tired and have been through so much, which makes staying and eating the lotus fruit seem like the perfect way to spend the rest of their lives. Luckily for the crew that do indulge in the lotus fruit, Odysseus does not. Odysseus makes sure to snap the men out of their self-indulgence and get them back to the ship to continue their journey home.
In The Odyssey, is the cyclops a good or bad host? Explain.
1 Educator Answer
Polyphemus, the Cyclops and son of Poseidon, is a terrible host. He is
described as "lawless," but that doesn't quite do justice to his true nature.
In Ancient Greece, the highest law was known as Xenia. Xenia is the
ancient Greek word for "hospitality." This law declares that any traveler
is to be fed, sheltered, and taken care of by the inhabitants of a home.
It is protected by Zeus himself. In many stories, people attempt to
"get around" the concept by sending guests off on what are thought to be
impossible tasks, hoping that the guests die in the process. However,
Polyphemus takes it to an entirely different level, and suffers terribly for
it.
This law is so well known and universally obeyed that Odysseus naturally
assumes that entering Polyphemus's cave and eating from his table is perfectly
acceptable, even though the Cyclops isn't at home when he and his men arrive.
In fact, when his men wish to return to the boat, he wants to wait for
the Cyclops to return because he believes that Polyphemus, being a good host,
will also present Odysseus with a gift. When Polyphemus returns to his
cave, he rolls a huge rock in front of the door to keep his sheep in. He
then notices Odysseus and his men. Odysseus introduces himself and
says
"But chancing here, we come before your knees to ask that you will offer hospitality, and in other ways as well will give the gift which is the stranger's due. O mighty one, respect the gods. We are your suppliants, and Zeus is the avenger of the suppliant and the stranger; he is the stranger's friend, attending the deserving."
Odysseus asks for Xenia, evening invoking the name of Zeus, but the Cyclops
responds that his race "pay no need to aegis-bearing Zeus, nor to the blessed
gods; because we are much stronger than themselves." Polyphemus then eats
two of the men; he eats two more for breakfast the next morning and two for
dinner. This is not the behavior of a good host, or even a mediocre host.
Polyphemus eats his guests, directly defying Zeus, and says that he is
stronger than the most powerful god.
Polyphemus ends up paying for his actions and words as Odysseus thinks of a way
to trick him. Odysseus shares his wine with Polyphemus, eventually
getting him drunk. Once the Cyclops falls asleep, Odysseus and his men
pull out a piece of the Cyclops's club they had sharpened, charred, and hid in
the dung around the cave. They then reheat it and use it to stab him in
the eye. There's a lengthy description of how terribly the Cyclops
suffers as a result of being stabbed with the flaming stick, and Odysseus and
his men sneak out of the cave by attaching themselves to the underside of the
Cyclops's giant sheep. Unable to see them because he is now blind,
Polyphemus has no idea they are under the livestock, and the men quickly escape
to the sea.
If Polyphemus had simply shown respect to the gods by obeying Zeus's law of
Xenia, things would have turned out much differently for him. Instead, he
is one of the worst hosts ever and is left blinded, humbled, and sheepless
because of it.
How does Telemachus treat Athena, who is disguised as Mentes, in The Odyssey?
2 Educator Answers
Quick answer:
Telemachus treats Athena, disguised as Mentes, with great hospitality and respect in The Odyssey. Despite his distress over the suitors' presence, he is mortified that a guest is unattended and immediately greets her. He offers Athena a seat of honor, serves a meal, and attentively listens to her advice. Telemachus demonstrates the traditional Greek virtues of humility and warmth toward guests, despite the chaos in his home.
When Athena arrives in Ithaca disguised as Mentes in Book I of The Odyssey, Telemachus greets her with the hospitality due every guest in ancient Greece. Though he is grief-stricken at the sight of the suitors in his father's house, Telemachus is mortified that a guest is standing without any greeting on his porch, and he immediately greets Athena (disguised as Mentes) and relieves her of her spear. He seats Athena on a chair of honor and sits down on a less comfortable chair.
As his maids serve Athena a bountiful meal, Telemachus asks Athena (again, disguised as Mentes), about herself (or himself). Telemachus's attitude is one of respect and humility. Then, Mentes/Athena urges Telemachus to rid his house of suitors, and Telemachus thanks Athena for her advice. He listens carefully to each word she has said. He urges Athena to stay in Ithaca and rest and receive a gift from him, but she says she must leave. Telemachus shows the respect and warmth that proper Greeks are supposed to exhibit towards strangers.
In The Odyssey, how does Telemachus treat Mentes (Athena) upon her arrival?
In Homer's The Odyssey, Telemachus is an unhappy young man, and he has every right to be. His father, Odysseus, was king of the city, well respected and loved; however, Odysseus left when his son was young and has been gone for ten years. In that time, his mother, Penelope, has been beset with greedy and grasping suitors.
Telemachus is now a young man and he grew up without the benefit of a strong male role model in his life; in fact, all he sees around him are rude, boorish men who are consuming his inheritance a little more every day. Telemachus is not yet capable of ridding his house of the unwanted guests, but somewhere he has learned how to treat a true guest (as opposed to the usurpers).
In Book 1, when Athena arrives in disguise as Mentes (Athena), she hovers at the door, unnoticed. When Telemachus notices her (him?), he feels terrible that a guest in his home has not been treated properly.
[T]he heart within him [is] scandalized that a guest should still be standing at the doors.
Telemachus quickly remedies the situation. He brings her a chair to sit in and a footstool to rest her feet. More importantly in this chaotic environment, he settles his guest in a safe and relatively quiet place so she will not
lose [her] appetite there among overbearing people.
And, of course, he feeds her. In short, Telemachus treats his guest politely and with great consideration, even when he does not know the true identity of his guest.
Why does Odysseus disrespect the cyclops in The Odyssey based on his culture?
1 Educator Answer
In the Odyssey, Ulysses, his crew, and presumably all of humankind
detested and reviled the entire cyclops race. The general consensus about the
cyclopes and their culture was that they were a race of uncivilized savages,
and they did indeed present the very antithesis of the type of culture that the
Greeks would have valued.
In the time of the ancient Greeks, agriculture was considered to be the
readiest indicator of a well-to-do society and culture, and the epic poem
explicitly states that no cyclopes tilled the land or planted food.
Furthermore, they were barbarians in terms of governance. It is remarked that
they held no assembly for lawmaking or order. Polyphemus even asserted that
laws only complicated people's lives.
Perhaps most of all, cyclopes, particularly in the case Polyphemus, were
incredibly arrogant and filled with hubris, stating that they cared nothing for
the gods and even doubted their power. He describes his stomach as the greatest
god, taking a particularly hedonistic and agnostic outlook considered very
unrefined to Ulysses and his men.
Who demonstrates the theme of hospitality in the Odyssey, and what features of hospitality do they show?
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Quick answer:
The theme of hospitality, also called xenia or guest friendship, plays large in the Odyssey. There are numerous examples of hospitality being honored and also abused.Hospitality is one of the central themes of The Odyssey, one which emerges throughout the epic poem. There are numerous examples of hospitality being honored and also abused.
Across the course of Odysseus's journeys, we can observe examples wherein hospitality is honored and abused. In Phaeacia, one can observe a powerful example of how hospitality (in the ancient context) is supposed to work, with the Phaeacians holding feasts and games in their visitor's honor. For their hospitality, Odysseus repays them with the story of his own travels and sufferings. When Odysseus lands on the island of Aeolus, the king, Aeolus himself, hosts him in his palace and gives Odysseus a sack containing the four winds, a gift intended to ease Odysseus's homeward journey.
For a depiction of poor hospitality, one can observe Odysseus's famous adventure with the cyclops Polyphemus, who traps Odysseus and his companions, seeking to devour them. n another such instance, Odysseus encounters the Laestrygonians, who also try to eat their guests and who destroy Odysseus's fleet as his crews try to escape.
In addition, one must point out that, just as hospitality can be abused on the part of hosts, it can also be abused by guests. You can see this in the behavior of Penelope's suitors (who will eventually be killed when Odysseus returns). Finally, consider Telemachus's own travels early in this epic (as well as how he is received). In all these examples, readers can see the role that hospitality plays as a key theme in the poem.
How did Circe violate hospitality laws in The Odyssey?
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Circe violates the laws of hospitality by drugging Odysseus's men and turning them into pigs. Her actions of turning the men into animals and slaughtering them is the opposite of the standard hospitality rules of the time. Normally, hosts should have slaughtered livestock for guests and provided a feast.
The ancient Greeks of Homer's time had strict laws of hospitality. Central to this was treating guests with honor and respect. Throughout the Odyssey, Telemachus and Odysseus are repeatedly well-received by their hosts. This usually involves a ritual slaughter of an animal or animals as a sacrifice to the gods, a lavish feast, and entertainment in honor of the guest. Homer includes several examples of those who ignore or violate the rules of hospitality. Circe flouts expectations of hospitality when Odysseus and his men land on her island.
When Odysseus and his men land on Circe's island, they expect to be treated as normal guests by a normal host. Circe is no normal host, and is not bound by rules of honor and hospitality. Instead, she lures Odysseus's companions into what appears to be a feast for them. The food is drugged, causing the men to transform into pigs. She cages them and intends to slaughter them. In this way, she does the exact opposite of what the rules of hospitality would dictate. Rather than honoring her guests with a feast, she uses their hunger as bait. She transforms them into one of the least-respected kinds of livestock. Instead of slaughtering an animal in their honor and feeding it to them, she intends to slaughter them and feed on them.
The cyclopes' way of life compared to that of civilized people in The Odyssey
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Summary:
In The Odyssey, the cyclopes live a primitive and isolated life, unlike civilized people. They lack laws, community structures, and agriculture, relying instead on simple herding and foraging. Their solitary existence contrasts sharply with the organized, communal, and culturally rich societies that Odysseus encounters elsewhere.
How do the cyclopes' lives differ from those of civilized people in The Odyssey?
In Book 9 Odysseus describes the cyclopes' lifestyle: they live in individual caves, plant no crops, have no meeting-place for council or laws, and have no ships to sail and trade with other men. Despite the beauty and fertility of their island, the cyclopes lead primitive lives without any semblance of organized society. Oddly enough, despite the cyclopes' disregard for the gods, their needs seem to be met without their having to work for food because their island is a lush paradise.
Polyphemus declares, furthermore, that he has no fear of or respect for Zeus, and he does not follow the Greek custom of gift-giving to guests. To say he is not hospitable to his guests is an understatement, considering that he eats six of the men of Odysseus, who calls him a "giant, lawless brute" and a "shameless cannibal."
When Polyphemus is blinded by Odysseus and in agony calls out for help, his fellow cyclopes gather outside his cave to ask what is the trouble. At least they are willing to come to his aid, but when he tells them that "Nobody's killing me by fraud and not by force," they advise him to pray to his father Poseidon, and they leave instead of removing the huge boulder that blocks the opening to his cave to see for themselves what has happened to Polyphemus. So much for their concern.
What is the Cyclops's lifestyle like in The Odyssey?
After Odysseus and his crew made their way from the land of the lotus eaters, they arrived in the land of the Cyclops. The Cyclops were remarkably huge beasts who led an unconventional lifestyle as described by Odysseus.
According to Odysseus the Cyclops were lawless brutes. They never tended their fields and only relied on the naturally growing plants and the goats they kept for sustenance. The Cyclops had no social meetings or gatherings and their association with each other was restricted to emergencies. Their focus was only confined to their immediate family. They established no laws to govern themselves. They lived in exclusion and order was only maintained in their homes, which were situated on the mountain peaks. The Cyclops did not travel outside their territory and thus were not equipped in ship building or sailing.
We sailed hence, always in much distress, till we came to the land of the lawless and inhuman Cyclopes. Now the Cyclopes neither plant nor plough, but trust in providence, and live on such wheat, barley, and grapes as grow wild without any kind of tillage, and their wild grapes yield them wine as the sun and the rain may grow them. They have no laws nor assemblies of the people, but live in caves on the tops of high mountains; each is lord and master in his family, and they take no account of their neighbors.
Polyphemus' Violations of Behavioral and Attitudinal Laws in The Odyssey
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Summary:
In The Odyssey, Polyphemus the Cyclops violates the Greek laws of hospitality, called "xenia," by refusing to welcome Odysseus and his men, instead consuming them as food. This behavior starkly contrasts with Greek customs where hosts offer food, drink, and gifts to guests before asking their identity or purpose. Polyphemus also blasphemes the gods, claiming superiority over Zeus, which is considered a severe violation of divine respect. These actions underscore his barbaric nature in contrast to Greek civility.
In The Odyssey, what "laws" of behavior and attitude does Polyphemus violate?
Polyphemus, the Cyclops, and son of Poseidon lacks in hospitality which was an unwritten rule among the Greeks. Polyphemus was expected to welcome the visitors and offer them presents, but the Cyclops was cruel and instead fed on Odysseus’ men. Odysseus tried to communicate their expectations, but the Cyclops responded by insulting Odysseus and the gods. Polyphemus averred that the Cyclopes did not pay homage to the gods because they believed they were stronger beings in comparison. Polyphemus further stated that if he was to spare Odysseus and his companions, it would be out of his own will and not out of any regard for Zeus. Odysseus and his men were left with no choice but to plot their way out by hurting the Cyclops. Odysseus and his comrades succeeded in blinding the Cyclops and escaping.
We therefore humbly pray you to show us some hospitality, and otherwise make us such presents as visitors may reasonably expect. May your excellency fear the wrath of heaven, for we are your suppliants, and Zeus takes all respectable travelers under his protection, for he is the avenger of all suppliants and foreigners in distress.’
In the story, examples of the hospitality rule can be seen when Athena in spite of being a stranger, was welcomed by Telemachus in his home. The same gesture was extended to Telemachus when he visited Nestor and Menelaus. In their culture, visitors were welcomed and offered a meal before they stated their aim of visiting. Presents would also be exchanged between the visitor and host before departure.
In The Odyssey, what "laws" of behavior and attitude does Polyphemus violate?
This is an interesting question, especially as we contrast the Cyclops and the Greeks in general and Odysseus in particular. The Cyclopes live in a society where there are no laws. They have no civility, no councils, no traditions, and no sense of what is right or wrong. They are cannibalistic one-eyed giants. That pretty much sums it up. Polyphemus is the most famous of them. Part of the reason why they do not need structure is that they have an abundance of food; they land is lush.
All of this is in stark contrast to the Greeks. The Greeks have councils, traditions, laws, and what is very important in the Greek world is hospitality. This is why the whole Trojan War started. Paris stole Helen from the Greeks. It was a huge breech of hospitality. From this perspective, Polyphemus is a barbarian. He eats a few of Odysseus’s men and want to do the same to him. From this perspective, he is the anthesis of the Greek.
In The Odyssey, what "laws" of behavior and attitude does Polyphemus violate?
Polyphemus violates almost every law of behavior that Odysseus and the Achaians have come to expect. First, Polyphemus asks who they are and what their business is, before he give them any food or comfort.
"Strangers, who are you, and whence do you sail on the watery pathways?
Have you affairs in trading, or do you fruitlessly wander
over the sea in the manner of pirates who wander at random,
putting their lives in danger and visiting evil on strangers?" (Book 9, lines 252-255)
This was not the Greek way of hospitality. In other parts of the poem (such as when Odysseus is among the Phaiacians, and again when Odysseus is in the swineherd's hut) it is clear that it is a point of honor of a household to give a stanger food and refreshment first, and perhaps a bath and clothing, before asking his or her name or business.
Furthermore, Polyphemus blasphemes the gods, and ultimately violates one of the worst taboos in the Greek world: cannibalism. Polyphemus also traps Odysseus and his men, as he plans to eat them over a period of time. Polyphemus is an example of a savage and uncivilized man.
Source: Homer. The Odyssey. Rodney Merrill, trans. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press, 2006.
In The Odyssey, what did Odysseus receive from Maron at Ismarus? How does Polyphemus violate behavioral and attitudinal laws?
Among other gifts, Odysseus had received some "ruddy, irresistible wine" from Maron, "a priest of Apollo," because Odysseus "rescued him, his wife and children, reverent as [Odysseus and his crew] were [...]." In other words, in their siege on Ismarus or in the battle which followed the next morning, they saved Maron out of respect for the office the man performs for the gods. Because he is a priest of Apollo, and because Odysseus and his men revere the gods, they save Maron's life and family and leave them in peace. Odysseus tells King Alcinous of Phaeacia, that "Whenever [Maron's guests would] drink the deep-red mellow vintage, twenty cups of water he’d stir in one of wine." Wine then was much thicker and very much more potent than wine is now; it was customary to dilute the wine with water to make it an appropriate drink. Odysseus takes a skin of this very strong wine, undiluted, into the Cyclops' cave, and it is this undiluted and excellent wine with which he gets Polyphemus drunk.
When Polyphemus eats Odysseus's men instead of welcoming them and treating them with hospitality, he disobeys the religious imperative to offer what the Greeks called "xenia". Xenia referred to the reciprocal relationship between host and guest: the host must offer whatever he can to welcome a guest—even including giving him a gift—and the guest must not take advantage of the host's generosity, and because Zeus protected travelers, offering xenia was not really optional if one wanted to stay on Zeus's good side. Polyphemus says to Odysseus, "'We Cyclops never blink at Zeus and Zeus’s shield of storm and thunder, or any other blessed god—we’ve got more force by far. I’d never spare you in fear of Zeus’s hatred, you or your comrades here, unless I had the urge.'" In other words, then, Polyphemus brags that he is stronger than Zeus and so he does not have to obey Zeus's laws. This does not go well for him.
Hospitality in The Odyssey
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Summary:
In The Odyssey, hospitality, or "xenia," is a crucial cultural value for the ancient Greeks, often linked to divine favor. Odysseus and his crew experience both good and bad hospitality, reflecting the importance of this virtue. For instance, the Cyclops Polyphemus fails to offer hospitality, leading to his downfall, as Odysseus attributes his escape to Zeus's support of travelers. Conversely, King Alcinous exemplifies hospitality by aiding Odysseus without knowing his identity. Odysseus, though primarily a guest, shows hospitality by sparing Irus during a forced fight. The Greeks viewed hospitality as a safeguard against divine judgment and a societal necessity.
What are some quotes on hospitality in the Odyssey?
It is obvious to us that the ancient Greeks valued hospitality because of how crucial it is in The Odyssey. When Odysseus and his men land on the island where the Cyclopes live, he wants to remain in Polyphemus's cave to see if the Cyclops "might offer gifts": giving a guest-gift was a common practice of those who offered such hospitality to strangers. However, the monster does not make such an offer and, instead, actually eats several of Odysseus's crew. When Odysseus has his remaining men escape, he shouts back,
"It was also destined your bad deeds should find you out, audacious wretch, who did not hesitate to eat the guests within your house! For this did Zeus chastise you, Zeus and the other gods."
The Greeks believed that Zeus protected travelers, and so offering hospitality became a sort of religious imperative to them; to serve Zeus, you help travelers. Here, Odysseus claims that Zeus allowed Odysseus to blind the Cyclops and escape his island because the monster failed to offer hospitality.
We can also see the importance of hospitality in Alcinous's treatment of Odysseus. The king and queen welcome him into their home, feeding and clothing him, even giving him a place to sleep for the night, before they even ask his name. It is only after quite some time spent feasting, listening to music, and so forth, that Alcinous finally says,
"And do not you, with wily purpose, longer hide what I shall ask; plain speech is better. Tell me the name by which at home your father and mother call you . . ."
It's not as though they know it is Odysseus, the great war hero. They only know that he is a stranger in need, and so they meet those needs and then some. We see, then, how important hospitality is to this culture.
How does Odysseus demonstrate hospitality in The Odyssey?
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, hospitality is defined as the friendly and generous reception and entertainment of guests, visitors, or strangers. Using this definition, there is only one place Odysseus could show hospitality, and that is when he returns to his home in Ithaca. For the majority of Homer's epic poem, Odysseus is far from home and is himself the guest of others. Odysseus showed passive or unwilling hospitality with the hundreds of suitors who came to his house and feasted on his wine and meat. In the quote below, Athena is asking Telemachus about the suitors:
And Athena said, "There is no fear of your race dying out yet, while Penelope has such a fine son as you are. But tell me, and tell me true, what is the meaning of all this feasting, and who are these people? What is it all about? Have you some banquet, or is there a wedding in the family—for no one seems to be bringing any provisions of his own? And the guests—how atrociously they are behaving; what riot they make over the whole house; it is enough to disgust any respectable person who comes near them."
In the next quote, it is interesting to note that the servants were mixing water with the wine. In ancient Greece, how much water was mixed with the wine was a sign of the status of the guest. This quote shows that these guests were not highly regarded:
Men-servants and pages were bustling about to wait upon them, some mixing wine with water in the mixing-bowls, some cleaning down the tables with wet sponges and laying them out again, and some cutting up great quantities of meat.
How does Odysseus demonstrate hospitality in The Odyssey?
When Odysseus is disguised as an old beggar, brought to his home in Ithaca by Eumaeus, his loyal swineherd, the suitors force him into a fight with another local beggar, Irus. One way in which Odysseus shows hospitality to Irus, his opponent in the match, is that he doesn't kill him. This might sound like an odd way to define hospitality to a present-day reader; however, Odysseus and Irus have been pitted against each other by the suitors, and the suitors have said that whichever of them wins the fight gets to eat. Odysseus is still the master of this house, even if no one is aware that he is home, and he shows Irus hospitality by merely knocking him out instead of killing him. Athena has filled out Odysseus's muscles, making him even more powerful, and yet he restrains himself and allows the old man to live.
How is the concept of hospitality viewed by the Greeks in The Odyssey?
The ancient Greeks obviously had a very different culture and worldview from us today. A key part of their cultural practice was hospitality, which is still a central aspect of many different cultures around the world. For the Greeks, it was impossible to determine whether the beggar knocking at your door was actually just a beggar or whether it was a god or goddess who would judge you based on your hospitality, or lack of it. In The Odyssey, again and again the value of hospitality is stressed through the many times in which Odysseus himself receives hospitality, but also the failure of the suitors to provide hospitality for guests and the efforts of Telemachus to make up for this mistake. Note how he does this when he greets the goddess Athena, when she is disguised as Mentes:
With such thoughts, sitting amongst the suitors, he saw Athene and went straight to the forecourt, the heart within him scandalized that a guest should still be standing at the doors. He stood beside her and took her by the right hand, and relieved her of the bronze spear, and spoke to her and addressed her in winged words: 'Welcome, stranger. You shall be entertained as a guest among us. Afterward, when you have tasted diner, you shall tell us what your need is.'
Telemachus in this quote demonstrates the importance of hospitality and also brings honour to his household by greeting a stranger and offering them entertainment and food. In an uncertain world where firstly you did not know the real identity of the person knocking at your door and secondly it was impossible to know when you would yourself require hospitality from strangers, it was a key cultural value to always offer hospitality to travellers and those less fortunate than yourself.
How does Argos demonstrate loyalty to Odysseus in The Odyssey?
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Argos was loyal to Odysseus because he waited twenty years for Odysseus to return, even though most had presumed he was dead. He was the first to recognize Odysseus when he returned from the Trojan War, even though Odysseus was disguised as a beggar. Argos would only die after he had seen his master once more.Argos was loyal to Odysseus by waiting twenty years for Odysseus to return, even though most had presumed he was dead. He was the first to recognize Odysseus when he returned from the Trojan War, even though Odysseus was disguised as a beggar. Argos would only die after he had seen his master once more.
Here is an excerpt about Argos' loyalty:
"Eumaeus, what a noble hound that is over yonder on the manure heap: his build is splendid; is he as fine a fellow as he looks, or is he only one of those dogs that come begging about a table, and are kept merely for show?"
"This hound," answered Eumaeus, "belonged to him who has died in a far country. If he were what he was when Odysseus left for Troy, he would soon show you what he could do. There was not a wild beast in the forest that could get away from him when he was once on its tracks. But now he has fallen on evil times, for his master is dead and gone, and the women take no care of him. Servants never do their work when their master's hand is no longer over them, for Zeus takes half the goodness out of a man when he makes a slave of him."
Why is the story of Aegisthus, Agamemnon, Clytemnestra, and Orestes repeatedly mentioned in The Odyssey?
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The story of Aegisthus, Agamemnon, Clytemnestra, and Orestes is repeatedly mentioned in The Odyssey to serve as a foil to Odysseus and his family. It highlights the contrast between Agamemnon's tragic fate and Odysseus's successful return, emphasizes Penelope's faithfulness against Clytemnestra's infidelity, and motivates Telemachus to take decisive action, inspired by Orestes' courage and vengeance.
Clytemnestra was unfaithful to her husband Agamemnon who was in battle at Troy. Aegisthus was the apparent lover in the triangle who killed Agamemnon in order to establish an intimate relationship with his wife. Orestes, Agamemnon’s son, knew of how his father died but waited strategically until the opportune time came, and avenged his father by killing Aegisthus and Clytemnestra, his mother.
The story about Agamemnon, the infidelity of his wife Clytemnestra with Aegisthus, Agamemnon’s death at the hands of the two lovers, and the vengeance by his son Orestes on behalf of his father is repeated several times in the story because:
- It is this story, and the courage of Orestes, that Athena employs to spur Telemachus into action regarding a similar situation facing his mother Penelope.
- The story is also used to strike a close resemblance between Agamemnon’s situation and his eventual death, with what Penelope is going through at the hands of unwanted suitors.
- The story is also used to show the difference between Clytemnestra and Penelope and also shows the benefits associated with fidelity and perseverance.
- At some point, Nestor shares the full story of Agamemnon’s death with Telemachus in order to improve his understanding of how such a thing could happen to a noble man, and the importance to decisively face the situation.
Is Odysseus loyal to Penelope in The Odyssey?
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On one hand, Odysseus is not loyal to Penelope in the Odyssey. He sleeps with two immortal women, Circe and Calypso, while he is away from home. On the other hand, Odysseus is loyal to Penelope because getting back home to her and their son is always his top priority. He may not be physically faithful, but he does seem to be emotionally faithful.
Odysseus is loyal to Penelope in some ways, though not in others. For instance, he is not sexually faithful to her, as he does sleep with both Circe and Calypso multiple times over many years. He spends one year with Circe and then another seven with Calypso, both of whom are immortals who are exceedingly beautiful. One could argue, of course, that Odysseus did not really have a choice and that to refuse a goddess would be unwise. If he would have rejected Circe, he might not have gotten his men changed back into their human forms, and Calypso could have become so angry that she simply killed him (or made his life even more miserable than it already was).
On the other hand, Odysseus never loses sight of his goal to get home to Penelope and Telemachus, their son. Even when he eventually does leave Calypso, Zeus having sent word to the nymph to release Odysseus from her island, he mentions Penelope. He flatters Calypso, saying that Calypso is far more beautiful than Penelope—a mere mortal—is, but it seems clear that Odysseus is pining to be back home with his wife. Then, when he does reach Ithaca, he is very keen to see whether she has been loyal to him. Each partner tricks the other, proving their mutual cunning and making it clear how very well-matched they are.
Has Penelope remained a faithful wife to Odysseus?
Yes, Penelope remained a faithful wife to Odysseus while he was away. Despite the large amount of suitors, Penelope never betrayed her husband. They remain with her for all of Odysseus' journey, but she always finds a way to put them off until a later time. Her biggest ploy was telling her suitors that she would only marry one of them once she had finished weaving a shroud for Laertes, who was Odysseus' father. For three years, Penelope spent her days working on the cloth and then unraveled her work every night. It was not until one of her servants revealed the secret to the suitors that she was forced to finish it. After it was finished, she told the suitors that she would only marry the one who could string Odysseus' bow and shoot an arrow through twelve axe heads. Odysseus was the one who completed the task, so she was not obliged to marry any of her suitors.
The role and backstory of Eumaeus the swineherd in Homer's Odyssey
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Summary:
In Homer's Odyssey, Eumaeus the swineherd is a loyal servant to Odysseus. He was kidnapped as a child by Phoenician pirates and eventually sold into slavery in Ithaca. Despite his hardships, Eumaeus remains faithful to Odysseus, helping him reclaim his throne upon his return. His loyalty and humble origins highlight the themes of loyalty and the social order in the epic.
What is the role of Eumaeus the swineherd in Homer's Odyssey?
I like this question a lot. Eumaeus probably doesn't get as much attention as he deserves, even though he is one of the most frequently mentioned characters in Odyssey 13-24 and the person with whom Odysseus stays during one-sixth of the Odyssey (Books 13-16).
Eumaeus is the first Ithacan that Odysseus encounters upon returning to his native land. He was a humble herder of pigs, but a man whom the disguised Odysseus discovers was loyal to his master (Odysseus).
Because hospitality (xenia) is one of the main focal points of this epic poem, Eumaeus proves himself to be the epitome of a good host. Even though Eumaeus lives in a simple hut, he offers his guest (Odysseus) everything that he possibly can, in spite of his lowly status.
he...made a bed for Odysseus nearer the fire, throwing sheep and goatskins over it. Then Odysseus lay down again, and the swineherd covered him with a big thick blanket...There Odysseus could sleep... But the swineherd was averse to staying there away from his hogs, and prepared to go outside. Odysseus was delighted to see him take such care of his master’s herd in his absence.
After Odysseus departs from Eumaeus' hut and returns to the palace, Eumaeus later fights alongside Odysseus against the suitors.
Thus, Eumaeus is the epitome of the loyal servant and also a model for good hospitality in the Odyssey.
How did Eumaeus become a swineherd in The Odyssey?
Eumaeus the swineherd explains to Odysseus, when he visits him in disguise, that servants who have "young lords" as their masters tend to live unhappy lives, because these young men do not know how to properly look after their servants. Eumaeus explains that the man for whom he worked most of his life, and from whom he would have expected a house, land, a wife, and other benefits as gratitude for a lifetime's work, is not around to provide those things for him. His master went to the war instead, so he was not able to stay, grow old, and provide for Eumaeus, his servant, as would have been expected. The swineherd's master went to Ilius to fight the Trojans for Agamemnon, and as a result, Eumaeus condemns Helen and her tribe for having taken his master away from him.
Today, Eumaeus is in charge of the pigs but must now pick out the best ones he can and send them to the noblemen. His master was, of course, Odysseus, but Eumaeus does not recognize him and does not believe that he will ever return.
Odysseus' methods of testing loyalty upon his return to Ithaca in The Odyssey
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Summary:
Upon his return to Ithaca in The Odyssey, Odysseus tests loyalty by disguising himself as a beggar to observe the behavior of his household and allies without revealing his identity. He assesses the actions of his servants, wife Penelope, and son Telemachus to determine their faithfulness during his long absence.
In Book 14 of The Odyssey, why does Odysseus test Eumaeus' loyalty?
Odysseus tests the loyalty of Eumaeus so that he can really ascertain just what kind of man the swineherd is. Does Eumaeus only treat Odysseus, now disguised as a beggar, well because he hopes for a reward, or does he do it to honor the gods and fulfill his duty to the traveler? Although the beggar-Odysseus claims to have some knowledge of Odysseus, and says that Odysseus is alive, Eumaeus will not believe him, and he claims that he does not treat the beggar kindly because of the news he brings (others have falsified such news before) but because of his "fear of Zeus, the god of guests" and because he "pit[ies]" the beggar. Further, Eumaeus passes another test, giving Odysseus his own cloak with which to cover himself while he sleeps; then Eumaeus goes to sleep outside with his pigs. "Eumaeus cared so much for his absent master's goods" that it "warmed Odysseus' heart."
In The Odyssey, how does Odysseus test Eumaeus and Philoeteus' loyalty?
It is in Book 21 that Odysseus gives these two loyal retainers a final test to ascertain the extent of their loyalty. He has already heard both of them protest their love of Odysseus, but at this stage in the text he is finally planning action and so gives them a final test of their loyalty so that he can know whether he is able to count on them or not. Up until this point, he has not revealed his true identity to them, so they are not aware of who they are talking to. Note what he asks them both:
Stockman, and you swineherd, I have something in my mind which I am in doubt whether to say or no; but I think I will say it. What manner of men would you be to stand by Odysseus, if some god should bring him back here all of a sudden? Say which you are disposed to do--to side with the suitors, or with Odysseus?
It is the favourable response Odysseus receives from both Eumaeus and Philoeteus that convinces him he is able to trust them and reveal his plans of how he is going to defeat the suitors. The way that the question is worded is particularly interesting, as it demands that both Eumaeus and Philoeteus take a definitive stance, either showing their loyalty to their master or to the suitors. This makes this test particularly appropriate in order for Odysseus to work out whether he is able to rely on them or not.
How does Odysseus test his subjects' loyalty upon his return to Ithaca in The Odyssey?
In Homer's The Odyssey, it is imperative that Odysseus assess the loyalty of his servants and subjects before revealing that he is in fact home. Remember, by the time Odysseus finally arrives on the shore of his island home of Ithaca, it has been twenty years. Ten of those years was spent fighting in the Trojan War and the other ten was spent trying to make his way home. It took him ten years to make his way home because he angered the might god Poseidon by blinding his son Polyphemus, the Cyclops. After twenty years, a lot has changed. Suitors have taken over his house wanting to inherit his fortune and his wife Penelope. Odysseus has no way of knowing who has remained loyal and who has sided with the arrogant suitors. Odysseus needs to know if his kingdom is worth fighting for or if it is best to move on. Therefore, he must test his servants and subjects to find out this valuable information. The wily Odysseus does this by disguising himself as an old beggar, which was advice given to him by his guardian goddess Athena, the goddess of wisdom. By doing this, he can ascertain the answers he needs before proceeding any further.
Quotes in The Odyssey illustrating the themes of temptation, hubris, retribution, and loyalty
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Summary:
In The Odyssey, several quotes illustrate key themes: temptation is shown when Odysseus' men eat the Lotus flowers; hubris is evident in Odysseus taunting the Cyclops; retribution appears in the punishment of the suitors; and loyalty is highlighted in Penelope's faithfulness to Odysseus despite many years apart.
What are some quotes from the Odyssey illustrating the negative effects of temptation, recklessness, and hubris?
I have set these quotes under headings, but many of them could be put under more than one heading.
Temptation: "Fools, they foiled / themselves: they ate the oxen of the Sun, / the herd of Helios Hyperion; / the lord of light requited their transgression-- / he took away the day of their return." (I. 9-13)
"Men are so quick to blame the gods: they say / that we devise their misery. But they / themselves--in their depravity--design / grief greater than the griefs that fate assigns. / So did Aegisthus act when he transgressed / the boundaries that fate and reason set." (I.33-38)
Recklessness: "Of all the things that move and breathe on earth / earth nurtures nothing frailer than a man. / As long as gods bestow prosperity / and he can move about with agile knees, / he thinks the future holds no misery. / But when, against his will, the blessed gods / allot his share of griefs, he yields to these / with patient heart. And so indeed it shifts-- / the mind of man on earth." (XVIII.131-37)
"But I ignored their counsel, though that course / would have avoided many griefs for us. / Instead I had to wait to see that man, / to find out if he'd welcome me. But then / the courtesy he showed my friends was scant." (IX.229-33)
Hubris: "I, too, might once have ruled, / but stupidly beguiled by power and pride, / misused my strength--I acted wantonly; / I trusted in my father and my brothers. / Thus, let no man--and at no time--be lawless; / whatever gifts the gods have given him / let him guard these in silence." (XVIII.139-45)
"You had no fear of the undying gods, / whose home is spacious heaven, and no fear / of men's revenge, your fate in days to come./ Now all of you are trapped in death's tight thongs." ( XXII.40-43)
Are there quotes in The Odyssey about temptation, hubris, retribution, and loyalty?
For the subject of hubris, I think I would have a look at Odyssey 9 and Odysseus' encounter with the Cyclops. When the Cyclops declares that he and the other Cyclopes are greater than Zeus and the other gods, this strikes me as a clear example of hubris.
As for temptation, the instance that come to my mind primarily involve Odysseus' men in Books 9-12. Surely, they are tempted by the bag of winds Aeolus gave to Odysseus (see Odyssey 10). They also give in to the temptation to kill Helios' cattle in Odyssey 12.
On the topic of loyalty, Odyssey 14-16 seem like good places to consider. This is where Odysseus stays with his swineherd Eumaeus. During Odysseus' stay with the swineherd, Eumaeus makes it clear that he is loyal to the master he believes is still absent:
"But the swineherd was averse to staying there away from his hogs, and prepared to go outside. Odysseus was delighted to see him take such care of his master’s herd in his absence." (A.S. Kline translation).
As for retribution, Odyssey 22 would probably be the place to look. This is, of course, where Odysseus slaughters the suitors who have been pursuing his wife Penelope. Surely, this book contains many comments on retribution. Odysseus' encounter with Leodes has a nice quotation on retribution.
In The Odyssey, what justifies Odysseus' actions like lying, cheating, and killing?
2 Educator Answers
This is the fundamental difference between this epic and The Iliad. The Iliad was an epic based on absolutes. If one was to be victorious, one would have to have a good heart, mind, body and soul. Every decision would have to be for good reasons, executed in a pure way, with no selfishness, in order to be blessed by the gods with success.
The Odyssey is based in moral relativistic setting. Lies could be told if an ultimate good would come from it. Odysseus is constantly lying, cheating and stealing for an ultimately good goal. He must commit small sins along the way in order to achieve the greater good.
This reflects real life. Our lives our full of gray decisions. Clear black and white choices are rare and we are constantly making compromises in order to achieve final (good) goals.
In Ancient Greece, their cultural norms are vastly different from our own. Odysseus demands that Penelope stay faithful for twenty years while he's off making love with beautiful goddesses like Calypso and Circe and he wasn't an unwilling prisoner/lover either. Women were viewed differently when this story was first orated. They were possession who were to do what they were told, they were to be faithful, they were to bear children (heirs). That's not to say they didn't love each other, but he never had a second thought about what he did because he was the king and it wasn't really cheating on his part because this was their cultural norm, which is why he never feels guilty over what he's done.
Odysseus is a warrior and warriors kill people. He didn't need to justify killing in the midst of battle. Even when he was killing the suitors, to him this was seen as a battlefield and he was defending his wife, his son, and his kingdom.
His biggest lie was his beggar disguise. He was warned by Athena that if he entered Ithaca straight away he, his family, and his kingdom might face trouble so we can see why he held this lie up, he also wanted to know if Penelope had stayed faithful.
Stealing to Odysseus was seen as collecting the spoils of battle. When he stole Polyphemus' sheep he was of the mind that he was owed because Polyphemus had eaten six of Odysseus' men. He saw it as "an eye for an eye" most literally.
What does the comment that "The Odyssey" is a story about telling stories mean? Can you provide examples?
1 Educator Answer
Quick answer:
The Odyssey is not just a story. It is a story about telling stories. What does this comment about the Odyssey mean? A tale of woe, Odysseus tells the Phaeacians that he has been on a ten-year trip from Troy. He goes on to tell them about each adventure he encountered along the way. To the King and Queen of Phaeacia, Odysseus begins telling of the Lotus Eaters and the Cyclops and Circe and Calypso. Each adventure told is a flashback on what has happened to Odysseus on his way home form the Trojan War. The Trojan War lasted ten years.The Odyssey is not just a story. It is a story about several stories as told by Odysseus. Odysseus is sharing his adventures through a flashback. He begins his story in what is known as medias res which means in the middle of things.
To the King and Queen of Phaeacia, Odysseus begins telling of the Lotus Eaters and the Cyclops and Circe and Calypso. Each adventure told is a flashback on what has happened to Odysseus on his way home form the Trojan War. The Trojan War lasted ten years. Then it has taken another ten years for Odysseus to finally make it home.
He shares this story of traveling home with the the Phaeacians. They long to hear every detail of Odysseus' ten-year adventure.
Odysseus arrives at the palace and begs the assistance of King Alcinous and Queen Arete. He gives an edited version of his "adventures" to date...
After telling each individual story, the Phaeacians help Odysseus travel home. Although he reaches Ithaca, his story is far from over. Now, he must fight the suitors who are after Penelope's hand in marriage. Of course, Odysseus wins the battle and the story ends in a happily-ever-after fashion.
In Homer's The Odyssey, why does Odysseus delay revealing himself to Penelope?
1 Educator Answer
There are two answer for this question.
First, we need to realize that Odysseus hides himself from many others and not just Penelope. Part of this is undoubtedly to keep his return a secret. In other words, if Penelope knows that Odysseus is at Ithaca, this could blow his cover. We need to keep in mind that if Odysseus is going to overcome the suitors, who are more powerful than he is on account of their numbers, he needs the advantage of a surprise attack. This point also fits well with the cunning of Odysseus.
Second, Odysseus also wants to see if Penelope has been faithful to him. It has been a long time (20 years) and it is possible that she has not been faithful. However, as he spends time with her, he realizes that she has been a model of faithfulness. She has outwitted the suitors. For example, Odysseus learned that Penelope stated that she would choose a suitor only after she finished making a burial cloak for her father-in-law. But every night she would undo it. In fact, her name in Greek, "Penelope" means spindle loosener.
What conclusions about beauty's deceptive nature can be drawn from the Circe episode in the Odyssey?
2 Educator Answers
Along the same lines as above, an important lesson is that all is not what it may appear to be. Also, a beautiful exterior doesn't guarantee a beautiful interior! Circe, although beautiful and enticing, is not who she might seem to be once one looks at her physical beauty. Her intentions, however, show the reader that she may not be "beautiful" on the inside!
One conclusion or lesson we can draw is one must be very careful whom he trusts as host. She is beautiful, but her actions are not. Without the warning of Hermes, Odysseus quite likely would have fallen into another trap that would have taken a long time to escape without intervention of some other god or goddess.
Like Polyphemus, Circe abuses her guests severely. However, when Odysseus beat her at her own game, she becomes a perfect host. One unexpected event is when Odysseus, while enjoying royal treatment from Circe and her maids, refuses to commune with her in the meal she offers. This is because his men have not yet been restored to him, and are still in the shape of pigs. It is only when she has returned his men to him in human form that Odysseus can he fully enjoy her hospitality, her beauty, and the beautiful surroundings.
The whole host-guest pattern indicates that Circe could still turn against Odysseus or could be completely at his service with the refusal of her meal. Though she is lovely, her maids are lovely, and the surroundings in which Odysseus finds himself are lovely, he must constantly be on his guard as to her intentions and actions.
Aside from all this, Circe chooses to turn his men into pigs, which have never been praised for their beauty. This is a tell-tale sign about the deceptive nature of beauty and her intentions for the men.
Discuss the relationship of truth and justice in The Odyssey using the quote, "The man who deceives shows more justice than he who does not..."
1 Educator Answer
Truth and justice are strong themes in Homer's The Odyssey, especially when Odysseus returns home from a twenty-year long absence after fighting in the Trojan War.
The quote provided is part of a longer statement that is paradoxical—that is, a truth that at first seems impossible and untrue.
It reads:
The man who deceives shows more justice than he who does not; and the man who is deceived has more wisdom than he who is not.
In trying to make sense of this quotation, note that deceit means to lie or keep the truth from someone. But how can a liar show more justice than one who does not lie? And how has the man who has been deceived wiser than a man who has not been lied to? The answer, it might appear, rests with knowledge. One who lies often has to have enough wisdom to understand the nature of the information he chooses not to share, as well as comprehension with regard to the ramifications of what he lies about. The deceitful man (or woman), if he hopes to be successful, must anticipate the repercussions of the lie in order to avoid disaster. If one acknowledges a person's wisdom, one cannot logically say that the liar has no grasp of justice. One can also not infer that the liar cannot dispense justice without knowledge of it. Without a deeper context, this definition may well be suitable. On the other hand, if we look to the actual context of the quotation, which refers to theater (or, in this case, the telling of an epic tale), one comes away with a slightly different perspective.
The author, Gorgias, was a "Sicilian theorist and teacher of rhetoric…" One is not able to know with certainty if an interpretation of his statement is any more than speculative. However, one scholar, Oliver Taplin (author of Greek Tragedy in Action) makes an attempt:
The tragedian who succeeds in enthralling his audience does more justice by the effect this has on his audience than the playwright who fails to captivate them: likewise the member of the audience who succumbs to the spell of the play will through that experience be a better, wiser man than the member who resists and remains unmoved.
Taplin goes on to note that "deceive" is the most important word here (meaning to trick or beguile), however he takes it one step further. He refers to a play on words Gorgias may well have concentrated upon where "deceive" means to "take in." With this understanding, a writer takes in the members of the audience in order to make sure they are invested in the story and the character(s) so he can share his truth with them. And so the audience comes to identify with a character or an event. In this case, it is Odysseus—a man who has sacrificed much for a cause, is punished by the gods, seems to lose all, and miraculously returns home to find that his wife and home are besieged by suitors vying for Penelope's hand and all that her husband owned (a man they believe is dead). As Gorgias would expect, justice is not far behind.
Taplin also puts forth that Gorgias believed "that deceit should be the means of justice and wisdom." Enthralling the audience is the most important thing:
There comes over the audience…a fearful horror and tearful pity and doleful yearning. By means of the discourse their spirit feels a personal emotion on account of the good and bad fortune of others.
How then is the audience taken in? Like a modern-day blockbuster adventure film, this story has...
...pathos, sexuality, violence; a strong, resourceful hero with a firm purpose braving many dangers and hardships to accomplish it; a romantic account of exploits in strange places...
Through all of this, the audience is carried along until the fate of the hero is all-important to its members.
In terms of deceit and justice, when the reader looks at the story of Odysseus literally, it can be said that the hero enters his home in a disguise in order to deceive not only the suitors, but also his wife. As any soldier worth his salt, Odysseus wants to know the kind of adversaries he will have to face. However, he also wants to know if his wife is still devoted to him.
In Book XVIII, deceit and justice are seen when Odysseus disguises himself as a beggar. Irus, an "incorrigible glutton and drunkard," begins to argue with Odysseus about sharing the charity that has been extended to him. Irus threatens Odysseus and the two men agree to fight. The suitors egg them on and promise the winner food and a place inside Odysseus' house (though it is not their place to offer this). Odysseus, to further ally the suitors' suspicions, pretends that he is old and feeble. He admits he will probably lose, but he begs the suitors not to come to Irus' aid so the other man wins instead. The suitors (not an honorable bunch) agree, and Telemachus (Odysseus' son) promises his protection as the host. Odysseus decides not to kill Irus, but hurts him badly enough that he cannot walk. Irus receives justice through Odysseus' deceit.
In Book XXII, Odysseus decides it is time to clear the house of the suitors; they know he can fight, but believe he is nothing more than a beggar and do not anticipate that he is a threat. Odysseus has elicited the help of his son and two still-faithful servants. Again, he is deceitful in keeping his identity a secret. (Had he not done so, the reader can be certain that the suitors—men without honor—would certainly have tried to kill Odysseus to keep him from reclaiming that which was his.) When he wins the contest Penelope had put to the suitors, Odysseus takes his bow, throws off his disguise and begins to kill the suitors, claiming justice against those who have broken the laws of hospitality and poorly used Penelope and Odysseus' household—a sin within society at that time, greater than almost any other.
Deceit is a central theme to the story: Odysseus' ability to be "of many twists," able to be "creative, imaginative—deceitful"—is not something Homer presents in a negative way. It is this hero's gift that allows him to survive throughout his long years away from home, from tricking Polyphemus (the Cyclops) to the suitors.
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