ENGL 217/LIT 231/LIT 230
Prof. G. Steinberg

Response Paper:  Odyssey, Books V-VI, IX-X

Choose one of the following areas as the focus of your response paper:

  1. In Book V, we finally meet Odysseus face to face.  Given what we’ve already said about ancient Greek values in our discussion of Telemachus, how does Odysseus shape up?  Does he have the right values and behave the right way according to ancient Greek standards?  Does he sometimes slip up?  Is he even better perhaps than Telemachus?  Focus especially on Book V.  When Odysseus experiences a setback, does something in his behavior precipitate the setback?  When things go better for Odysseus, has something in his behavior changed to cause his improved fortunes?  What happens when Odysseus doesn’t behave rightly according to ancient Greek standards?  When is it appropriate to be suspicious of the gods and when is it not appropriate?  Does Odysseus know?  Should he be able to tell?
  2. We’ve now seen a number of women in the Odyssey -- Penelope, Helen, Nausicaa, the various goddesses.  What seems to be considered proper behavior for them?  Do ancient Greek standards for women seem to differ from standards for men?  If so, in what ways?
  3. What happens with Polyphemus the Cyclops?  Where does Odysseus go wrong?  What mistake does he make?  What does that mistake tell us about the values of ancient Greek culture?
  4. What happens with Circe?  In Book IX, Odysseus and his men notice smoke as the first sign that someone is alive on the mainland of the Cyclopes.  In Book X, Odysseus similarly notices smoke as the first sign that someone is alive on Circe’s island.  Homer has made the two episodes subtly parallel.  In each case, the first sign of life is smoke.  Did Odysseus learn anything from his first encounter with a wisp of smoke in a strange land?  Does he approach Circe differently from the way he approached the Cyclops?  What, if anything, has he learned?  How is he wiser?  What does his newfound wisdom tell us about the values of ancient Greek culture?  What did they value as wise?
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