Classic Literature The Odyssey

Instructions

You will find all the answers in the course books (the Odyssey, and Classical Literature)

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PART ONE

Please, read the Introduction of the Odyssey: Stanley Lombardo and Sheila Murnaghan. Homer, Odyssey. Indianapolis: Hackett Pub. Co., 2009.

( For more information, you might also consult chapter 2 on Homer in the book Classical Literature.)

Answer the following questions in detail, with quotations of the passages of

the Odyssey and the Introduction.

Please write five pages in total (long quotations to fill the pages

excluded) And do not include the questions on the paper

1 How does Sheila Murnaghan (=S.M.) describe Odysseus in pp. xviii-xl?

1a Is Odysseus a “man of metist”; or a ;\”man of pain”?

2 S.M. draws a comparison between Penelope and Clytemnestra, and later

She describes the psychology of Penelope.

Explain whether you agree or not with her interpretation and the reasons for it.

3 Why does S.M. mean with “the limits of heroism”?

PART TWO

Answer the questions following the instruction, and write the required passages with the comment. In quoting the passages, please use this quotation template:

“ BOOK QUOTATION “ Od., 1. 567-580.

Quote Odyssey, ch #. Lin #’s

Copy and paste, or write at least four lines of each passage of the

Odyssey. Please, write a minimum of one page for the comment and analysis

for each of the four tasks/questions

1 The creation of the Odyssey is the result of oral traditions. Where can you

find formulas and repetitions in the Odyssey, and what is their meaning?

Please list three formulas and three repetitions indicating the chapter and

the lines.

2 Write five passages of the Odyssey that cast light on the Mycenaean

civilization and comment on them, explaining the reasons for your choice.

3 Write five passages of the Odyssey to describe Odysseus’ strategy to

defeat the suitors after his coming back to Ithaca, commenting in detail.

4 Write five passages from chapters 21, 22, 23, 24 of the Odyssey, that are

relevant for the plot and explain the reason you chose them, commenting in

detail.