Odysseus and Athena Rhetorical Analysis

The Odyssey of Homer

Book 13, Lines 482-99

Odysseus and Athena

Book 13, “One More Strange Island”

1. …the man of ranging mind, Odysseus, cried:2. “So hard beset! An end like Agamemnon’s3. might very likely have been mine, a bad end,4. bleeding to death in my own hall. You forestalled it, 5. goddess, by telling me how the land lies.

6. Weave me a way to pay them back! And you, too,7. take your place with me, breathe valor in me8. the way you did that night when we Akhaians9. Unbound the bright veil from the brow of Troy!10.O grey-eyed one, fire my heart and brace me!11.I’ll take on fighting men three hundred strong 12.if you fight at my back immortal lady!”

13.The grey-eyed goddess Athena answered him:14.“No fear but I shall be there; you’ll go forward15.under my arms when the crux comes at last.16.And I foresee your vast floor stained with blood,17.spattered with brains of this or that tall suitor18.who fed upon your cattle.”

Speaker: Narrator Occasion: Odysseus has landed on Ithaka,

awakened, and met Athena (disguised as a young shepherd). She has revealed herself as Pallas Athena and helped him hide his treasure in a cave.

Audience: Reader or listener Purpose: To introduce the interaction between

these characters Subject: The relationship between Odysseus

and Athena Tone: Informational and complimentary

SOAPStone 1

Speaker: Odysseus Occasion: Odysseus has just realized that

Athena has given him the most important help he will need on Ithaka—an advance report of the situation in his home concerning Penelope and the suitors.

Audience: Athena Purpose: To find a plan to fight the suitors Subject: The dangerous situation in Odysseus’

palace Tone: Grateful, excited and determined.

SOAPStone 2

Speaker: Athena Occasion: Odysseus has just requested her

help and expressed appreciation and resolve Audience: Odysseus Purposes:

To help Odysseus determine the best strategy to plan his revenge against the suitors.

To disguise Odysseus to keep him safe until he can strike against his enemies.

Subject: Guarantee of victory for Odysseus tone: Reassuring and prophetic.

SOAPStone 3

Metaphor: A figure of speech in which one thing is equated with something else—a comparison of two unlike things. 

“Weave me a way to pay them back! “(Literally, help me develop an intricate plan to punish the suitors.)

…breathe valor in methe way you did that night when we AkhaiansUnbound the bright veil from the brow of Troy!(Literally, the fall of Troy was as dramatic as the loss of liberty for a woman who, enslaved at the fall of Troy, loses the headdress which marked her as a wife protected by her husband.)

…fire my heart and brace me!(Literally, inspire me with the intensity and destructive power of fire.)

…O grey-eyed one, fire my heart and brace me!I’ll take on fighting men three hundred strong if you fight at my back immortal lady!”

The grey-eyed goddess Athena answered him:“No fear but I shall be there; you’ll go forwardunder my arms when the crux comes at last.And I foresee your vast floor stained with blood,spattered with brains of this or that tall suitorwho fed upon your cattle.

Hyperbole- A boldly exaggerated statement that adds emphasis without intending to be literally true, also called overstatement.

…the man of ranging mind, Odysseus, cried: “So hard beset! An end like Agamemnon’s might very likely have been mine, a bad end, bleeding to death in my own hall. You forestalled it, goddess, by telling me how the land lies. Weave me a way to pay them back! And you, too, take your place with me, breathe valor in me the way you did that night when we Akhaians Unbound the bright veil from the brow of Troy! O grey-eyed one, fire my heart and brace me! I’ll take on fighting men three hundred strong if you fight at my back immortal lady!”

The grey-eyed goddess Athena answered him: “No fear but I shall be there; you’ll go forward under my arms when the crux comes at last. And I foresee your vast floor stained with blood, spattered with brains of this or that tall suitor who fed upon your cattle.”

Epithet- a picturesque tag or nickname associated with a certain character

Ethos (Credibility), or ethical appeal, means convincing by the character of the author. We tend to believe people whom we respect.

Athena has credibility for Odysseus because she has helped him many times before. Therefore, Odysseus can believe her prophecy and be comforted by her reassurances.

The grey-eyed goddess Athena answered him: “No fear but I shall be there; you’ll go forward under my arms when the crux comes at last. And I foresee your vast floor stained with blood, spattered with brains of this or that tall suitor who fed upon your cattle.”

Rhetorical appeal: Ethos

Pathos (Emotional) means persuading by appealing to the reader’s emotions. Language choice affects the audience's emotional response, and emotional appeal can effectively be used to enhance an argument. In the Odyssey, some characters are emotional when they speak, while others try to evoke an emotional response in the audience.

“So hard beset! An end like Agamemnon’s might very likely have been mine, a bad end, bleeding to death in my own hall. You forestalled it, goddess, by telling me how the land lies. Weave me a way to pay them back! And you, too, take your place with me, breathe valor in me the way you did that night when we Akhaians Unbound the bright veil from the brow of Troy! O grey-eyed one, fire my heart and brace me! I’ll take on fighting men three hundred strong if you fight at my back immortal lady!”

Rhetorical appeal: Pathos

Logos (Logical) means persuading by the

use of reasoning. Giving reasons is the heart of argumentation.

The grey-eyed goddess Athena answered him: “No fear but I shall be there; you’ll go forward under my arms when the crux comes at last. And I foresee your vast floor stained with

blood, spattered with brains of this or that tall suitor who fed upon your cattle.”

Rhetorical appeal: Logos

Hexter, Ralph. A Guide to the Odyssey. New York:

Vintage/Random, 1993. Homer. The Odyssey. Trans. Robert Fitzgerald. New

York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1998. Lattimore, Richmond. The Odyssey of Homer. New York:

Harper Collins, 1975. Lund, N. “AP English Glossary of Literary Terms.” Oxford

Tutorials. Web. 18 October 2012. McIlvain, John. “The Odyssey:Themes.” The Odyssey

Guide. Least Tern. 6 March 2005. Web. 18 October 2012.

Works Cited

Respect for the Gods:

Athena admires Odysseus and aides him throughout Odysseus trusts Athena and respects her strength,

judgment and guile. Revenge

Revenge serves as a strong motivator throughout the narrative.

Intelligence over Strength Odysseus uses intelligence to defeat the suitors who

outnumber him greatly. Athena, the goddess of wisdom, assists Odysseus (and Telemakhos) as they seek revenge.

Themes