The Odyssey XIX-XXIIThe Odyssey XIX-XXII

RevelationsRevelationsOmensOmensChallengesChallengesDeathDeathJustice?Justice?

The Odyssey XIX-XXIIThe Odyssey XIX-XXII

RevelationsRevelations OmensOmens ChallengesChallenges DeathDeath Justice?Justice?

RevelationsRevelations A major plot aspect of A major plot aspect of

much of Greek literaturemuch of Greek literature Oedipus Tyrannus, IonOedipus Tyrannus, Ion

The The OdysseyOdyssey relies on them relies on them heavilyheavily

CyclopesCyclopes EumaiosEumaios NausikaaNausikaa Nestor & MenelausNestor & Menelaus AthenaAthena EurykleiaEurykleia The other servantsThe other servants

RevelationsRevelations

Why are recognition scenes so important?Why are recognition scenes so important? PLOT ADVANCEMENTPLOT ADVANCEMENT

Why are there so many recognition Why are there so many recognition scenes in Homer?scenes in Homer?

Revelation #9Revelation #9

The Old NurseThe Old Nurse Nursed OdysseusNursed Odysseus VERY oldVERY old Name means Name means

“widely-famed”“widely-famed” The only one who The only one who

can reveal can reveal Odysseus before Odysseus before his timehis time

THE SCARTHE SCAR

The Boar HuntThe Boar Hunt

Odysseus as a boy Odysseus as a boy went huntingwent hunting

Skeered up a huge Skeered up a huge razorback hograzorback hog

Hog stuck him with Hog stuck him with a tuska tusk

Odysseus kept Odysseus kept goinggoing

Killed boarKilled boar Gets bandagedGets bandaged Has cool scar and Has cool scar and

storystory

THE SCARTHE SCAR

Scar is only thing that won’t have Scar is only thing that won’t have changed since Odysseus leftchanged since Odysseus left

Eurykleia will recognize itEurykleia will recognize it Why won’t Penelope see it?Why won’t Penelope see it? Why doesn’t Athena hide the scar or Why doesn’t Athena hide the scar or

make Eurykleia not see it?make Eurykleia not see it?

Penelope’s GriefPenelope’s Grief

Penelope constantly mentions she has Penelope constantly mentions she has lost her beauty since Odysseus leftlost her beauty since Odysseus left

She is very moroseShe is very morose Why doesn’t Odysseus reveal himself Why doesn’t Odysseus reveal himself

to her? (3 reasons)to her? (3 reasons) 1) If you build it, he will come.1) If you build it, he will come. 2) Ease his pain2) Ease his pain.. 3) 3) Go the distance.Go the distance.

OmensOmens

Very important in mythic Greek (and Roman) pastVery important in mythic Greek (and Roman) past Penelope’s omenPenelope’s omen

Eagle slaughters Penelope’s geeseEagle slaughters Penelope’s geese Two gates of dreams: one horn, one ivoryTwo gates of dreams: one horn, one ivory

AeneidAeneid 6.893-896 6.893-896 The Barley-Maid’s OmenThe Barley-Maid’s Omen

Cloudless thunderCloudless thunder The Suitors’ OmensThe Suitors’ Omens

Omens dictated auspicious daysOmens dictated auspicious days

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** - no birds were harmed in the making of this powerpoint

Shame CultureShame Culture

ChallengesChallenges Shame CultureShame Culture

Other’s opinions most Other’s opinions most importantimportant

Loss of face = loss of Loss of face = loss of statusstatus

““death is less bitter death is less bitter than to live on and than to live on and never have the beauty never have the beauty we came here laying we came here laying seige to” - Leodesseige to” - Leodes

““make no contention make no contention here with younger here with younger men.” - Antinoosmen.” - Antinoos

The Contest of the BowThe Contest of the Bow

Odysseus’ bow can only be strung by Odysseus’ bow can only be strung by Odysseus, or someone as cool as OdysseusOdysseus, or someone as cool as Odysseus

Line up twelve axe-heads and shoot an Line up twelve axe-heads and shoot an arrow through themarrow through them

All try, and fail….except one.All try, and fail….except one.

Death in the Great HallDeath in the Great Hall

YOU’RE ALL GOING TO DIE.

Death in the Great HallDeath in the Great Hall

““It’s a bad day to be a bad guy.”It’s a bad day to be a bad guy.” SuitorsSuitors HandmaidensHandmaidens MelantiosMelantios

Odysseus is willing to kill anyoneOdysseus is willing to kill anyone EurykleiaEurykleia ““Be quiet, keep it from the others, too, Be quiet, keep it from the others, too,

else I warn you..I’ll kill you, nurse or not, else I warn you..I’ll kill you, nurse or not, when the time comes – when the time when the time comes – when the time comes to kill the other women.” (368)comes to kill the other women.” (368)

Recap - Death of the SuitorsRecap - Death of the Suitors

They all die. Horribly. Like, really really horribly. Arrows and spears and things.

Recap - Death of MelanthiosRecap - Death of Melanthios

“Chopped with swords to cut his nose and ears off,pulled off his genitals to feed the dogs and raging hacked his hands and feet away.”

Recap - Death of The Recap - Death of The HandmaidensHandmaidens

““in turn each woman thrust her head in turn each woman thrust her head into a noose and swung…their feet into a noose and swung…their feet danced for a little, but not long.” danced for a little, but not long.” (after they have to clean up the (after they have to clean up the slaughter in the Great Hall)slaughter in the Great Hall)

Total Casualities:Total Casualities:

Suitor/Handmaidens: 182Suitor/Handmaidens: 182

Odysseus/Allies: 0Odysseus/Allies: 0

Justice?Justice?

Is the slaughter of Is the slaughter of the suitors justice?the suitors justice?

““Your last hour has Your last hour has come. You die in come. You die in blood.”blood.”

Fear and loathing Fear and loathing in Ithakain Ithaka

Eurymakhos’ Eurymakhos’ about-faceabout-face

Justice?Justice?

The Supplication of Leodes and The Supplication of Leodes and MedonMedon Leodes gets itLeodes gets it Medon is sparedMedon is spared Arbitrary justice?Arbitrary justice?

““No plea like yours could save you from this No plea like yours could save you from this hard bed of death.”hard bed of death.”

““Fair dealing brings more profit in the end.”Fair dealing brings more profit in the end.”

The Case of MelanthiosThe Case of Melanthios