HUM 2051: Civilization I Fall 2012 Dr. Perdigao September 12-14, 2012 Into the Underworld HUM 2051: Civilization I Fall 2012 Dr. Perdigao September 12-14, 2012

Storylines Storytellers Book IV: Agamemnon’s story told by Menelaus, Odysseus’s own story retold—models of memory, storytelling within the epic Demodocus Odysseus: “It goes against my grain to repeat a tale told once, and told so clearly” (355). At the end of Book XII, it returns to bard’s story—from Odysseus as storyteller from bard’s accounts, back to Calypso and homecoming Weavers Penelope, Calypso, Circe Circe weaving at loom—enchanting web (like web of deceit in Agamemnon) (320)

Centering the Journey Circe (Book X) Aeaea Hermes’ guidance Aeolus Bag of Wind Laestrygoians, Antiphates Eurylochus tries to report what happens to crew (320-321), then cautious about staying; Odysseus impervious to Circe’s charms, her response: “You have a mind in you no magic can enchant!” (322, 365) Guides to/in the underworld Circe, Tiresias Circe tells him what he’ll undergo next, descent into the underworld (326) Elpenor (329-330) Burial—sign of courtesy and propriety (Clytaemnestra does not show Agamamenon); “remember me” (330, 78)

Deconstructing the Descent From Elpenor’s death to the underworld Book XI: Descent into underworld—hero tires in task and is at moment of exhaustion Figurative death in descent Consults wisdom figures, Tiresias, family members As a result of confrontation with wisdom figures, goes through rebirth in return with new strength, to go back to the quest Pattern of whole poem in The Divine Comedy

Cast of Characters in the Underworld Tiresias Odysseus’s mother Anticleia Women: wives of heroes Agamemnon (338-340) Achilles (340-342) Ajax (342) Tityus Tantalus Sisyphus Heracles, as ghost Desires to see first golden age—Theseus, Jason and the Argonauts

Framing the Hero Joseph Campbell’s The Hero with One Thousand Faces as story of ritual death, rebirth: separation: initiation: return Rites of passage— “monomyth” “A hero ventures forth from the world of common day into a region of supernatural wonder: fabulous forces are there encountered and a decisive victory is won. The hero comes back from this mysterious adventure with the power to bestow boons on his fellow man.” (30)

Stages of Descent I. Departure: call to adventure, refusal of the call, supernatural aid II. Initiation: round of trials, meeting with the goddess, woman as temptress III. Return: refusal of the return, the magic flight, crossing of return threshold, master of two worlds, freedom to live

Framing the Narrative Sirens Version of Pandora story, excess, control , like Sirens—desire to hear (curiosity) but control applied—also in Book X with the sack of wind, then story of flood with six nights, seventh day of rest As bards themselves, enchanting with story (349) Narrating The Iliad? Clashing Rocks, Scylla and Charybdis Six-headed monster, whirlpool “between a rock and a hard place” (354) Helios Sun cattle—hospitality, respect (reverses Sirens episode with his control)