The Odyssey XIX-XXII The Odyssey XIX-XXII RevelationsOmensChallengesDeathJustice?

The Odyssey XIX-XXII Revelations Revelations Omens Omens Challenges Challenges Death Death Justice? Justice?

Revelations A major plot aspect of much of Greek literature A major plot aspect of much of Greek literature Oedipus Tyrannus, Ion Oedipus Tyrannus, Ion The Odyssey relies on them heavily The Odyssey relies on them heavily Cyclopes Cyclopes Eumaios Eumaios Nausikaa Nausikaa Nestor & Menelaus Nestor & Menelaus Athena Athena Eurykleia Eurykleia The other servants The other servants

Revelations Why are recognition scenes so important? Why are recognition scenes so important? PLOT ADVANCEMENT PLOT ADVANCEMENT Why are there so many recognition scenes in Homer? Why are there so many recognition scenes in Homer?

Revelation #9 The Old Nurse Nursed Odysseus VERY old Name means “widely- famed” The only one who can reveal Odysseus before his time THE SCAR

The Boar Hunt Odysseus as a boy went hunting Odysseus as a boy went hunting Skeered up a huge razorback hog Skeered up a huge razorback hog Hog stuck him with a tusk Hog stuck him with a tusk Odysseus kept going Odysseus kept going Killed boar Killed boar Gets bandaged Gets bandaged Has cool scar and story Has cool scar and story

THE SCAR Scar is only thing that won’t have changed since Odysseus left Scar is only thing that won’t have changed since Odysseus left Eurykleia will recognize it Eurykleia will recognize it Why won’t Penelope see it? Why won’t Penelope see it? Why doesn’t Athena hide the scar or make Eurykleia not see it? Why doesn’t Athena hide the scar or make Eurykleia not see it?

Penelope’s Grief Penelope constantly mentions she has lost her beauty since Odysseus left Penelope constantly mentions she has lost her beauty since Odysseus left She is very morose She is very morose Why doesn’t Odysseus reveal himself to her? (3 reasons) Why doesn’t Odysseus reveal himself to her? (3 reasons) 1) If you build it, he will come. 1) If you build it, he will come. 2) Ease his pain. 2) Ease his pain. 3) Go the distance. 3) Go the distance.

Omens Very important in mythic Greek (and Roman) past Very important in mythic Greek (and Roman) past Penelope’s omen Penelope’s omen Eagle slaughters Penelope’s geese Eagle slaughters Penelope’s geese Two gates of dreams: one horn, one ivory Two gates of dreams: one horn, one ivory Aeneid Aeneid The Barley-Maid’s Omen The Barley-Maid’s Omen Cloudless thunder Cloudless thunder The Suitors’ Omens The Suitors’ Omens Omens dictated auspicious days Omens dictated auspicious days ** ** - no birds were harmed in the making of this powerpoint

Shame Culture

Challenges Other’s opinions most important Loss of face = loss of status “death is less bitter than to live on and never have the beauty we came here laying seige to” - Leodes “make no contention here with younger men.” - Antinoos

The Contest of the Bow Odysseus’ bow can only be strung by Odysseus, or someone as cool as Odysseus Line up twelve axe-heads and shoot an arrow through them All try, and fail….except one.

Death in the Great Hall YOU’RE ALL GOING TO DIE.

Death in the Great Hall “It’s a bad day to be a bad guy.” “It’s a bad day to be a bad guy.” Suitors Suitors Handmaidens Handmaidens Melantios Melantios Odysseus is willing to kill anyone Odysseus is willing to kill anyone Eurykleia Eurykleia “Be quiet, keep it from the others, too, else I warn you..I’ll kill you, nurse or not, when the time comes – when the time comes to kill the other women.” (368) “Be quiet, keep it from the others, too, else I warn you..I’ll kill you, nurse or not, when the time comes – when the time comes to kill the other women.” (368)

Recap - Death of the Suitors They all die. Horribly. Like, really really horribly. Arrows and spears and things.

Recap - 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 Handmaidens “in turn each woman thrust her head into a noose and swung…their feet danced for a little, but not long.” (after they have to clean up the slaughter in the Great Hall) “in turn each woman thrust her head into a noose and swung…their feet danced for a little, but not long.” (after they have to clean up the slaughter in the Great Hall) Total Casualities: Suitor/Handmaidens: 182 Odysseus/Allies: 0

Justice? Is the slaughter of the suitors justice? Is the slaughter of the suitors justice? “Your last hour has come. You die in blood.” “Your last hour has come. You die in blood.” Fear and loathing in Ithaka Fear and loathing in Ithaka Eurymakhos’ about- face Eurymakhos’ about- face

Justice? The Supplication of Leodes and Medon The Supplication of Leodes and Medon Leodes gets it Leodes gets it Medon is spared Medon is spared Arbitrary justice? Arbitrary justice? “No plea like yours could save you from this hard bed of death.” “No plea like yours could save you from this hard bed of death.” “Fair dealing brings more profit in the end.” “Fair dealing brings more profit in the end.” The Case of Melanthios The Case of Melanthios