1. Book 5- “Sweet Nymph and the Open Sea Depth Analysis and Review
‘scuba’ vs. ‘snorkel’
Depth Analysis and Review

2. Setting: Ogygia and the Sea Main Characters: Athena, Kalypso, Zeus
Hermes, Odyseus

3. Athena- Altruist, Magician Ino- Altruist Poseidon- Villain
Archetypes:
Athena- Altruist, Magician
Ino- Altruist
Poseidon- Villain
Penelope- Loyal wife
Kalypso- Temptress- Love

4. Archetypal Setting:
Island: Isolation

5. Paradox: Odysseus’ weeping and grief for
Home vs. Kalypso’s happiness with
Odysseus on her island

6. Thematic Summary Summary:
In this book, there are two main thematic topics: Odysseus being helped and hurt by the gods before he eventually makes it to a shore closer to his goal, Ithaka; and loyalty triumphing over temptation, as demonstrated by his commitment to Penelope despite his contradictory behavior with Kalypso.
How Odysseus is helped and hurt by the Gods:
Athena gets Zeus to instruct Hermes to tell Kalypso to free Odysseus.
Kalypso argues with the edict, saying she was the only one who saved him from death, but agrees to help because she can’t defy Zeus. With Kalypso’s help, he builds the raft and she stocks it with wine, water and victuals (food) in a bag.
Poseidon returns from his feast and throws great waves into his path, toppling Odysseus from his boat.

7. Ino, a nereid, ascends from the sea and offers Odysseus her veil to wear around him so that he doesn’t drown.
Then Athena intervenes and instructs Odysseus on how to get to shore.
Second Theme: Loyalty wins over temptation: Odysseus still feels loyal to Penelope even though he sleeps with an immortal goddess.
Specifically when Kalypso expresses her jealousy of Odysseus’ love for Penelope, Odysseus tells her that – as a mortal - Penelope is only a “shade” compared to Kalypso, but yet he longs for her.
Point of Confusion: If Odysseus is so in love with Penelope, why does he sleep every night with Kalypso?
Thematic Con’t

8. Intervention of the Gods
Deus Ex Machina
“During this meditation, a heavy surge was taking him, in fact, straight on the rocks. He had been flayed there, and his bones broken, had not Athena instructed him: he gripped a rock-ledge with both hands in passing and held on, groaning, as he surge went by, to keep clear of its breaking” (X ).
This passage shows that Odysseus received help from Athena. Without it, he would have been hurled against the rocks. In fact, Athena’s intervention, plus Ino’s scarf, result in Odysseus’ survival.

9. Odysseus’ Heroic Traits
“’O Father Zeus and gods in bliss forever, let no man holding scepter as a king think to be mild, or kind or virtuous; let him be cruel, and practice evil ways, for those Odysseus ruled cannot remember his fatherhood and mercy of his reign’” (X. 9-15).
In this passage, Athena remarks about Odysseus’ unusual statesman-like traits of mercy and fatherhood.

10. Heroic Qualities Wins Despite Desires to Give Up and the Odds against Him
“Two nights, two days, in the solid deep-sea swell he drifted, many times awaiting death, until with shining ringlets in the East, the dawn confirmed a third day… and… he caught a glimpse of land” (V ).
After Poseidon wreaks Odysseus’ raft, Odysseus drifts at sea for two days, defying death numerous times. Although he almost gives up at several points, Odysseus finally makes it to the safety of shore.

11. Skepticism- character trait
After Kalypso tells Odysseus he may go home, Odysseus is asking her what “guile" (trickery) (X. 184) she’s hiding. She assures him that she has “no further spells to work against you,” and he believes that his trip home will be safe (X. 198).
Odysseus is skeptical about his situation, but ends up feeling safe and hopeful. However, his hopefulness proves to be short-lived as he ends up in dangerous situations that causes him significant suffering.

12. Odysseus- externally dealing with the Seas as he leaves Ogygia
Main Conflicts
Internal vs. External
Odysseus- externally dealing with the
Seas as he leaves Ogygia
Kalypso- Internally loves and doesn’t want
Allow Odysseus to leave

13. Odysseus’ trait: mortal and exhausted
At one point after Poseidon, the god of the earthquake, has thrown one obstacle after another in Odysseus’ way, Odysseus almost gives up. He can see the shore, but there is no way for him to ascend it as he hears “the trampling roar of sea on rock” (V. 419). His knees grow “slack” and his “heart faint” (V. 424), meaning he is too exhausted to continue.
Deus Ex Machina
Odysseus’ trait: mortal and exhausted

14. Paradox: “against his will, by one who was willing” (V. 155).
Patronymics: “son of Laertes and seed of
Zeus,
Resourceful Odysseus”
Epithet: “Circumspect Penelope”

15. Epic Similes: Hermes vs. flying fish (V. 51-3).
Odysseus’ raft vs. Autumn winds (V ).
Octopus tentacles vs. Odysseus skin (V ).
Buried burning log vs. Odysseus burying himself (V ).

16. 12-14:30, 17:18-21:30, 27:05-29