Book X (Aeolus’ gift; disaster; Circe) 235- Killing the stag for the crew; handling the crew’s depression: discuss O’s self-portrait here Circe’s transformation of the men into pigs: discuss the lines describing this on pp. 237-38 top, esp. ll. 261-68 Hermes’ gift 239 O. knows it’s Hermes in disguise—how? O. and Circe together. Evaluate how Circle responds to O., and vice versa (in O’s portrait of them, at least). Can this episode be read as a parable about sexual relations between men and women, including men’s fears of women’s power? Discuss also Circe’s character: how do you judge her? What can we tell of O’s opinion of her, through his portrait? For C’s portrait, see also the beginning of Book XI. How should we judge O’s behavior?--see pp. 241-42 and 245 especially. Book XI (Kingdom of the Dead) Why does O. need to go to the Kingdom of the dead before going home? Surely the full answer is not so simple as the fact he has to get travel instructions from Tiresias? This episode fills me with awe, fear, and sadness--what is your reaction? Let’s discuss how O. and the men respond, and how you do--what details shape our response? What do we learn about the Greek conception of the world after death? Note especially l. 619 on p. 267 (“each asking about the grief that touched him most”) and p. 270 The tales of famous women and men now dead: which ones most interest you?

		Book XVIII, The Beggar-King of Ithaca. Note: O. has returned and revealed his identity to Telemachus in Book XVI, and learned of the suitors’ invasion of his palace; he now begins to try to solve the puzzle of how to take revenge. evaluate the portrait of the suitors as revealed by their treatment of the tramp: pp. 378-79, etc. evaluate Odysseus’ speech to one of the suitors: 380 Discuss Penelope’s portrait and entrance on 381-82, stage-managed by Athena! Her speech to Telemachus (382) Her speech to suitors (383-84) [see also O’s response, bottom of 384] Note also: women servants and suitors mocking O 386- Telemachus’ “daring” criticism of suitors’ behavior on 389: Athena’s inspiration? Odysseus’? Book XIX, Penelope and Her Guest Why can’t Penelope and her son just stop feeding the suitors, or order them to leave? Why doesn’t anyone recognize Odysseus, even his wife? If this issue is causing you problems, shift the focus a bit: what does this issue tell us about “recognition” and identity in Homer--what really defines Odysseus’ identity and makes it recognizable? Check out the mysterious description of Athena’s lamp (391)--compare to her transformation of Penelope on 382 Evaluate Penelope’s probing questions of Odysseus and her comments about her situation, 393- . What does this tell us about her motives and character? Also discuss O’s responses to P’s questions, his attempts to parry them yet also to reassure P. that Odysseus lives. 399: O’s “cover story” re profit-turning after he left Phaeacians 400: Penelope’s apparent refusal to believe the stranger/Odysseus re her husband’s fate: why? Note also her kindness toward this stranger--not just because he gave her news of O.? See 401 especially, and note O’s response. 402: the old retainer Eurycleia’s speech 403: E. discovers O’s scar and Homer stops time to tell us the story of the scar 406- : Note Penelope’s request to O. to read her dream (407-08): what is she up to here? Note also P’s speech about her grief and her situation (408-09) P’s decision to challenge the suitors with the arrow-shooting contest: why? evaluate her motives & strategies, esp. her sense of responsibility toward Telemachus’ “estate” in tension with Penelope’s loyalty to Odysseus and their life together What parallels do you see between Odysseus’ and Penelope’s personalities and methods--their “metis”--in these episodes?

		Book XX, Portents Gather O’s vs. P’s dreams and night-thoughts: contrast (pp. 411-13). At one point their worlds and thoughts “overlap” (?): ll. 103-04, p. 413 [compare p 412, ll. 61- ?] 410-11: discuss the figure of speech comparing O’s anger to a mother dog’s 417 the cowherd’s speech, his dilemma; and O’s reply 418 why wouldn’t the suitors interpret the eagle/dove omen differently? (re their plot to kill Telemachus) 419- Athena to raise the level of insult, to make O’s anger deeper; note also the suitors’ mockery of the sacred rules of hospitality 421 Evaluate this suitor’s speech to Odysseus: just “friendly advice”? Note how it builds on Telemachus’ speech on 420 421-22 Note the mixture of laughter and one suitor’s visions of death: discuss Homer’s use of psychology here in his portrait of the suitors The ending to Book XX: Penelope overhears everything. Why introduce her here? Note also the narrator’s prophecy, and pun on “groaning feast” Book XXI, Odysseus Strings His Bow In class, let’s give a close reading of the first two sentences opening this episode. the story of the bow: 424-25 discuss Penelope’s role , gathering the weapons, speaking to the suitors (426) Antinous’ speech: what does it reveal? 427 Telemachus’ reasons for trying to string the bow in such a public way, then backing off [?] at his father’s secret head-shake? 428. Note that T. publicly calls the suitors “my betters” etc. afterwards 433-34 O’s speech to the suitors to let him try to string the bow.... Analyze also what the suitors’ angry response reveals. 434-35 analyze Penelope reply to the suitors--remember that P. does not know (consciously anyway) that the stranger is Odysseus. 435: Telemachus’ pre-empting his mother: how should we interpret this? a sign of his maturity and proper masculinity? a sign of his immaturity? See also the discussion of Penelope and Telemachus in Bernard Knox’s introduction, pp. 51- . 437-38 O. examines the bow. This is arguably the most dramatic and suspenseful moment in all of the Odyssey, despite all that O has been through. Pay attention to the sentence in ll. 451-56, especially the lyre/singer simile. Then note how the narrator renders Odysseus’ action after the assault begins (437- ) How effective is the ending of this Book (p 438)? Books XXII-XXIII Odysseus’ revenge; events in Odysseus’ and Penelope’s bedroom Let’s have the class suggest major topics and important passages, via the listserv. You're also welcome to reading the concluding Book to the Odyssey (24), but it is not assigned.