|
|
Post by Mr. Thomas on Oct 18, 2013 13:16:12 GMT -5
Post responses here.
|
|
|
|
Post by hankmichels on Oct 18, 2013 18:12:34 GMT -5
D. “And then, that hour the star rose up, the clearest, brightest star, that always heralds the newborn light of day, the deep-sea-going ship made landfall on the island… Ithaca, at last.” (lines 105-108) I think this a really beautifully written line. It is a really nice way to describe finally touching down on the destination that took hundreds of pages to reach. Although slightly cheesy, while describing some random star, it still does a very nice job of making you feel the same sense of completion that Odysseus felt. Or would have felt, since he slept right through the whole thing.
E. It was not until I read this chapter when I realized that Odysseus has not seen Athena since troy. She has been coming to him in disguise throughout the book, and homer didn’t make it seem like she was in disguise enough. “I never saw you, never glimpsed you striding along my decks to ward off some disaster” (Line 361-363) This is Odysseus saying pretty much that he thought she had abandoned him. that she was never there when he was loosing his men or having his ship be destroyed. But then Athena goes on to tell him that she always was there, just in disguise to help him.
I. In response to what Eric said in class today, I agree with his statement about loosing shipmates. He said to imagine we were already stranded together for years and ended up becoming really close. Then, one by one we are all picked off. That it was Odysseus loosing crewmates is like, and that is why he cries every time.
|
|
|
|
Post by idelfonsoe16 on Oct 18, 2013 21:58:15 GMT -5
C. I find it kind of funny how Odysseus blames the Phaeacians for dropping him off in a “random” island, when he was actually in Ithaca. What I want to question is, why does Odysseus not give the Phaeacians a break? Seriously, they gave him ten times more loot than what he got from Troy. Why all of a sudden blame and curse all of them? (Which was ironic because at the same time Poseidon was getting revenge on them). Odysseus is just acting like a hypocrite in this scene, and that is not who he is!
H. When Athena revealed her true form to Odysseus, I imagined Odysseus with a facial expression that shows him kind of suspecting that Athena was the little boy. Technically he already knew Athena was with him, so he isn’t shocked in this scene. What I found really funny though was how later they both plan how they’re going to kill the suitors. The fact that she’s all for Odysseus’ favor, it’s kind of like she has a crush on him. We really don’t know her intentions on THAT, but we know she just wanted to get him and his family home.
I. hankmichels D response was just funny. “I think this a really beautifully written line” really hit the spot for me just right now. Although that was hysterical, I agree with him. That truly is a great way to describe the “final destination”. After all that, it makes it seem like Odysseus is staring at the gates of Elysium!
|
|
|
|
Post by rozzayhill007 on Oct 20, 2013 11:13:05 GMT -5
Jackson Hill
C. Something that I am confused about is where Odysseus and his men are sailing to Ithaca, “ So welcome now Odysseus the setting light of day, and he lost no time as he pressed Phaeacia’s men who love their oars, addressing his host, Alcinous, first and foremost: ‘ Alcinous, majesty, shining among your island people, make your libations, launch me safely on my way—to one and all farewell!’” What is happening in those lines. I’m pretty sure that they are either sailing or are about to depart for Ithaca, but what is the meaning of the words spoken and written in these lines.
D. Lines that I really enjoyed are in the last paragraph of this particular book. It says, “No more words, not now—Athena stroked Odysseus with her wand. She shriveled the supple skin on his lithe limbs, stripped the russet curls from his head, covered his body top to toe with the fire in his eyes, so shining once. She turned his shirt and cloak into squalid rags, ripped and filthy, smeared with grime and soot. She flung over this the long pelt of a bounding deer, rubbed bare, and gave him a staff and beggar’s sack, torn and tattered, slung from a fraying rope. There are two reasons why I like this quote the first is, that it is very detailed and descriptive, which helps to further imagine this scene. I also like it because now Odysseys is getting what he deserved. He is being treated poorly for all the terrible things he did while away from home.
I. Like Hank’s letter E response I was also not aware that Odysseus had never seen Athena. In this book however it is clearly stated that he has not seen Athena since Troy, which I was not aware of until reading this book.
|
|
|
|
Post by richteri16 on Oct 20, 2013 13:33:22 GMT -5
E. I was shocked by lines 181-212. Poseidon sinks the ship that transported Odysseus home. When it is entering it homeport for all to see he sinks it in front of everyone. Then he plans on making a mountain that will surround their port. This is bad because the Phaecians love the sea more than anything. They have to resort to sacrificing some of their best bulls for Poseidon in an effort to save themselves. The reason I think that this is messed up is because they are Poseidon’s number one people. This is a betrayal of trust. Also the Phaecians were just trying to do good. They had no ill intentions when trying to help Odysseus. Hopefully their plan will work for them and Poseidon will stop tormenting them. They seem like very nice people. D. I liked lines 213-243. Here Odysseus has finally awoken on the beach after is journey. He is surrounded by all of his gifts and whatnot. However he doesn’t know where he is. In fact he thinks he is still far from home on some strange island. He gets angry and starts blaming the Phaecians who he thought dropped him off at the wrong spot. I enjoyed this because it helped reaffirm how long Odysseus had actually been away for. He doesn’t even recognize his own beach. I. I agree with hankmichels on choice D. This one sentence is a very elegant way to conclude this whole journey. I don’t think the author could have written it better. |
|
|
|
Post by jotirmoykundu on Oct 20, 2013 16:14:47 GMT -5
C. What really confused me in this part of the book is where Odysseus and his men go to Ithaca, “ So welcome now Odysseus the setting light of day, and he lost no time as he pressed Phaeacia’s men who love their oars, addressing his host, Alcinous, first and foremost: ‘ Alcinous, majesty, shining among your island people, make your libations, launch me safely on my way—to one and all farewell!’” I didn’t properly understand these lines. I am pretty sure they have already gone or are currently sailing to Ithica, but what is the meaning or purpose behind these lines.
D. The lines that I enjoyed a lot were the entire last paragraph of the reading. The reason why I enjoy this quote is because first off the way described and how descriptive he was, was amazing, which helps to further picture the scene in my mind. I also like it because now Odysseys is getting his just deserts. He is finally getting what he deserves for all the wrong things he did when he was away.
E. I was shocked when I realized Oddyseus hasn’t seen Athena since Troy. Athena has been with him throughout most of the book, but she was with him through disguise, which Homer lacks on describing. “I never saw you, never glimpsed you striding along my decks to ward off some disaster” (Line 361-363) Oddyseus thought she completely abandoned. He thought she was never there when he was loosing his men or having his ship be destroyed, but then Athena goes on to tell him that she always was there, just in disguise to help him.
|
|
|
|
Post by bakerm16 on Oct 20, 2013 16:32:15 GMT -5
D. I find Odysseus in lines 213-236 very interesting. He wakes up up and has not a clue where he is. Little does Odysseus know that be is on Ithaca. FINALLY, after such a journey Odysseus is finally home. He is greeted with presents as far as the eye can see. And with all this good news he is upset..... He has no idea he is home. ""He sprang to his feet and, scanning his own native country, groaned, slapped his thighs with his flat palms and Odysseus cried in anguish: "Man of misery, whose land have I lit on now? What are they here -- violent, savage, lawless? Or friendly to strangers, god fearing men? YOURE ON ITHACA HOW DO YOU LOOK AROUND AND NOT RECOGNIZE THE CITY YOU MISS THE MOST???
I. I agree with idelfonsoe1 on his letter D response. I find it weird that Athena even bothered to reveal her true self to Odysseus even though he knew all along who she was. I also agree with Eric about the fact that we still do not know Athena's intentions in helping out Odysseus. Does she like him? Is she doing all this just for something in return later on in the book? We don't know. I'm surprised Odysseus has not become suspicious of why she is always helping him. To sympathize she has been helping him from the start so if she continued I would not be suspicious.
G. If I were Odysseus in lines 213 and on I would feel very happy. I understand where his mind is in thinking he was put on another island to go through trouble. But being home at this point would be so heartwarming.
|
|
|
|
Post by zaysofly on Oct 20, 2013 16:45:58 GMT -5
D: Wow, I think Odysseus really needed that 2 day nap. I mean he just recently escaped death twice, and is far away from a nice comfy bed. I feel bad for the Phaeacians thought, because they have done a lot for Odysseus and have been so nice to him. Now they get punished by Poseidon and it doesn’t seem fair. But I do love how Poseidon has to go to Zeus to complain and speak his way, before cursing and punishing the Phaeacians. It’s like a court order and Zeus is the judge. Being so, I think Zeus should have overruled Poseidon on this one. It’s kind of like when I do something nice for a friend and get in trouble in the end for it. I don’t find any justice in that. After their ship sinks, they vow never to help any stranded stranger ever again, which now makes the people that we knew of Phaeacia, not so friendly anymore. Athena is back in the picture which means we are no longer in Odysseus’ point of view we are 3rd person omniscient again. And like I said before Athena isn’t just newly in the picture, she had probably been in the picture before but we wouldn’t know because Odysseus didn’t know.
C: Why does Odysseus curse the Phaeacians when he wakes up? I presume that when Odysseus finds out about what happened to the Phaeacians he will think it was because of what he said. Even though it was Poseidon who cursed the Phaeacians.
G: If I were Odysseus I would be kind of freaking out. I woke up on a mysterious island and some guy I don’t know is asking me who I am.
|
|
|
|
Post by alis16 on Oct 20, 2013 16:51:09 GMT -5
Stephen Ali
Mr. Thomas
English 10 Homework
October 20, 2013
E. My reactions to the scene when Odysseus get back home from the help of the Phoenicians and is not familiar with his home of Ithaca. When the Phoenicians are sailing back home, Poseidon is enraged at them for helping his enemy Odysseus reach Ithaca. So he basically cries to Zeus about it. Zeus trying to please Poseidon and his childish ways in my opinion, then turns the ship into stone making it sink to the bottom of the sea. I think Poseidon and also Zeus are not bring very nice to the Phoenician ship , if anything why couldn’t they just kill Odysseus right there. I think this act from the Gods will make regular commoners think twice before helping out a random stranger. I know if anyone came to my house after this act was done , I would tell them I could not help them ,because you never know what the Gods would do to me if I helped the wrong person. I think the Phoenicians never deserved this all they were trying to do was be generous to Odysseus since all people were nice to strangers (Greek Hospitality).
G. If I was Odysseus when he first arrived at Ithaca and was told by the Sheppard basically it was Ithaca and a lot has changed I would have went straight to my home and probably beat the suitors that were destroying my life while I was away.
C. Why does Odysseus blame the Phoenicians for dropping him off on some random Island even though it is really Ithaca? They have done so much for him anyway If they did drop you have in the middle of nowhere you shouldn’t blame them, because they basically saved your life. Also if Odysseus never fell asleep he would have known it was Ithaca and not some random Island at first.
|
|
|
|
Post by stephanoscocoves on Oct 20, 2013 19:41:40 GMT -5
D. “And then, that hour the star rose up, the clearest, brightest star, that always heralds the newborn light of day, the deep-sea-going ship made landfall on the island… Ithaca, at last.” (lines 105-108) I think that this is a great line. Homer does a great job of decribing this. It is actually very beautifully written.
I. I agree with eric idelfonso about his comment on Book 13.
C. I was confused on how Odysseus blames the Phoencians for dropping him off at a random island. even thought the island was ithica. They have already do a lot for him and now he is blaming them.
|
|
|
|
Post by petergiglio on Oct 20, 2013 19:43:50 GMT -5
G. if i were Odysseus i would be extremely happy that i had finally reached my home in ithaca but when the Sheppard had told me that a lot has changed i would have been more suspicious of my wife and everything and started to look around to see how things have changed either for the good or bad. I would be excited but also sad to see that my home has changed so much and its not what i had expected to come home to. Also i would feel a little ignorant to see that things have changed because thats what happens over time.
C. Im confused as to why Odysseus blames the Phaecians for dropping him off on some random island because ITS ITHACA and also they didnt do anything bad by dropping him off on some island, actually they saved his life so he should be grateful but come on this is odysseus were talking about so hes not. Plus if he had stayed awake he wouldve known it was his home anyway.
I. i agree with ian when he says that those lines actually truly express how long he has been away for and he forgets what his home actually looks like and how much it has changed
|
|
|
|
Post by michaelgenco on Oct 20, 2013 20:53:04 GMT -5
C.
This book brought great confusion to me, and one of the questions that I had was about this quote: “True, but time and again Odyssesus turned his face toward the radiant sun, anxious for it to set, yearning now to be gone and home once more.” Why is Odysseus so excited about going home now? I know he has been away for years, but he has had so many opportunities to go home and to get home but he either gets into some type of trouble or stays on an island for years. Another quote that was confusing to me was this one: “Come, quickly, I’ll inspect my treasure and count it up myself. Did they make off with anything in their ship?” Why does Odysseus jump to a conclusion like this? After all that the Phoenicians have given to him he would think like that? It shows how selfish he is. Lastly, I am greatly confused about the reason Athena would go through all of this trouble of saving Odysseus and guiding him to this point to just go and take away his treasures, Why would she do that, she is a goddess she can get whatever she wants.
D.
A quote that I really enjoy is this: “Earth-shaker, you with your massive power, why moaning so? The gods don’t disrespect you. What a stir there’s be if they flung abuse at the oldest, noblest of them all.” I thought that this quote was interesting because Poseidon does to his older brother Zeus to complain to and basically ask for help. It shows how human the gods are.
I.
I agree with zaysofly D response: I also think that Odysseus needed the rest, he has been busy for the past days.
|
|
|
|
Post by vazquezm16 on Oct 20, 2013 21:42:59 GMT -5
C. I did not understand why Odysseus lied to Athena even though he did not know who she was. It would seem that maybe Odysseus would just tell someone the truth at this point. After all his stories and arrogance it what has gotten him in trouble so far. Once Athena reveals herself to him though he instantly cooperates with her. I think this shows that Odysseus can adapt to any situation to try and get the advantage even if it is against a God.
D. “Man of misery, whose land have I lit on now? What are they here-violent, savage, lawless? Or friendly to strangers, god-fearing men? Where can I take this heap of treasure now and where in the world do I wander of myself? I f only the trove had stayed among the Phaeacians there and I had made my way home to some other mighty king who would have hosted me well and sent me home! But now I don’t know where to store all this and I can’t leave it here, inviting any bandit to rob me blind.” I found this passage to be very funny because Odysseus thinks that the Phaeacians, who have been so accommodating of him so far, have suddenly left him on a deserted land. Odysseus also thinks that the Phaeacians might have cheated him of gifts. This is ironic considering that Odysseus tried to milk them of all the gifts he could get.
I. I agree with bakerm16 about Odysseus not recognizing his land when he gets home. Odysseus has been on a journey for years trying to get home, you think he would remember what he misses so much.
|
|
|
|
Post by johnaviles on Oct 20, 2013 22:07:08 GMT -5
C. I am confused as to why Odysseus doesn’t tell Eumaeus who he really is. Instead Odysseus pretends to be someone else and says his from Crete and knows Odysseus from a battle they together in Troy. I’m just confused as to why Odysseus doesn’t just tell this man who thinks very highly of him who he really is, im sure it would really satisfy and relieve Eumaeus if Odysseus came straight out and revealed himself and that’s something that he could do in return for being a very well treated guest there.
D. “Ithaca…Heart racing, Odysseus that great exile filled with joy to hear Athena, daughter of storming Zeus, pronounce that name.” This was one of my favorite lines because Odysseus finally realizes he’s home, it’s real life, he is finally relieved, finally safe. It’s just really pleasant to hear.
E. I was so upset when I realized that Poseidon spots Odysseus in Ithaca and complains to Zeus who allows him to punish the Phaecians and turns their ship into stone which makes it sink. That was awful like they finally get home and he does such a spiteful thing like that.
|
|
|
|
Post by nvanible on Oct 21, 2013 6:01:36 GMT -5
E. When Homer described Odysseus and the ship, “They slipped the cable free of the drilled stone post and soon as they swung back and the blades tossed up the spray an irresistible sleep fell deeply on his eyes, the sweetest, soundest oblivion, still as the sleep of death itself…” I thought that this quote perfectly showed the aspects of Odysseus’ character. For example, he has been on this 20+ year long journey and struggle to get back to his home in Ithaca and when he finally is on the ride there, the thought of actually getting back to his homeland is enough to sooth him, putting him into a deep sleep.
D. When Odysseus was being described on the journey, “…Bearing a man endowed with the gods’ own wisdom, one who had suffered twenty years of torment, sick at heart, cleaving his way through wars of men and pounding waves at sea but now he slept in peace, the memory of his struggles laid to rest,” I felt like this quote identified and explicitly described Odysseus’ entire adventure, as well as his thoughts and feelings. It represents how long he had been suffering, wanting to return to Ithaca. It also expresses how, despite all of his trickery, praising from the Phaeacians, and the thought of returning home someday, that Odysseus was internally struggling with himself, dealing how to cope with his homesickness.
I. When vazquezm16 talked about Odysseus lying to Athena, I feel like he had a right or more like a purpose in doing so. She saw through his lie and probably took pity on him, seeing him as a tired man who still must battle his own struggles, despite being in Ithaca at last.
|
|
