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Post by Mr. Thomas on Sept 16, 2013 12:37:26 GMT -5
Post responses here
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Post by hankmichels on Sept 16, 2013 16:44:59 GMT -5
G. If I were Calypso I would probably be a depressed wreck. After years and years of living on this island by myself, a man finally washed up on shore. Finally I had a guest. I was his lover for seven years so obviously I got to know him very well. And I probably loved him. then one day the gods threaten to make my life a living hell unless I let odysseus go. So after seven years I finally have to let him go and I assist him by giving him clothes! It may not hurt so much now, but just watch, in a week the depression will kick in
C. Whats wrong with posiedon? I mean, all the gods in existence are trying to help Odysseus get home and hes just trying to kill odysseus left and right. It clearly states in the text that all the gods liked him… except Poseidon. Then, when Odysseus finally leaves calypsos island he just has to try and kill him. luckily leucothea saves him with her magic scarf- which proves that every god likes odysseus
E. I thought it was pretty cool how Leucothea gave Odysseus the magic scarf. For some reason I enjoyed that whole part. It was cool how she predicted what was going to happen and sure enough, almost right away, posiedon sunk odysseus. Even though he survived, it was pretty brutal how odysseus had to swim for 3 days, but it was pretty cool how he could breath
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Post by richteri16 on Sept 16, 2013 18:18:58 GMT -5
C. On line 310 there is a mention of Poseidon being with the Ethiopians. Why them? And also, what is
the point of them? I thought this story was focused on Greece. Clearly Poseidon has a good connection
with the Ethiopians because it mentions that they are his friends. But still what is the reason for their
presence in the story. I thought only the Greeks believed in these gods. What was he doing there too?
Was he doing work there or was he on some kind of weird African god vacation?
A. On line 512 Odysseus finally made it to land. This reminds me of the idea that there is always a light at
the end of the tunnel. He had to deal with all the hardships at sea because of Poseidon. He almost died
out there. However he kept on going and fighting. That is the part that speaks to me the most. If you
work hard and persevere you will be helped out like when Athena stopped the waves. Even during all
kinds of problems we can come out alive.
E. I found Odysseus to finally live up to his strong and tough warrior character in this reading. On
lines 402-417 we see Odysseus fight the waves like an animal. He even challenges Poseidon calling his
“punishments too light”. Then he even dives into the sea and starts swimming through the waves. All
that he is attached to is a plank from his raft. This is a big change from the man we saw sobbing on a cliff
before.
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Post by wagnerj16 on Sept 16, 2013 18:44:24 GMT -5
G. If I was Odesseus while he was traveling by boat I would have most likely crapped myself. Not only is he on a small boat in the middle of the sea but Poseidon is basically trying to kill him over a grudge that we dont even know about. And once he does get to the Island he is still faced with problems like the Jagged rocks on the wavy beach which he almost died. But I would finally feel relieved once reaching the saftey of the Island knowing that not all of the Gods wanted him dead. C. I was also wondering about what hankmichels said about why Poseidon hates Odysseus. Does he hold a secrete grudge that we dont know about? or is he just a jerk who likes to mess with mortals? And it is weird how he is the only God that seems to hate him even Calypsos sets him free after awhile. And then Athena helps him out by sending him a wind to push him along showing that even bigger Gods like him. Also why is Athena so fond of Odysseus. D. What was really amusing to me was how much detail went into the storm that was going on. I thought it was reall cool how it said that the boat was toseed in many pieces far away, and how they had so much detail on the winds that Posiedon created. I could almost feel the anger with in him and also how it displayed odysseus's fright. Overall the passage was in a lot of detail which made me feel like I was there. |
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Post by idelfonsoe16 on Sept 16, 2013 19:37:45 GMT -5
F. I think Odysseus and Poseidon have a dark past. There should be no reason for Poseidon to hate on Odysseus like that. Okay so what the other gods and goddesses decided to let Odysseus go, man up and move on! There are so many other mortals to “toy” around with, and Poseidon is just being a bit hard headed. There has to be a specific reason as to why Poseidon randomly sends a tsunami towards Odysseus, rendering his boat completely useless. That incident could’ve killed Odysseus! Poseidon probably has his eye on Penelope, but since she is married, he wants to get rid of Odysseus to claim Penelope.
C. I don’t understand why Odysseus STILL wants to stick by his boat thinking that he can get closer to shore. THERE IS A COLOSSAL WAVE APPROACHING YOUR TINY WOODEN BOAT, YOU NEED TO GET OUT OF THERE MAN!!! Why would you stick with something that would only kill you faster!? It makes no sense to me how Odysseus became so attached to his boat. I understand he has “special” provisions from Calypso, but that’s no excuse anyway, since he threw it away swimming for his life.
H. Odysseus, clutching the oar of his stead-fast boat, watches faint heartedly as the wrath of Poseidon unfolds in front of his very strong and healthy eyes. As he whispers a plea to the gods, Odysseus begins to lose faith in survival, for death is slowing creeping up towards his hollow shell of a human body. Believing in his boat, Odysseus stands by until the boat is completely destroyed, dragging with it Odysseus in stow. Odysseus quickly strips himself of Calypso’s gifts, and wears the scarf of invincibility. As he barely reaches the surface of the water, he takes a huge gasp of air, and starts to rapidly swim towards shore. Poseidon, angered by Odysseus’ conviction, retires back to his palace in the great beyond under the sea.
(Eric Idelfonso)
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Post by vazquezm16 on Sept 16, 2013 19:38:48 GMT -5
B. This passage clearly shows that the ongoing conflict between Poseidon and Odysseus will cause many problems for Odysseus throughout the book. It also shows us that Odysseus may have the help of strangers throughout his journey which will be interesting to see.
C. I was slightly confused when reading about Cadmus’ daughter, Leucothea, who had helped Odysseus be able to swim to land. She had no mention in the story before and is suddenly thrust into the story to help the main character. She feels pity on him when she asks him why Poseidon hates him so much and then offers to help him by letting him use an immortal scarf that would give him the strength to swim to shore, on the one condition that he threw it back. Odysseus successfully reached shore and returned the scarf to some random person who helped him for no reason.
D. I liked the quote about how Poseidon was controlling the weather to try and make Odysseus fall off of his raft and drown. “With that he rammed the clouds together-both hands clutching his trident-churned the waves into chaos, whipping all the gales from every quarter, shrouding over in thunderheads the earth and the sea at once-and night swept down from the sky-“ This quote shows the Poseidon has such immense power and hatred for Odysseus, despite the unknown origin of the hatred, that he turns day into night by summoning so many clouds and storms, and by changing the force of the wind to try and throw Odysseus from the raft.
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Post by stephanoscocoves on Sept 16, 2013 19:52:37 GMT -5
A. The reading relates to current events right now in the world. Specifically what the is going on in Syria. I believe that the fighting between Athena and Poseidon is like the civil war syria is having right now. Athena and Poseidon are both gods and part of the same family and so is syria as a country and they are both fighting.
E. I was really surprised on what Poseidon did. From reading a little bit more of the story I understand Poseidon is angry but not angry enough to kill him. I expected since Poseidon is a god to do a little loving torture, like something a big brother would do to a younger brother, but those waves that Poseidon was crashing on Odysseus, weren't just trying to hurt him, they were trying to kill him.
F. The relations ship between Athena and Odysseus is kind or a mother,son relationship, always being there for him and acting like a mother, getting him out of tough situations. In a way if anyone tries to hurt her child she will do anything to protect him. And she actually does by fighting with Poseidon.
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Post by rozzayhill007 on Sept 16, 2013 19:52:51 GMT -5
Jackson Hill
C. One thing that confuses me is in the very beginning when Odysseus is set free, and Calypso is there at the shore as well, “ That was the fourth day and all his work was done. On the fifth, the lovely goddess launched him from her island, once she had bathed and decked him out in fragrant clothes. And Calypso stowed two skins aboard – dark wine in one, the larger one held water…” My question is why is Calypso being so kind now? What caused the change of heart? Did she finally realize that what she did was wrong and felt guilty, or was it for a different unknown reason? Another question I have is why is Poseidon so cruel to Odysseus. While sailing through the seas Odysseus is faced by Poseidon, “ And seventeen days he sailed, making headway well; on the eighteenth, shadowy mountains slowly loomed… the Phaeacians’ island reaching toward him now over the misty breakers, rising like a shield.” This quote depicts the scene of when Poseidon is attacking Odysseus in the sea. Why does Poseidon feel it is necessary to attack Odysseus, when he did nothing wrong.
G. If I were the character of Calypso I would most likely be very in a lot of sorrow, because I would’ve been on an island all alone for a very long time. I would be happy if I saw this man on my island and want him to be my friend forever and never leave my presence. However, if I were Calypso I would not have tormented Odysseus to the point where he urgently wants to escape the island. I would be kinder to him so that he would want to stay longer.
D. One quote that I was really intrigued by was, “ As a man will bury his glowing brand in black ashes, off on a lonely farmstead, no neighbors near, to keep spark alive—no need to kindle fire from somewhere else—so great Odysseus buried himself in leaves and Athena showered sleep upon his eyes… sleep in a swift wave delivering him from all his pains and labors, blessed sleep that sealed his eyes at last.” I felt that this quote was very descriptive and the placing of the quote was good as well. While reading this quote some of the images vividly appeared in my head.
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Post by alis16 on Sept 16, 2013 19:58:40 GMT -5
Stephen Ali
Mr. Thomas
September 16, 2013
English 10 Message Board
G. If I was Calypso I would probably be sad and disappointed in myself. I would find life pointless and depressing now. Since being on the island waiting for a man to land along the shore would be the happiest day of my life on this home on this tortuous place without any company or anything to entertain myself. I have got to know him so well over these long 7 happy lived years of my life. During this time I was able to express myself to Odysseys and get to know him . Now the gods have the audacity to threaten me and now the man I loved is being sent home by the work of my own hands and I have no choice or say in anything. Who knows what my life would bring me know that I am without the one person that has spent the last 7 years with me.
a. During the end on the reading assignment Odysseus was able to make back to land after that heart reaching boat road on the sea knowing that Poseidon the god that wanted to kill you would strike at any moment. Once Odysseus made it to land , it showed the reader that there is always hope and you should never give up no matter how hard the journey may become.
C. I did not really understand the part about Cadmus’s daughter Leoucothea , the person who helped Odysseus swim to land. Where did she appear from and why was she so willing to help this man, who she had never met before.
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Post by bakerm16 on Sept 16, 2013 19:59:10 GMT -5
C. My main question is what Poseidon has against Odysseus. Poseidon is consistently upset with Odysseus and we have yet to find out why. The text proves that all gods in fact have nothing against Odysseus except Poseidon. I feel like it was quite harsh of Poseidon to try and kill Odysseus on bis way home at sea. I don't know why he is so upset with him. My guesses are that later on in the story we will find out as to why Poseidon is so upset but for now I feel that he is being very spiteful to Odysseus in what he has been doing.
G. If I were Odysseus i would be so scared being at sea. When Poseidon the god of water is upset with you it would be smart to stay awayfromwater. Unfortunately he spends a lot of time out at sea on his trek home. Obviously Poseidon is very powerful and Odysseus has put himself in a bad situation getting on his bad side. As I mentioned before i still don't know what Poseidon has against Odysseus. However, whatever he does have against him I suggest he settle because i don't think Poseidon is trying help Odysseus get home anytime soon.
I. I agree with the analogy richteri16 said about the light at the ebd of the tunnel. I think this is a perfect analogy for Odysseus finally getting to the shore. However i coul argue that the light at the end of the tunnel be the last few oaddles until he finally gets to the shore or even bettereould be him seeing his home in near sight.
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Post by nvanible on Sept 16, 2013 20:14:41 GMT -5
F. The quote, “But just as great Odysseus thrashed things out, Poseidon god of the earthquake launched a colossal wave, terrible, murderous, arching over him, pounding down on him, hard as a windstorm blasting piles of dry parched chaff, scattering flying husks-so the long planks of his boat were scatter far and wide,” perfectly represents a deepened relationship between a mortal and a God. For example, during the Trojan War, the gods merely took part in it for their own entertainment, for the most part, showing a generic or standard relationship with the humans. However, despite the obvious animosity between Poseidon and Odysseus, they have a relationship that reflects off of his past events that enforced the intensity between the two. Because of this, their relationship has taken a step further, making it a personal relationship (to at least Poseidon), while characters like Paris’ relationship with Aphrodite was only existent because he chose her as the fairest lady; even then, they were never close.
E. When Odysseus was sleeping, “…So great Odysseus buried himself in leaves and Athena showered sleep upon his eyes… sleep in a swift wave delivering him from all his pains and labors, blessed sleep that sealed his eyes at last,” I was really touched because it showed that gods are capable of loving others other than themselves. Athena personally chose to help Odysseus, feeling bad for him. In addition, his sleep was something that was well deserved for the trouble he went through with Poseidon.
I. To what alis16 was saying about Calypso being lonely and depressed, it is understandable, and true, as she is living alone in isolation away from men. However, Odysseus was a guy who was loyal to his wife, and although Calypso should be happy, there is no reason that Odysseus should have to constantly suffer just for somebody else to be happy. In addition, Odysseus even admitted to her being greater than his wife, & cherishes Calypso as an ally, but remains with his wife, Penelope for obvious reasons.
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Post by zaysofly on Sept 16, 2013 20:20:52 GMT -5
Isaiah Colon
G: I would have to agree slightly with hankmichels. If I were Calypso I would to feel very sad and depressed for having to have lost a man that I loved after being alone for a very long time. But if you put it in a 3rd person perspective, Calypso is not a very nice person. First she keeps him captive, so the love is not consensual. She also forces him to love her. So in the end, the true bully is Calypso trying to disguise her turmoil with Odysseus departure. Although I do feel for Calypso, she was probably very lonely. But if you look at it from a different angle, Odysseus is the real victim here
C. I am still a little confused about why Poseidon is still mad at Odysseus. Also is it me or does anyone else think that the Gods are toying with the mortals way too much. They could have saved Odysseus a long time ago. But instead, they help him 7 years too late.
A. I’d like to respond to richteri16 post about when he says that Odysseus makes it to land. It reminds him of the Light at the end of the tunnel. Now to me this would make sense if the light at the end of the tunnel was the light to another tunnel. I say this because he did not land on a paradise island, He was miserable. He had to live with a crazy women for a very long time.
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Post by kkhurana70 on Sept 16, 2013 20:36:07 GMT -5
F- In the Odyssey’s fifth book the relationship that is truly puzzling to me is the one between Athena the daughter of Zeus and Poseidon. I don’t understand their relationship because at moments they seem to get along and be friends because they both are Gods and have mutual respect for each other. However on line 421, when Poseidon was doing everything in his power to hurt Odysseus, she stopped it and clearly had hatred towards him. I understand that she looks out for Odysseus and sees something in him that is worthy of her constant help, but why would she all of the sudden fight Poseidon back and interfere with his works.
C- After finishing book 5 in the Odyssey, I am still truly confused as to why Poseidon has such hatred and anger towards Odysseus. I mean what could the man have possibly done for you to want to use all your powers on him when he is almost home, after being gone for 20 years. This makes me think Odysseus must have done something personal or directly offensive to Poseidon like maybe harming a mortal offspring of his or not praying to him with respect. This issue throughout book 5 is very confusing because it makes Poseidon look like a villain when he really is not.
H- For the final scenes of book 5, I would imagine a very dark ocean, and in the distance land would be visible. I would also imagine a small raft with a man on it. The man would look scared but also would seem happy to see land. Then I would picture the darkest and most intimidating clouds ever blocking the sun out and covering the sky. I then would imagine giant 50 feet waves forming and approaching the raft. Then I would picture Poseidon visible in the biggest wave, saying something to Odysseus. I would also imagine Odysseus flying back and forth, on and off the raft until finally the raft breaks and he grabs a hold of a piece of wood.
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Post by michaelgenco on Sept 16, 2013 21:12:36 GMT -5
C. Just like yesterday’s reading I don’t understand why Poseidon hates Odysseus. “ Outrageous! Look how the gods have changed their minds about Odysseus- while I was off with my Ethiopians. Just look at him there, nearing Phaeacia’s shores where he’s fated to escape his noose of pain that’s help him until now.” It seems like Odysseus did something to Poseidon that really pissed him off. I don’t know why that Poseidon would do such a cruel thing to a man that was help captive for 10 years. The fact that Poseidon doesn’t take pity of that means that he really dislikes Odysseus. When Odysseus is confronted by Ino a lot of questions came up in my mind. For example why would they say Ino is the daughter with the lovely ankles? Were ankles something that showed beauty? Also, why would Odysseus trust someone that comes from the water, like Ino? If I was Odysseus I wouldn’t trust anyone. In addition, why did Ino told him to take off his clothes to put a scarf on instead? Why didn’t he just put the scarf on over.
(In response to Stephanos cocoves)
I. I agree with your A response. This story of chapter reminds me a lot of what is going on in Syria. Poseidon sounds like Syria and Athena seems like America.
E. When I read the part of Book 5 where Poseidon picks on Odysseus really annoyed me. I don’t understand why Poseidon would just let go of the whole situation. After being captive for 10 years I think a man can go to his normal life.
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Post by johnaviles on Sept 16, 2013 21:25:50 GMT -5
F. Clearly Poseidon and Odysseus don’t have the best relationship. In this relationship there is much hate and resentment involved especially from Poseidon. Some evidence to back up this conclusion is how Poseidon summoned an earthquake on Odysseus as he was sailing after he was released from being held captive which ticked off Poseidon. He clearly has much anger built up by the way he releases his fury, “With that he rammed the clouds together-both hands clutching his trident-churned the waves into chaos…”
C. I’m confused as to why Cadmus’ daughter wants Odysseus to strip all his clothes and swim from the craft. “Just do as I say. You seem no fool to me. Strip off those clothes and leave your craft…” I am also not entirely sure as to why she she gives him a scarf that is immortal and he has to tie it around his waist rather than his neck.
E. “A heavy sea covered him over, then and there unlucky Odysseus would have met his death-against the will of fate-” I was really surprised to find out that once again Odysseus is meeting with a situation where he could face death. I am glad he had hope and prayed he would make it out in one piece and begs for pity and mercy. “I throw myself on your mercy, on your current now- I have suffered greatly. Pity my, lord, your suppliant cries for help.
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