The Classical Tradition in Contemporary Fiction and Film

The Classical Tradition in Contemporary Fiction and Film

Reading Worksheet 3 – Homer, Odyssey book 1; book 2.1-445; book 3.1-328 (skim but focus on the story of Agamemnon’s return home); book 4.1-624; Sappho fragments (Blackboard)

What is Telemachus’ dilemma, and what advice does Athena/Mentes offer him?

Telemachus wonders whether she can avenge his father. Telemachus, according to Athena, should gather a crew and sail to Pythos and then to Sparta in search of information concerning Odysseus (Garvie, Hardie & Hunter, 1994). Athena also advises that Telemachus avenge his father by killing the suitors who disgrace the estate.

Why do you think Telemachus addresses his mother, Penelope, as he does?

Telemachus is rude to her mother because she let the suitors eat away at his inheritance. He feels that her mother should at least take care of the property and not let strangers squander his father’s hard-earned investment. Telemachus is trying to remind her mother that she should take the role of protecting the family and show respect for his father.

Who is Eurycleia, and why do you think Homer points out her (lack of a) relationship with Laertes?

Eurycleia is Telemachus’ nurse and gets treated as though she is part of the family. She shows the kind of faithful and respectable man Laertes was to his wife because, through this, we realize that Laertes does not want to disrespect his wife (Garvie, Hardie & Hunter, 1994). Homer wants to show his audience that men should respect and be loyal to their wives.

Why does Penelope not remarry? Does Antinous have a point?

She did not want the suitors to take advantage of her wealth. Yes. We see bravery in Penelope and that she is not ready to make a move before confirming that her husband is never to come.

Why do you think Nestor and Telemachus repeatedly bring up the story of Agamemnon’s return?

There is a close association between King Nestor and Odysseus, and both Telemachus and Nestor want to know the whereabouts of Agamemnon’s (Garvie, Hardie & Hunter, 1994). It is Telematus wish that he got the power to protect Agamemnon’s house from the greedy suitors feasting on it. They both feel that they are desperate and can do nothing about it.

Does Homer’s picture of the reunited Helen and Menelaus (4.1-295) surprise you? Why/not?

Yes, Helen regrets the choice she meant and wishes to reunite with Menelaus. Helen did have only love for Menelaus. She attains a measure of acceptance just as the society to which she aspired is about to be destroyed.

How would you characterize the relationship between Sappho/the speaker of poem 1 and Aphrodite?

Such points out that the goddess has aided the poets several times in the past and that Aphrodite’s response, implicating at least intimacy with her devotee, is encouraging and optimistic(Prins,1999). Sappho calls for help from Aphrodite, where we see unidentified speaker calling for on the immortal goddess Aphrodite.

In Sappho 16, what seems to be the connection between Anactoria and Helen?

We see both Anactoria and Helen set into motion as figures of longing, where they also appear to embody the desires of the poet (Prins, 1999). The two are the only mentioned in the poem forming a complementary topos of memory, the two landscapes of abandonment overlapping in the mind of the poet.

References

Garvie, A. E., Hardie, P., & Hunter, R. (1994). Homer: Odyssey. Cambridge University Press.

Prins, Y. (1999). Victorian Sappho. Princeton University Press.