Students familiar with some of the legends of the odyssey but new to the epic itself might be surprised to see that the section on the lotuseaters is only about twentyfive lines long 9. Guests were also supposed to only seek hospitality at a home equivalent to their social standing if you were a poor person, you would seek shelter at a modest house, and if you were a prince, you would ask to be taken in at the royal court in a strange land. Hospitality is the basic root in the odyssey, by homer. The odyssey book 9 and 10 arts and humanities flashcards. Next, the men foolhardily accept circes hospitality and drinks. They went away, and polyphemus heaved the boulder aside and spent the night by the open door, hoping wed be stupid enough to try to sneak past him. Selfdetermination is a strong characteristic that odysseus portrays in the odyssey. Here is this stranger, i do not know who he is, come wandering suppliant here to my house from the eastern or western people. The more complicated a character is, the more he or she engages these major themes. What are some good examples of hubris in books 912 of the. Jeremy worden hospitality illustrated in homers the odyssey far removed from our individualistic society today is the ancient greece portrayed in homers the odyssey, where hospitality and good will are the main focus of these people.
The mountain like appearance of polyphemus according to homer odyssey book 9, 190 makes that sound plausible. Unfortunately, the cyclops is the sea god poseidons son. Hospitality with odysseus and polyphemus in the 9th book of the odyssey by greek writer homer, you meet the great and terrible cyclops, polyphemus. Lord alcinous, renowned above all men, verily this is a good thing, to listen to a minstrel such as this man is, like unto the gods. Odyssey hospitality hospitality in the odyssey by homer, hospitality plays a very important role. In book 9 of homers odyssey, what are some quotes about odysseuss curiosity. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Polyphemus punishment is that odysseus blinds him, pointing out to his reader that the rules of hospitality are important must be followed. In book 9 of homers odyssey, what can we learn about the guest. For nine days i was driven by fierce winds over the teeming sea. With apparent ease, they sack the city, kill the men, enslave the women, and enjoy a. Because of odysseus hubris after blinding polyphemus, poseidon grants the prayer, and it takes odysseus 20 years to return home, at the cost of the lives of all his men.
Nobody, my friends, is trying to kill me by violence or treachery. Nov 27, 2012 an understanding of what constitutes the guesthost relationship and xenia allows the reader to then understand its role in the odyssey and recognize that the role it plays is significant. We assume youll extend hospitality or suffer the wrath of zeus, protector of. It is also interesting, that nowhere homer mentions this very particular feature of polyphemus i. Book 9 lines 392394 the cyclops are depicted as uncivilized monsters. He tells of the battle of the cicones, where he and his men accidentally sailed in the cicones. Book 9 of the odyssey from polyphemuss point of view.
As decreed by zeus himself, those who wish the favor of the gods must welcome foreigners and domestic with hospitality. Hospitality in homers time was well shown through long travels such as odysseus. When autoplay is enabled, a suggested video will automatically. Odyssey a look odysseus polyphemus hospitality, sample of essays. Litcharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in the odyssey, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Even when death is staring odysseus in the face, he expects. Odysseus is a bizarre caricature of the practice of hospitality, and. Odysseus is on the phaecian shore in the hospitality of king alcinous, and narrating the story. Hospitality is in the world everywhere and in the book the odyssey oddyyseus the main character in the novel expexts hospitality from polyphemus the cyclops and asks for it even after polyphemus ate odysseuss.
The caves inhabitant soon returnsit is the cyclops polyphemus, the son of poseidon. Just as the phaeacians are the pinnacle of good hospitality, the cyclops. The major themes in the odyssey are especially significant because they serve to form the moral and ethical constitution of most of the characters. Actually, the best example is odysseus loss of his cool at the end of book 9, when he has triumphed over the cyclops and is sailing away. This is an edit of the hallmark channels made for tv movie, the odyssey. How effective is odysseus leadership in book 9 of the. In book 6, odysseus meets princess nausicaa, who, despite the threat of a strange man and the possibility of becoming the subject of rumor, offers him food and help reaching the city of scheria. Polyphemos is the oneeyed giant son of poseidon and thoosa in greek mythology, one of the cyclopes described in homers odyssey. With how many ships does odysseus depart from troy. Odysseus and his crew escape safely and are in open water when odysseus makes an arrogant move that almost costs them their lives.
Xenia is displayed in many instances throughout the novel, and the importance of xenia is emphasized by the actions of it. However, he is not evil because he did it out of his impulsivity. If you are alone, and nobody does you violence, its an inescapable sickness that comes from zeus. In order to escape from the cave of the cyclops polyphemus, odysseus blinds the oneeyed giant book 9. Alcinousphaeacians being helpful by trying to get odysseus home vs. The odyssey can be thought of as a manual for a host of how to and how not to show hospitality to a guest and vice versa. Between the interactions of odysseus and polyphemus you can see some of the ways both characters break the rules of hospitality. In homers the odyssey, many happenings interfere with odysseus journey to return home to his wife, penelope, and son, telemachus. In book 1, athena comes to ithaca in disguise as the hero mentes to convince.
Polyphemus then calls on his father, poseidon, god of the sea, to avenge him. Poseidon and odysseus are the most noticeable representatives of the theme of vengeance. For instance, book 9 explores the conventions of hospitality and civility through a contrast between the phaeacians and the cyclopes. Back in ithaka, odysseus tests eumaios hospitality, until eumaios takes offense at the beggars insinuations of being a burden and welcomes him to. We discussed one of these themes, hospitality, and the other themes on this webpage are very interesting as well. Narrative and thematic techniques in books 9 and 19 of the. When polyphemus eats odysseuss men, arguing that he need not obey the gods.
Polyphemus wonders why the ram is the last one to depart instead of the first one, as he usually is. Whose land does odysseus encounter after being blown off course for nine days. Getting past him was the problem alright, but by morning id worked out a solution. Polyphemus whose prayer for revenge was the origin of. An example of hospitality shown in the form of gifts is when odysseus is in polyphemus cave. Zeus of the strangers guards all guests and suppliants. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of the odyssey and what it means. Full search options are on the right side and top of the page. About the odyssey the odyssey summary character list glossary themes quotes and analysis books 14 books 58 books 9 12 books 16 books 1720 books 2124 symbols, allegory and motifs metaphors and similes irony imagery the fractal structure of epics literary elements related links essay questions quiz 1 quiz 2 quiz 3 quiz 4 citations. In book 9 of the odyssey, why does poseidon curse odysseus. The basic geographic orientation of the odyssey begins with troy, which was on the coast of the country known today as turkey. And ulysses answered king alcinous it is a good thing to hear abard with such a divine voice as this man has.
Summary and analysis book 9 in the oneeyed giants cave summary after identifying himself to the phaeacians at the feast, odysseus tells the story of his wanderings. Good hospitality and etiquette were explained well by nestor in the odyssey, book 3. The reader learns about the characters through the themes. Every homeowner shows it, and every guest expects it. May 05, 2011 hospitality is the basic root in the odyssey, by homer. Examples of hospitality in the odyssey hospitality. Book 1 book 2 book 3 book 4 book 5 book 6 book 7 book 8 book 9 book 10 book 11 book 12 book book 14 book 15 book 16 book 17 book 18 book 19 book 20 book 21 book 22 book 23 book 24 themes all themes fate, the gods, and free will piety, customs, and justice cunning, disguise, and selfrestraint memory and grief glory and honor. As we have seen, hospitality plays a major part in the odyssey, but the actual hospitality is not as important as the way that that hospitality is received, and the consequences of that reception. In book 9 of homers odyssey, the title character tells about his adventures in the land. May 12, 2017 the story of odysseus and the cyclops polyphemus. He devours two of odysseuss men on the spot and imprisons odysseus and the rest in his cave for future meals. The development of xenia and its role in the odyssey a. In this paper the ways how hospitality can be applied in the odyssey.
Therefore, the most complicated character, odysseus. According to the ancient greek rules concerning hospitality, polyphemus ought to have made them welcome and given them food and shelter and even gifts. View odyssey book 9 from english 2111 at georgia southern university. Hospitality with odysseus and polyphemus 963 words 123. Then after he escaped the cyclops he landed on circes island and received hospitality from her but she was still trying to trick him. The odyssey books 14 summary and analysis gradesaver. Enter a perseus citation to go to another section or work. According to the ancient greek rules concerning hospitality, polyphemus ought to have made them welcome and given them food and. Disrespects of hospitality in homers the odyssey 1090 words 5 pages. Hospitality the major themes in the odyssey are especially significant. As soon as polyphemus collapses with intoxication, odysseus and a select group of his men drive the redhot staff into his eye. When odysseus shows up polyphemus eats 6 of his crew mates.
May 30, 20 strangers are sacredzeus will avenge their rights. Insight book 9 of the odyssey in the cyclops perspective. Next, polyphemus demonstrates hubris by believing that because he is a giant, he is unbeatable by anyone, even a god. Odyssey a look odysseus polyphemus hospitality, sample of. Summary after identifying himself to the phaeacians at the feast, odysseus tells the story of his wanderings. What are some quotes about the value of hospitality in the odyssey. When the cyclops polyphemus was his name came home that afternoon. Hospitality is a very important and widely recurring theme hosts who do not give good hospitality are usually punished.
Get an answer for in book 9 of the odyssey, why does poseidon curse odysseus for blinding his son, polyphemus. The blinding of polyphemus out of the cave came mighty polyphemus voice. One of them, polyphemus, traps odysseus and a scouting party in his cave. The greeks understood this not only as a good story but as a horrible affront to the customs of hospitality. Telemachus, the focus of the first four books of the odyssey, provides an early. The book opens with odysseus extolling the feasting, drinking and singing of alcinous court as the finest thing in the world 9. Once odysseus sees how rich polyphemus is, he refuses his mens request to simply take some food and go back to their ship, because he wants to see what gifts. The importance of hospitality in the odyssey essay. At the close of the ninth book of the odyssey odysseus and the. Polyphemus wakes with a shriek, and his neighbors come to see what is wrong.
Zach haugen english 2111 professor edwards 31 january 2017 the odyssey book 9 xenia is. The importance of hospitality in the odyssey essay examples. The odyssey books 912 summary and analysis gradesaver. He cant stop himself from insulting polyphemus personally, for a reason ill mention, and worst of all, ins. Odysseus responded that they were achaeans that had lost their way home, and urged the cyclops, whose name was polyphemus, to obey custom, respect the. The odyssey book 9 analysis by haley rosso on prezi. Telemachus, the focus of the first four books of the odyssey, provides an early example of good hospitality as both a host and a guest. When the giant returned from grazing his sheep, he imprisoned the sailors and began to systematically devour them. The true exemplars of good hospitality in the odyssey are the phaeacians who host odysseus when he washes ashore near their town. This is to help study the importaint events and characters in book 9. When entering the cave of polyphemus, odysseus relies on the expectation of.
The king of gods, zeus, supports proper hospitality. In the beginning of the journey, he and his men sacked the city of the cicones and carried away many spoils. The presence of so many themes and motifs in book 9 makes it thematically typical of the entire poem, and offers the reader a con venient way into it. Homer has touched on a universal theme, the lure of oblivion through drugs. Following the victory at troy, he and his men sail to ismarus, the stronghold of the cicones.
Polyphemus makes a show of hospitality at first, but he soon turns hostile. The cyclops, polyphemus, was a bad host to odysseus and his men. The odyssey book 9 lyrics ulysses declares himself and begins his storythe cicons, lotophagi, and cyclopes and ulysses answered, king alcinous, it is a good thing to hear a bard with such a. Summary and analysis book 9 in the oneeyed giants cave. Odysseus introduces himself and begins his story, starting with the moment his men leave troy. Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans. The most important value at the core of the odyssey is hospitality, a social custom common to nearly all premodern societies and essential to ancient greek social structure. Odysseus names himself and begins telling the story of his long travels after leaving troy. I got up to see the sun rise, and then i went into the forest to find something to eat for breakfast. We learn that poseidon, god of the sea, holds a grudge though we dont know exactly why against odysseus and is making the guys voyage home a pretty difficult one. The men feel it was a foolish act because of the curse polyphemus placed on odysseus and his men as they were leaving. Polyphemus first appeared as a savage maneating giant in the ninth book of the odyssey. During book 9 of the odyssey, odysseus makes a daring move to get him and his men out of the cyclops cave. The odyssey book 9 characters polyphemus polyphemus is a cyclops.
If one of the areas that one can gather where culture requirements were broken is when odysseus goes into the home of polyphemus and began to eat food without permission. About the odyssey the odyssey summary character list glossary themes quotes and analysis books 14 books 58 books 912 books 16 books 1720 books 2124 symbols, allegory and motifs metaphors and similes irony imagery the fractal structure of epics literary elements related links essay questions quiz 1 quiz 2 quiz 3 quiz 4 citations. Hospitality, also called guestfriendship, was a social ritual expected of men in the greek world. For our first example we will look at how the suitors respond to the hospitality given to them at the house of odysseus. The poet invokes the muse to help him tell the story of odysseus. There are certain rules of hospitality needed, such as inviting a stranger into your home, not asking them their name before they have dined at your table, and sometimes even gift offerings. This is smart because when polyphemus tries to tell poseidon who stabbed him, he wont know who to punish. He had no family and he lives a little father away from the other cyclops. The notion of hospitality is so strong in the world of the odyssey that guests can even be considered part of ones family. Odyssey book 9 zach haugen english 2111 professor edwards. In the eyes of polyphemus this morning was like any other day. Hospitality consists of gifts, traditions, and kindness shown throughout.
Layers of meaning in the odyssey if you would like to learn more about some of the hidden themes throughout the odyssey, such as spiritual growth, loyalty, perseverance, and hospitality, take a look at this site. Poseidons shipwreck and finally penelopes hospital reception of. Hospitality, as has been demonstrated, leads to the revelation and recognition of concealed identity. Cliffsnotes study guides are written by real teachers and professors, so no matter what youre studying, cliffsnotes can ease your homework headaches and. Odyssey book 9 part 1 fitzgerald excerpts duration.
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