Instead of group postings for our discussions on Oedipus the King, we're going to speed things up a little by having only individual comments. Each person still needs to leave at least four comments on this discussion, both in reply to the original topics and to other students.
(1) To what degree is Oedipus responsible for his own actions? Is he completely a victim of fate, partially a victim of fate, or completely responsible for his own destiny? Is there anything he could have done to escape his fate?
(2) What are the differences (or similarities) between a tragic hero and an epic hero, and how do we see those differences in Oedipus and Odysseus?
(3) What are the differences (or similarities) between the way the ancient Greeks viewed fate and the way that Western culture today views it? How can we see these differences in comparing things like the story of Oedipus to more recent stories like the movie Minority Report?
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
The Journey into the Underworld
The journey to the Underworld plays an important role in the Odyssey. It is significant to Odysseus' travel home because upon leaving Circe's island she told him that the only way he could return home was to travel to the underworld, sacrafice a ram, and find the blind prophet Tiresias and to listen to his prophecy.
In the book, it tells of how Odysseus' men were very distraught when he told them that in order to get home they would have to travel to the underworld. It said that they wailed loudly, tore out their hair, and cried when they heard this news. In the movie, it did not show the emotional upset or the disturbance that the men felt. Also, it did not show them ripping out their hair or showing any emotion at all.
Once they reached the Underworld in the book, Odysseus had been instructed by Circe to dig a trench then to pour sweet milk, honey, sweet wine, clear water, and then to sprinkle barley into the trench. He then slashed the ram and drank of the blood so he can temporarily revitalize the dead to speak with them. In the movie, it does not show Odysseus digging a trench, pouring in the required ingredients, or drinking the blood. It only shows him tossing the ram into the river located in the Underworld.
The first person in the book that Odysseus sees in Underworld is Elpenor, who died on Circe's island by falling off her palace. In the movie, Elpenor was not seen nor did he die on Circe's island.
In the book, after seeing the Elpenor Odysseus sees the soul of Antikleia his once living, beloved mother. After seeing her ghost he greives but held her off until he should know the prescence of Teiresias. After Odysseus spoke with Teiresias, the blind prophet retired to the halls of death. His mothers then sips the black blood and recognizes Odysseus. Odysseus tries to hold her, but once she is present in the Underworld one can no longer be touched because they are no longer flesh and blood. The movie shows this scene very differently. In the movie, the sequence in which Odysseus sees Teiresias and his mother occur at different times. He sees his mother, but does not attempt to hold her. After speaking with his mother, he then speaks to Teiresias.
Tracy, Jennifer, & Sara
In the book, it tells of how Odysseus' men were very distraught when he told them that in order to get home they would have to travel to the underworld. It said that they wailed loudly, tore out their hair, and cried when they heard this news. In the movie, it did not show the emotional upset or the disturbance that the men felt. Also, it did not show them ripping out their hair or showing any emotion at all.
Once they reached the Underworld in the book, Odysseus had been instructed by Circe to dig a trench then to pour sweet milk, honey, sweet wine, clear water, and then to sprinkle barley into the trench. He then slashed the ram and drank of the blood so he can temporarily revitalize the dead to speak with them. In the movie, it does not show Odysseus digging a trench, pouring in the required ingredients, or drinking the blood. It only shows him tossing the ram into the river located in the Underworld.
The first person in the book that Odysseus sees in Underworld is Elpenor, who died on Circe's island by falling off her palace. In the movie, Elpenor was not seen nor did he die on Circe's island.
In the book, after seeing the Elpenor Odysseus sees the soul of Antikleia his once living, beloved mother. After seeing her ghost he greives but held her off until he should know the prescence of Teiresias. After Odysseus spoke with Teiresias, the blind prophet retired to the halls of death. His mothers then sips the black blood and recognizes Odysseus. Odysseus tries to hold her, but once she is present in the Underworld one can no longer be touched because they are no longer flesh and blood. The movie shows this scene very differently. In the movie, the sequence in which Odysseus sees Teiresias and his mother occur at different times. He sees his mother, but does not attempt to hold her. After speaking with his mother, he then speaks to Teiresias.
Tracy, Jennifer, & Sara
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Odyssey Review
Click here to listen to the review on Homer that we made in class last week. If you have trouble with connection speeds and are unable to access it at home, bring a jump drive or an MP3 player to class. You can use the computer in the classroom to copy the file.
Friday, March 9, 2007
The God of Wind
Brandon, Kyle, Lindsey
After sailing from the land of the Cyclops, Odysseus and his men reach the Aiola Island. The Aiola Island is the home of Aeolus, god of wind. For one month, Odysseus and his men stay on the island telling Aeolus of the war and their adventure of trying to get home. Sensing a need for help, Aeolus stirs up the wind to guide the crew home. He also gives Odysseus a bag containing storm winds; however, Odysseus is told not to open the bag until he reaches Ithaca or they will be sent off track. After sailing nine days and night, Ithaca comes into sight. Odysseus’s men are real curious and think that the bag is full of silver and gold. While Odysseus was sleeping, they tore the bag open and all of the wind escapes sending them off track and away from Ithaca. The men end up at the Aiola Island again. After explaining to Aeolus what happened and asking for more wind, Aeolus refuses, claiming that the gods hate Odysseus and wish harm upon him.
The movie is slightly different. In the book, Odysseus and his men stay on Aeolus’s Island for a month. In the movie, Odysseus is trying to get water when Aeolus shows up. Aeolus tells Odysseus that he knows of him and can help him get home. It can be assumed that the men only stay on the island for an hour or two. When his impatient crew members open the bag, they aren’t sent back to Aiola Island.
Odysseus’s heroic attributes is that he is a mortal and can do things any other mortal cannot. Although considering this, his men do not mind him very well. He gave them strict orders not to open the bag until they got to Ithaca. He did not tell his men what was in the bag so they assume it is silver and gold. While Odyssey is asleep, they figure they can open the bag just for a peek and nothing will happen. In this part of the story, the problem is temptation. His men are so impatient and tempted to know what is in the bag that they don’t really think about what could happen. Because of their temptation, they sent away farther away from home when they were just insight of it.
After sailing from the land of the Cyclops, Odysseus and his men reach the Aiola Island. The Aiola Island is the home of Aeolus, god of wind. For one month, Odysseus and his men stay on the island telling Aeolus of the war and their adventure of trying to get home. Sensing a need for help, Aeolus stirs up the wind to guide the crew home. He also gives Odysseus a bag containing storm winds; however, Odysseus is told not to open the bag until he reaches Ithaca or they will be sent off track. After sailing nine days and night, Ithaca comes into sight. Odysseus’s men are real curious and think that the bag is full of silver and gold. While Odysseus was sleeping, they tore the bag open and all of the wind escapes sending them off track and away from Ithaca. The men end up at the Aiola Island again. After explaining to Aeolus what happened and asking for more wind, Aeolus refuses, claiming that the gods hate Odysseus and wish harm upon him.
The movie is slightly different. In the book, Odysseus and his men stay on Aeolus’s Island for a month. In the movie, Odysseus is trying to get water when Aeolus shows up. Aeolus tells Odysseus that he knows of him and can help him get home. It can be assumed that the men only stay on the island for an hour or two. When his impatient crew members open the bag, they aren’t sent back to Aiola Island.
Odysseus’s heroic attributes is that he is a mortal and can do things any other mortal cannot. Although considering this, his men do not mind him very well. He gave them strict orders not to open the bag until they got to Ithaca. He did not tell his men what was in the bag so they assume it is silver and gold. While Odyssey is asleep, they figure they can open the bag just for a peek and nothing will happen. In this part of the story, the problem is temptation. His men are so impatient and tempted to know what is in the bag that they don’t really think about what could happen. Because of their temptation, they sent away farther away from home when they were just insight of it.
The Final Battle
The final battle is the climax and turning point of this story. The movie and the actual book depict this scene slightly different. The book tells of the battle in specific detail while the movie lingers on the exciting aspects of the fight.
The Movie
· The bow was chosen as a weapon because Odysseus was the only one that could string it.
· Only the main maidservant perused the suitors and she was killed with him in the end.
· Telemachus never tries to string the bow during the battle.
· The battle was planned the night before and everything was set and put into place.
· As soon as Odysseus shot the bow he changed from the beggar to himself.
The Story
· The bow was chosen because of the celebration of Apollo the god of archery.
· A dozen of the servants were perusing the suitors.
· Telemachus tries to string the bow and on the fourth time he almost succeeds until his father tells him not to.
· Odysseus plans the attack at the beginning of the battle.
· There is never gives a specific time when he changes form.
janna, daisy, and curtis
The Movie
· The bow was chosen as a weapon because Odysseus was the only one that could string it.
· Only the main maidservant perused the suitors and she was killed with him in the end.
· Telemachus never tries to string the bow during the battle.
· The battle was planned the night before and everything was set and put into place.
· As soon as Odysseus shot the bow he changed from the beggar to himself.
The Story
· The bow was chosen because of the celebration of Apollo the god of archery.
· A dozen of the servants were perusing the suitors.
· Telemachus tries to string the bow and on the fourth time he almost succeeds until his father tells him not to.
· Odysseus plans the attack at the beginning of the battle.
· There is never gives a specific time when he changes form.
janna, daisy, and curtis
Wednesday, March 7, 2007
The Cyclops
Robin, Brian, and Kristin
Having left the land of the Lotus-eaters, after an undetermined time Odysseus and his crew find themselves sailing blindly through a dense fog. Because of the dark and the low visibility their ship is run aground onto the shore of an unknown desert island. After spending the night on the beach, they wake in the morning to tour the island where they discover wild goats which they kill and eat for their breakfast. They spend the rest of the first day feasting on goat meat and wine, gazing toward the mainland where they could see the smoke from the as yet unknown Cyclops' fires, and hear the bleating of their sheep.
After sleeping on the beach again that night, Odysseus decides that he and his ship will sail the short distance to the mainland and try to discover who the inhabitants may be. As they near the mainland they chance to see an enormous man lying asleep in the mouth of a cave. Beaching the ship, Odysseus instructs the crew to stay with the ship and takes 12 men, some provisions, and a skin of wine. But after climbing to the cave they find the giant gone, so they take time to explore his home. While his men wanted to take all the availabe food and run, Odysseus wishes to meet the giant.
To make a long story short, when the Cyclops returns he rolls a huge stone over the entrance of the cave, trapping the men inside. He then proceeds, after some conversation with Odysseus, to brutally kill and devour whole two of the men. After falling asleep, Odysseus thinks to kill him, but hesitates when he realizes that if he does he and his men will be trapped - unable to move the massive stone that blocks the door. That next morning, the Cyclops eats two more men for his breakfast and leaves, shutting them inside once again.
Alone, Odysseus devises a plan for their escape and reveals it to his men. Taking a large pole, they shape it into a long stake. After whittling it into a sharp point, they thrust the end into the fire, hardening the wood. When the Cyclops returns, Odysseus introduces himself as Nohbdy ("nobody"). Before the night is over the Cyclops falls asleep - drunk on the wine that Odysseus has brought from the ship, and the men carry out their plan.
The stake is driven firmly home into the Cyclops one eye, blinding him. When he rolls back the stone from the door, Odysseus and his men escape undetected - strapped under the bellies of the sheep. When the other Cyclops, alerted to the cries, ask who has harmed him, the injured Cyclops tells them "Nohbdy".
Odysseus and his remaining crew reach their ship safely and cast off, only to be almost swept ashore again by a huge tidal wave: Odysseus, in his pride, taunts the giant revealing that Odysseus was the name of the one who had injured him so. The Cyclops hurls a huge stone at the departing vessel, almost washing them back to the beach. With the curse of the Cyclops in their ears, they escape.
The movie, in contrast, portrays things a little differently. There is one scout who discovers the cave filled with food and brings back a large cheese to show Odysseus. On the way to the cave they come upon a huge footprint. Also, their entrapment in the cave is only a one night ordeal as opposed to the two nights in the book. The Cyclops is shown only eating two men, though it may have been implied that he ate more. What's more, the men do not escape strapped under the bellies of the sheep (one tries to escape with a sheepskin tied to his back). Instead, the musician holds the giants attention with his pipe-playing until all the others have escaped (it is assumed that he did not). Last, the stones that Polyphemos throws do not cause a tidal wave.
We're not really sure if temptation or danger is the greatest threat in this incident. Maybe danger? If Odysseus hadn't have been so curious, he never would've gotten himself or his men into such a scrape. And he was always getting into them! This isn't the only incident in which he seemed to have more curiosity than sense! A little fear would've done him and his men a whole lot of good.
Having left the land of the Lotus-eaters, after an undetermined time Odysseus and his crew find themselves sailing blindly through a dense fog. Because of the dark and the low visibility their ship is run aground onto the shore of an unknown desert island. After spending the night on the beach, they wake in the morning to tour the island where they discover wild goats which they kill and eat for their breakfast. They spend the rest of the first day feasting on goat meat and wine, gazing toward the mainland where they could see the smoke from the as yet unknown Cyclops' fires, and hear the bleating of their sheep.
After sleeping on the beach again that night, Odysseus decides that he and his ship will sail the short distance to the mainland and try to discover who the inhabitants may be. As they near the mainland they chance to see an enormous man lying asleep in the mouth of a cave. Beaching the ship, Odysseus instructs the crew to stay with the ship and takes 12 men, some provisions, and a skin of wine. But after climbing to the cave they find the giant gone, so they take time to explore his home. While his men wanted to take all the availabe food and run, Odysseus wishes to meet the giant.
To make a long story short, when the Cyclops returns he rolls a huge stone over the entrance of the cave, trapping the men inside. He then proceeds, after some conversation with Odysseus, to brutally kill and devour whole two of the men. After falling asleep, Odysseus thinks to kill him, but hesitates when he realizes that if he does he and his men will be trapped - unable to move the massive stone that blocks the door. That next morning, the Cyclops eats two more men for his breakfast and leaves, shutting them inside once again.
Alone, Odysseus devises a plan for their escape and reveals it to his men. Taking a large pole, they shape it into a long stake. After whittling it into a sharp point, they thrust the end into the fire, hardening the wood. When the Cyclops returns, Odysseus introduces himself as Nohbdy ("nobody"). Before the night is over the Cyclops falls asleep - drunk on the wine that Odysseus has brought from the ship, and the men carry out their plan.
The stake is driven firmly home into the Cyclops one eye, blinding him. When he rolls back the stone from the door, Odysseus and his men escape undetected - strapped under the bellies of the sheep. When the other Cyclops, alerted to the cries, ask who has harmed him, the injured Cyclops tells them "Nohbdy".
Odysseus and his remaining crew reach their ship safely and cast off, only to be almost swept ashore again by a huge tidal wave: Odysseus, in his pride, taunts the giant revealing that Odysseus was the name of the one who had injured him so. The Cyclops hurls a huge stone at the departing vessel, almost washing them back to the beach. With the curse of the Cyclops in their ears, they escape.
The movie, in contrast, portrays things a little differently. There is one scout who discovers the cave filled with food and brings back a large cheese to show Odysseus. On the way to the cave they come upon a huge footprint. Also, their entrapment in the cave is only a one night ordeal as opposed to the two nights in the book. The Cyclops is shown only eating two men, though it may have been implied that he ate more. What's more, the men do not escape strapped under the bellies of the sheep (one tries to escape with a sheepskin tied to his back). Instead, the musician holds the giants attention with his pipe-playing until all the others have escaped (it is assumed that he did not). Last, the stones that Polyphemos throws do not cause a tidal wave.
We're not really sure if temptation or danger is the greatest threat in this incident. Maybe danger? If Odysseus hadn't have been so curious, he never would've gotten himself or his men into such a scrape. And he was always getting into them! This isn't the only incident in which he seemed to have more curiosity than sense! A little fear would've done him and his men a whole lot of good.
Calypso
Calypso is a witch/nymph who wants Odysseus as her husband. She is important in the story because she keeps him away from Ithaka and his family for seven years while she holds him prisoner on her island. Odysseus is first seen on Calypso Island grieving to return home to Ithaka. For many years Odysseus grieves during the day and lies with Calypso at night. Finally Athena intervenes on his behalf and conviences Zues to sent Hermes to Calypso's island to force her to let Odysseus return to his home. She tells Odysseus that she had a change of heart and that he was free to leave her island if he wished but if he stayed she would give him immortality. She also said that Penelope has aged and would not be as beautiful as her. He replies by telling Calypso that he has also aged and that he would rather be with Penelope for just a moment than to live forever without her. She then gives him tools and tells him where to find wood to build a raft. After the raft is completed she bathed him and gave him a scented robe wine and boilded meat and last she created a landbreeze to blow.
There are many differences between the movie and the book. The first major difference is the maidens in the movie. Odysseus was the first man they have ever seen and the first mortal man Calypso has seen in 100 years. The book does not mention anything about the maidens. Also, the scenery is very different. In the book, Calypso island is described as a lush paradise with flowers and birds and a violet ocean. In the movie, Calypso's island has
white sand and white stone the ocean was blue and violent. In the movie, Odysseus has bad dreams about his men dying and Calypso comfortors him by lying with him. This is not mentioned in the book although it does say that Calypso lies with Odysseus. Another difference deals with the messager Hermes, inthe book she invites Hermes into her cave and gives him ruby colored nectar to drink, in the movie he just flies to her window to deliver Zues message.
Temptation poses the bigger problem in the story for Odysseus because Calypso was very beautiful and he was under her spell although he longed to be home with Penelope.
Calypso is the woman in this part of the story. She is bad and strong. We think she abused her powers as a goddess to try to keep a mortal man from returning home because of her selfish desires.
There are many differences between the movie and the book. The first major difference is the maidens in the movie. Odysseus was the first man they have ever seen and the first mortal man Calypso has seen in 100 years. The book does not mention anything about the maidens. Also, the scenery is very different. In the book, Calypso island is described as a lush paradise with flowers and birds and a violet ocean. In the movie, Calypso's island has
white sand and white stone the ocean was blue and violent. In the movie, Odysseus has bad dreams about his men dying and Calypso comfortors him by lying with him. This is not mentioned in the book although it does say that Calypso lies with Odysseus. Another difference deals with the messager Hermes, inthe book she invites Hermes into her cave and gives him ruby colored nectar to drink, in the movie he just flies to her window to deliver Zues message. Temptation poses the bigger problem in the story for Odysseus because Calypso was very beautiful and he was under her spell although he longed to be home with Penelope.
Calypso is the woman in this part of the story. She is bad and strong. We think she abused her powers as a goddess to try to keep a mortal man from returning home because of her selfish desires.
Erica Gillie
Stacy Therrell
Cheryl Jordan
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