Monday, October 18, 2010

Book 13 Questions


What does Alcinous tell all his men to do before Odysseus leaves? Why? Why do you think that Odysseus doesn't believe he is in Ithaca when he is? What do you think would happen if Athena didn't disguise Odysseus as a beggar as when he entered Ithaca? What is the main point of Book 13 and explain how it connects to the 1st 12 books?

14 comments:

  1. I am a little confused about the wording of the text, but I think that king Alcinous tells all of his men to bring a gift to their guest, Odysseus, and pack it on the ship. He does this because he wants to demonstrate hospitality and Xenia and be a good host. I think that Odysseus doesn't believe he is in Ithica when he lands there because he has been away for so long and gone through so many pains that he has forgot what his homeland looks like. Also, on p. 292 lines 215-217, it says that Odysseus "failed to know the land for the goddess Pallas Athena, Zeus' daughter, showered mist over all..." The main point of Book 13 is to show that Odysseus has finally reached the destination to his journey, and that he has overcome all of the challenging hardships and impediments of his life. Also, the main point of Book 13 is to fill Odysseus on the things that have been going on while he was gone, and to inform him of the different problems that he is going to have to deal with. This connects to the 1st 12 books of "The Odyssey" because it concludes and wrapping up the 12 books by change of the story. No that Odysseus has reached his homeland, he is now going to have to begin a whole new "journey" of regaining his kingdom.

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  2. Alcinous tells his men to load all of Odysseus' gifts on board Odysseus' ship before he sets sail for Ithaca. He does this because his wants to show xenia, or hospitality to his guest. I think that Odysseus didn't believe he was in Ithaca because he has been on his journey for so long that he doesn't remember what it looks like. Also I think that he doesn't believe that he is in Ithaca because of all the changes that had happened since he was gone from the suitors because they have been ruling in his absence. I think that Odysseus would of sailed back to Aeaea and scold the king for misleading him if Athena didn't disguise herself as a beggar. The main point of book 13 is to tell that Odysseus has finally concluded his long journey home from the Trojan War, and that even though he might not have to travel far in the next chapters, it will still be a struggle to overthrow the suitors. Book 13 connects to the first 12 chapters because it concludes his long journey home.

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  3. Alcinous tells all his men to bring a gift for odysseus's travels home. He does this to show xenia by sending his guest off with riches. A reason to show xenia is in fear of zeus, the god of hospitality and also because if he is nice to odysseus odysseus will tell other men of Alcinous and his people as great men. Alcinous even pointed this out somewhere in the text telling odysseus to remember them as kind. I think odysseus doenst beleive hes in ithaca when he is because he had never expected to actually return. Even though he wanted to i dont think he thought he would ever make it becasue of poseidon and all the wrong he and his crew had done. If Athena hadnt disguised odysseus as a beggar the suitors night ahve seen him and ambushed, not giving him a chance to ber eady for attack or nothing becasue he went to his herdsman who respected him greatly and he would have had a warm welcome from him. The main point of book 13 is odysseus's homecoming. It relates to previous books because everything has been kind of leading up to this. It also shows common themes that have occured throughout the books like xenia.

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  4. Alcinous tells all of his men to give a gift to Odysseus for his journey home. He does this because he is touched by Odysseus' story, and wants to exemplify an unnecessary amount of xenia.

    Odysseus doesn't believe he is in Ithaca because he wakes up alone on a fog shrouded shore, thinking the Phaecians got rid of him because they didn't want to go all the way to Ithaca.

    If Athena had not disguised Odysseus as a beggar, he would not be able to survey what has happened since he was gone without being detected.

    The main point of book 13 is Odysseus' return home, which is also the climax of the book (when he wakes up on the shore). It relates to all of the other books because all of the other events have been leading up to this one, and also intensify its magnitude.

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  5. Alcinous tells all of his men to give a chest full of treasures for Odysseus to bring home. This shows his extreme xenia. He wants to be a good host, and I believe that he is one of the most hospitable men in the Odyssey. Odysseus does not believe that he is home because he never expected to actually be in Ithaca ever again. He hadn't been home in SO long that he forgot what it looked like! Or maybe he didn't want to get his hopes up, because he had been traveling for so long that he didn't believe he was actually home. The main point of Book 13 is the homecoming of Odysseus. It relates to all of the other books because this has been the moment that everything has led up to. I believe it is the climax of the book because everything has been focussed around getting Odysseus home. (FINALLY)

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  6. Alcinous has his men give Odysseus many gifts for his journey back to Ithaca. It seems that everyone that listened to his story was amazed at the feats he had to endure and his incredible journeyto get back home. Alcinous showers him with many gifts to show that he is hospitable and shows xenia.
    Odysseus doesn't recognize his homeland because he has been gone for so long that he doesn't remember it. Also, Athena covered it in fog.
    If Athena hadn't disguised Odysseus, he wouldn't have been able to observe what had happened while he was gona, and it would've been hard to make a plot to get rid of the suitors.
    Book 13 is the journey home. It is about how Odysseus, after many years of journeying, has returned to his home. It relates to the other books because the whole story from to this point was talking about how Odysseus was missing and how he was desperately trying to get home; it basically all comes together at this book.

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  7. Odysseus is given gifts by Alcinous' men to take back with him on his journey home. He gives him these gifts as a way of telling Odysseus that he wishes him the best. Also, it is a way of giving hope to Odysseus. Often times if someone shows that they still care and you aren't alone, it makes things easier to overcome. For example, if you are at a track meet and your whole school came to root for you, you are more motivated than someone whose family didn't even bother coming. Also, this is Alcinous' way of showing xenia which is a major theme of this book.

    Odysseus probably doesn't believe that he is in Ithaca because it might seem a little too good to be true. He is probably in shock that his long, vigorous journey is complete. I don't know how much Odysseus actually believed that he could make it home when one of the greatest gods, Poseidon, wanted him dead.

    If Odysseus hadn't been disguised as a beggar, I think he would have been attacked by the suitors immediately. Not only are they after his wife Penelope, but they are also after his kingdom. They have spent 20 years longing for this kingdom, and I don't think that they would be willing to just back down and give Odysseus his place back.

    Book 13 ties together with the first half of this book because this is Odysseus' homecoming. This whole book so far has been about him struggling to reach home and now he is finally here.

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  8. Alcinous tells his men to make sure that Odysseus is ready for his journey, as a courtesy, or act of hospitality, for Odysseus as his guest. Odysseus probably does not believe that he is in Ithaca, when he actually is, because, after all of his hardships, this seems too good to be true. Also, it might be shocking to him. If Odysseus had not been disguised as a beggar when he entered Ithaca, then he probably would have been ambushed, and killed by the suitors, because they outnumber him, many to one. Book 13 puts all of the first 12 books together, and relates them together, while still making a main point, because the first 12 books have been about Odysseus' hardships, and his actual odyssey. Book 13 is the "homecoming" of Odysseus, when he finally reaches his home estate, in Ithaca, to his family, drives away the suitors, reunites with Penelope, and embraces with his son as a young man, for the first time. Also, this is after all of his great troubles, and obstacles that Odysseus has been hardened by, including the actual Trojan War, making his "homecoming" to Ithaca, that much better, or significant to him in the story.

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  9. ALcinous tells all his men to each bring Odysseus a gift. he does this to show hospitality and respect and kindness. I think that Odysseus doesnt believe he is in Ithaca when he really is because throughout his journey he was tricked and messed with and it lasted so long and it would not seem like it would end just like that. every other time he ends up on an island he has had to fight his way through pain to get to that island. if odysseus had not been disguised the suitors would have probably killed him. thats the main reason why he was disguised. the main point of book 13 is to tell the reader that Odysseus is done with his long journey but he still has to complete the hard task of getting back to society and killing the suitors. Books 1 through 12 are related to 13 because he all the books before 13 have been creating the story and are about Odysseus trying to get home then he finally does get home.

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  10. Alcinous orders his men to pack Odysseus' ship with gifts for his long trip. This is done as sign of good hospitality. A reason that would explain Odysseus not believing the fact he had come to Ithica was that over a course of time, it had changed. He also might have forgotten about it or lost hope in finding it himself. It was important for Athena to disguise Odysseus as a beggar because this protected him from the suitors, which had planned to kill him upon his arrival. The main theme of book thirteen is the homecoming of Odysseus which makes a connection of all the books because they have been about his journey home.

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  11. Alcinous tells his men to give odysseus gift. he does this because the greeks valued the concept of Xenia very greatly.The reason odysseus didn't beleive he was home was because he woke up abandoned without any ign of where he was and after ten years of trials he just assumed the worst. He is protected by athena so the suitor wouldn't attempt to kill him. the main point of the book is the return to Ithica and Odysseus' homecoming. This is what the fist 12 books lead up too.

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  12. Alcinous tells all his men to bring a gift for Odysseus's journey home. He does this to show xenia by sending his guest off with riches. A reason to show xenia is fear of Zeus, the god of hospitality, and also if he is nice to Odysseus, Odysseus will tell other men of the phaceans as respectable and honorable men. Alcinous even pointed this out somewhere in the text telling Odysseus to remember them as kind. Later i nthe chapter, I think Odysseus doesn't beleive he's in Ithaca when he is because he had never expected to actually return. Even though he wanted to I dont think he thought he would ever make it because of Poseidon and all the wrong he and his crew had done. If Athena hadn't disguised Odysseus as a beggar the suitors might have seen him and ambushed, not giving him a chance to be ready for a counter attack. He went to his herdsman who respected him greatly and would have had a warm welcome for him. The main point of book 13 is Odysseus's homecoming. It relates to previous books because everything has been kind of leading up to this. It also shows common themes that have occured throughout the books like xenia.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Alcinous tells all his men to bring a gift for Odysseus's journey home. He does this to show xenia by sending his guest off with riches. A reason to show xenia is fear of Zeus, the god of hospitality, and also if he is nice to Odysseus, Odysseus will tell other men of the Phaceians as respectable and honorable men. Alcinous even pointed this out somewhere in the text telling Odysseus to remember them as kind. Later in the chapter, I think Odysseus doesn't beleive he's in Ithaca when he is because he had never expected to actually return. Even though he wanted to I dont think he thought he would ever make it because of Poseidon and all the wrong he and his crew had done. If Athena hadn't disguised Odysseus as a beggar the suitors might have seen him and ambushed, not giving him a chance to be ready for a counter attack. He went to his herdsman who respected him greatly and would have had a warm welcome for him. The main point of book 13 is Odysseus's homecoming. It relates to previous books because everything has been kind of leading up to this. It also shows common themes that have occured throughout the books like xenia.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I am a little confused about the wording of the text, but I think that king Alcinous tells all of his men to bring a gift to their guest, Odysseus, and pack it on the ship. He does this because he wants to demonstrate hospitality and Xenia and be a good host. I think that Odysseus doesn't believe he is in Ithica when he lands there because he has been away for so long and gone through so many pains that he has forgot what his homeland looks like. Also, on p. 292 lines 215-217, it says that Odysseus "failed to know the land for the goddess Pallas Athena, Zeus' daughter, showered mist over all..." I think that if Athena did not disguise Odysseus as a beggar when he reached Ithica, somebody would recognize him and spread the news that Odysseus had returned. The main point of Book 13 is to show that Odysseus has finally reached the destination to his journey, and that he has overcome all of the challenging hardships and impediments of his life. Also, the main point of Book 13 is to fill Odysseus on the things that have been going on while he was gone, and to inform him of the different problems that he is going to have to deal with. This connects to the 1st 12 books of "The Odyssey" because it concludes and wrapping up the 12 books by change of the story. No that Odysseus has reached his homeland, he is now going to have to begin a whole new "journey" of regaining his kingdom.

    ReplyDelete