In this book we witness Odysseus reunite with Telemachus. Based on their reaction, what does this tell us about the Greek attitude towards the expression of emotion? How do we know Telemachus has matured in this book? How does this book show Telemachus is like his father? How does it show he is different? Do you think that this is the climax of the book? Why or why not?
Book 16 has told me that Greeks aren't afraid to express their emotions and that when they greet someone they haven't seen in a while they would kiss them. We know Telemachus has matured in this book because he and Odysseus, together, are able to plan how to take on the suitors. Telemachus wouldn't have been able to do this at the beginning because he had to have Mentes (Athena) tell him to go and find new about his father. This book shows that he is like his father because he is calculating about the plan, but he is different from his father because he has a better plan for the suitors then even his father did because he knew the castle and its politics. I think this is the climax of book 16 because this is what we've been waiting for, father and son to meet, since book 1.
ReplyDeleteBased on this reaction it says that there is a strong relation between the father and the son in Greek culture. This is expressed through their actions. This book also shows that Telemachus has matured. He is able to keep secrets and put aside emotion in order to do his duty. He acts similar to his father due to his plots to kill the suitors and the description of the suitors which stated that Telemachus was similar except different due to the amount of courage he obtained.
ReplyDeleteBased on their reaction, this tells us that the Greek attitude towards the expression of emotion is rich, and that emotion should be expressed greatly. We know Telemachus has matured in this book because he demonstrates that he is the one who is providing strangers with shelter and clothes. This book shows that Telemachus is like his father because it demonstrates that Telemachus has a creative mind like his father when they are planning how to take down the suitors. I think that this book could be considered the climax of The Odyssey, but I also think that it is not the climax in some ways. I think it could be the climax because it is the book when Odysseus finally reunites with his great son. However, I don’t think this book is the climax of the book because there is not a lot of action it. All that happens is that Odysseus and Telemachus greet each other and plan to take down the suitors.
ReplyDeleteBased on they reaction of Odysseus and Telemachus in this book it tells us many things about the expression of emotion. It shows that they do show their emotions. They both cry when they are reunited. Telemachus has matured in this book because he is able to put the great emotion of FINALLY being united with his father to make a plan to kill all of the suitors. This also shows how similar Telemachus and Odysseus are similar. It shows that they are both clever. I believe that this is one of the climaxes of the book. Even though a book isn't supposed to have to have more than one climax I believe this is a climax leading up to a climax. (If that makes since) Because this is the moment that we have been waiting for, but the moment the suitors are dead is I believe a climax as well.
ReplyDeleteIt seems like men back in the time this was written were much more open about their emotions. Odysseus and Telemachus were crying and hugging and kissing each other at their reunion. In modern culture, men are portrayed sometimes as seeming unbreakable and never crying, so I thought it was cool to see how their reaction was different than what people may expect modern day. We know that Telemachus has matured because he is no longer afraid to take action against the suitors. I think that we are finally getting a glimse of Telemachus being very simular to Odysseus. He is a strong, determined, courageous man who is ready to protect his house. I don't think that this particular incident shows how he is different from his dad. I think that is one of the climaxes of this book. There are many different conflicts in this book. One of the conflicts is homecoming, and I think that this is the climax to that theme/conflict.
ReplyDeleteBased on their reaction, this tells us the Greek attitude towards the expression of emotion is very strong and deep. Telemachus and Odysseus both cry when Odysseus is no longer an old beggar and reunites with his son, Telemachus. We know Telemachus has matured in this book because we see that he demonstrates great xenia, providing food and clothing to Odysseus when he was disguised by a beggar. This book shows Telemachus is like his father by his cleverness in making a plan to defeat the suitors. i agree with what Annie said about this being a climax leading up to a climax because this moment is what we have been waiting to happen but the defeating of the suitors is a main climax as well.
ReplyDeleteI do not think that this is the climax of the book, this "scene", or "moment" in the book, is very important. It is important because, even though that this pair of father and son, do not even know each other at all, their strong essence of the bond between father and son is still emphasized. They emphasized their emotion by hugging, kissing, embracing, and more. This shows, or portrays, that the culture, or attitude in Greece, of the relationship between father and son, and how it is usually very strong and healthy. In this book, Telemachus had matured in many ways. The main way was, instead of waiting to see what will happen with the suitors and his mother, among their estate in Ithaca, he is finally going to do something about it. And now, he is not even going to be alone, either, but he will be with his father for this adventure. Telemachus seems different because, before, he would not take charge, as he is doing now, in the book.
ReplyDeleteIm not sure that I understand the second sentence of this question because it is a bit hard to understand. But This shows us that Greeks are not afraid to express there emotions. he has matured because at first he doesnt beleive it is his father. then he sits down and plots to kill the suitors with his father.this is the kinda the climax because this is when odysseus meets his son for the first time.
ReplyDeleteThis tells us that the attutude toward expression and emotion is that they are not afraid to show their emotions. Telemachus and Odysseus cry for a very long time in the book, which shows there love for one another, and how much they missed each other. Also this shows that the father-son bond is emense in their culture. This book has shows that Telemachus has matured because he is able to put his emotions asides, and focus on the task ahead, which is to overthrow the suitors. This trait is much like a vertern football player who has to put the emotions of the game aside and focus on the task ahead, to win the football game. This book shows that Telemachus is like his father because he is a "smooth talker just like his father, he is able to talk to people in a very persuasive manner. This shows that he is different because his plan that he presents to his father is even better than the plan his father thought of, so Telemachus may be even more clever than Odysseus. I don't think that this is the climax of the Odyssey because they are only creating a plan to overthrow the suitors instead of actually doing the plan.
ReplyDeleteColeman--these are very thoughtful questions. I like that they inspired a chain of thoughts about the father/son relationship in Western culture through the ages. This will be quite helpful when we start reading the major Bible stories. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteThe Greeks weren't embarrased to show their emotions; they were also very open with their thoughts and feelings, as we can see from Odysseus and Telemachus's emotional meeting. Also, I agree with Salim about the father-son relationship because many of the charatcers are introduced using "son of." Telemachus matured in the sense that in the beginning, he was grieving for his father and taking no action against the suitors, and now he isn't letting his emotions get in the way and is plotting with his father towards the downfall of all the suitors. I think that Telemachus is like his father in many ways: both are wise and have a good way with words and desicions. I dont think this is the full climax, but I believe that it is the beginning of it. I think the full climax will probably happen very soon, maybe when they kill the suitors.
ReplyDeletethe greeks attitude towards emotion is showing it. there is a strong bond between father and son which is apparent throughout the book as exemplarized by whenever someone is introduced it is as ' the son of...'. you can see telemachus has matured because he is ablw to hold back his emotion nad greif to be able to help his father secretly plot. Even though he knows the suitors are plotting against him he is able to stay normal and unshaken by them. Telemachus is like his father by his ability to lie so easily. Also he had an odyssey like his fathers which makes their bond stronger. He is different by the fact that he doesnt take as much action as his father and he still has some growing up to do. I do think this is the climax of the book becuase it is when everything is coming together. SO many thing have led up to when odysseus comes home. one could also argue the climax is not until he revealsd himself as the king and defeats the suitors. Still this is an important part of hte book, where the telemachy and odysseus's odyssey meets.
ReplyDeletethe greeks attitude towards emotion is showing it. there is a strong bond between father and son which is apparent throughout the book as exemplarized by whenever someone is introduced it is as ' the son of...'. you can see Telemachus has matured because he is able to hold back his emotion and greif to be able to help his father secretly plot. Even though he knows the suitors are plotting against him he is able to stay unshaken by them. Telemachus is like his father by his ability to lie and make up stories so easily. Also he had an Odyssey like his fathers which makes their bond stronger. He is different by the fact that he doesn't take as much action as his father and he still has some growing up to do. I do think this is the climax of the book because it is when everything is coming together. So many thing have led up to when Odysseus comes home. one could also argue the climax is not until he reveals himself as the king and defeats the suitors. Still this is an important part of the book, where the telemachy and Odysseus's odyssey meet.
ReplyDeleteThe greeks attitude towards emotion is showing it. There is a strong bond between father and son which is apparent throughout the book as exemplarized by whenever someone is introduced it is as ' the son of...'. You can see Telemachus has matured because he is able to hold back his emotion and greif to be able to help his father secretly plot. Even though he knows the suitors are plotting against him he is able to stay unshaken by them. Telemachus is like his father by his ability to lie and make up stories so easily. Also he had an Odyssey like his fathers which makes their bond stronger. He is different by the fact that he doesn't take as much action as his father and he still has some growing up to do. I do think this is the climax of the book because it is when everything is coming together. So many thing have led up to when Odysseus comes home. one could also argue the climax is not until he reveals himself as the king and defeats the suitors. Still this is an important part of the book, where the Telemachy and Odysseus's odyssey meet.
ReplyDeleteI believe this was not a climax but more of a preview for the reactions to come from Odysseus' loved ones. I do not believe this is the climax because of the fact Odysseus is not yet had his homecoming because he not at peace in his own home. I believe the moment when Odysseus is relieving himself of all the stress and sorrow of his journey, then that will be the story's climax.
ReplyDeleteOdysseus and Telemachus's Display of affection show that the greeks were not afraid to show how they truly felt and that the father son bond is one of the strongest relationships. We know Telemachus has matured over the book because he is finally ready to fight the suitors and win back his home. We know that Telemachus is similar to his father because they are both very passionate at there reunion and because he is very clever and able to come up with plans and schemes that are akin to Odysseus's. He is different because he is not as strong willed as his father and much more emotional. Although he has grown as a person he is still not as mature as his father quite yet.This is not the climax because they still need to defeat the suitors and regain their homeland. There are still a lot of obstacles to over come before they are finished with their journey.
ReplyDeleteBased on Odysseus and Telemachus reaction, it shows us that the Greeks were not afraid to express themselves. They are very emotional. This also shows that they have a strong father and son bond. This also shows that Telemachus has matured because he is able to do his job aside from what is happening. He puts work first. This book shows they are similar because they are both are schemers and are very clever.I think this is not one the climax but it a major scene in the book leading up to teh real climax.
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