Reading Notes: Homer's Odyssey, Part B

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Homer's Odyssey, translated by Tony Kline

Odysseus and his men summon the ghosts of Elpenor and Teiresias. Elpenor asks Odysseus to remember him and build him a burial mound on Ithaca. Then Odysseus sees his mother, who had been alive when he left for Troy. Teiresias appears and tells Odysseus that he and his crew have angered Poseidon. If Odysseus and his men manage to sail to Thrinacia, and not touch the herds of Helios, they may reach home. If they touch the herds, though, they will be shipwrecked. Even if Odysseus manages to get home, his house will be filled with suitors for his wife, which Odysseus must kill. Teiresias adds that Odysseus must make a sacrifice to Poseidon after he kills the suitors.

Then Odysseus speaks with his mother, Anticleia. They exchange news of each other and of Ithaca. Anticleia says she died out of yearning for Odysseus. Odysseus then speaks with the wives or daughters of other heroes. Why could he not just speak to the heroes if that was what he was after? Agamemnon then appears and tells Odysseus the story of how he was killed by his wife Clytemnestra and her lover, Aegisthus. Agamemnon suggests Odysseus proceed home with caution, as all women are sinful, deceitful, and murderous, and cannot be trusted. Odysseus then speaks with Achilles and tells Achilles about the deeds of his son. Ajax is the next ghost to appear. Ajax will not speak to Odysseus. Then Odysseus sees more ghosts in the Underworld. Odysseus heads back to his ship and sets sail back to Circe’s island.

Circe tells him how to avoid the Sirens, Scylla, and Charybdis. Odysseus’ men stuff wax in their ears and tie Odysseus to the mast of the ship (because he wanted to hear the song) until they pass the Sirens. When facing Scylla, Odysseus either forgot or ignored Circe’s warning not to carry arms when facing her. While Charybdis spews out water and distracts the men, Scylla plucks six men off the ship and bashes them on the cliffside before eating them. Part B ends here.

                                                  Vase Depicting Odysseus and the Sirens



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