~The Odyssey: Book 4~
“The King and Queen of Sparta”
Part One: Discuss Significant Scenes and Characters
Telemachus in Sparta:
How does the court at Sparta compare with Telemachus’ home in Ithaca? To what can we attribute these differences?
The court in Sparta is quite different from that of the court in Ithaca. So far, Homer has depicted Ithaca as glorious and grand as any other city in their society, however, this theory becomes questionable during the scene in book 4 when Telemachus is feasting with Nestor’s son, Pisistratus, in Menelaus’ palace and comments, “Surely Zeus’s court on Olympus must be just like this, the boundless glory of all this wealth inside! My eyes dazzle…I am struck with wonder” (126). Why should he be so shocked by the King’s palace? Is not Odysseus’ palace very similar in quality? When Homer refers to Odysseus’ “palace” he mentions “high-roofed halls”, a “burnished rack against a sturdy pillar” and a “chair of honor”. Perhaps this is not the case at all and the author simply glorifies Ithaca to be a far greater city than it is. In the scene where Telemachus finally divulges his reasoning for being at the King’s palace he says, “My house is being devoured, my rich farm lands destroyed, my palace crammed with enemies, slaughtering longhorn cattle” (134). This line gives reason to believe that Telemachus’ home in Ithaca is a simple farmland that could easily be destroyed. His shock upon entering Menelaus’ court parallels this idea.
How does it affect us as readers to see so much weeping on the part of all the main characters when they discuss the Trojan War and the memory of Odysseus?
“So Menelaus mused and stirred in [the guests] a deep desire to grieve. Helen of Argos, daughter of Zeus, dissolved in tears, Telemachus wept too, and so did Atreus’ son Menelaus. Nor could Nestor’s son Pisistratus stay dry-eyed” (130). When reading these lines the reader gets a sense of sadness and sympathy for those that lost loved ones in the Trojan War. This intense scene with all of the characters mourning the death of Odysseus and family members of their own finally makes the story real to us; this is the point in which we are pulling for Telemachus to find his father because we are finally able to experience the realness of what the characters feel.
The Suitors Plot Against Telemachus:
What do the suitors have planned for Telemachus upon his return to Ithaca? How does their plan reveal the true nature of their motives in courting Penelope?
“Quick, fetch me a swift ship and twenty men-I’ll waylay him from ambush, board him coming back in the straits between Ithaca and rocky Same. This gallant voyage of his father will find him wrecked at last!” (145). The suitors are planning to get rid of Telemachus because he stands in the way of their courting his mother, Penelope. They are going to attack him upon his return back to Ithaca so they will at last be able to take over Odysseus’ palace and have the riches of the King all for themselves.
How does Penelope react to finding out that Telemachus has left without telling her? What view of Penelope might readers start to develop at this point in the story?
When Penelope found out that her son has left “she stood there speechless a while, struck dumb, tears filling her eyes” (147). She felt incredible pain when “she sank on her well-built chamber’s floor, weeping, pitifully, as the women whimpered around her” (147). She cannot stand the thought that in addition to losing her husband, Odysseus, there is now the prospect of losing her son as well. Because of this scene, the reader gets that “motherly” feel from Penelope and we see her as a nurturing character. Her reaction to the news of her son’s voyage puts her in a feminine light with the response of a wife finding out about her husband’s death at battle, or a mother dealing with her son leaving for war.
How does the visit of Penelope’s sister’s ghost advance the story?
The visit of Penelope’s sister’s ghost gives the reader the sense that Telemachus will return home safely. She tells Penelope to have “courage!” (150) and not be “overwhelmed by all [her] direst fears” (150) because he has Athena to help him. After Penelope’s meltdown scene we are left with the feeling of doom that her son will indeed be killed, but after her sister’s ghost’s visit we are uplifted and enter Book 5 with hope.
Guiding question #1: What other key scenes not mentioned did you find vital to understanding the story? What themes are found in these scenes not mentioned as well as the scenes mentioned above?
Part Two: Illuminate the Text
The Odyssey is filled cover to cover with literary elements whether those are literary devices, epic machinery, or not part of the actual literature at all; the translator’s notes from the back. A literary device used over and over throughout book 4 is the simile. The first scene in which we are introduced to the Queen of Sparta, Helen, Homer provides us with the description, “Helen emerged from her scented, lofty chamber- striking as Artemis with her golden shafts” (Homer 128). A comparison is drawn between Helen and Artemis, the beautiful Mistress of Animals to emphasize how “striking” Helen is at first glance. This literary device is used again to describe Menelaus, the King of Sparta, as he awakens to begin questioning Telemachus for the reason behind his visit, “Over his shoulder he slung his well-honed sword, fastened rawhide sandals under his smooth feet, stepped from his bedroom, handsome as a god, and sat beside Telemachus” (134). With this line Homer portrays Menelaus as godly which in turn gives the reader an impression of him as a strong and beautiful man. In other words, the King’s presence and importance, just as his Queen’s, is emphasized. In addition to Helen and Menelaus, Homer uses the power of similes once more to describe Antinous, perhaps the worst of Penelope’s suitors, “Antinous rose up in their midst to speak, his dark heart filled with fury, blazing with anger-eyes like searing fire” (145) Here, we are provided with a simile and some imagery as the suitor’s eyes are paralleled with searing fire to show his rage toward Telemachus for a variety of reasons, one of which includes taking his ship on the voyage to find Odysseus.
Along with literary devices, book 4 uses patronymics: the name of a male ancestor to describe a son, grandson, etc. Examples of this are found on page 125, “Eteoneus, son of Boethous”, page 129, “Son of Atreus, King Menelaus”, and page 145, “Eupithes’ son, Antinous.” I understand patronymics as serving several purposes: to remind the reader of the family line and father-son relationships in the stories, to show respect to male figures in the story, and to depict these fathers and sons as holding some title of value during this time period. In other words, patronymics would not be used to describe a homeless person or beggar on the street because they hold no value in this society. If the name of a father is mentioned in the description of their son then both must hold some level of worth simply by their formal mention.
Although literary elements are vital in book 4, it is important to take time and search through all parts of this translation by Robert Fagles. This includes, but is not limited to, the very back of book where we find the Notes on Translation created by Bernard Knox. How are readers supposed to understand the reading if they do not understand the language? Knox does an amazing job of picking key lines and passages to explain from every book in The Odyssey. I used Knox’s feature to help me figure out Menelaus’ quote on page 127, “What hardships I endured, how I lost this handsome palace built for the ages, filled to its depths with hoards of gorgeous things.” My initial thought was why did Menelaus, King of Sparta, lose his palace? He seems like a character that would never have his status or belongings brought into question, a man with a great deal of power and control. I made a note of it in my book and continued reading. After I finished book 4 I went searching through the Notes on the Translation and found the explanation. Knox essentially clarifies how Menelaus’ palace was lost as he explains that in Homer’s other classic, The Iliad, terms of a dual between Menelaus and Paris, also known as Alexander or the Prince of Troy, stated that if Paris wins he will keep “Helen and all her wealth.” Judging by the passage in book 4, it is safe to say that Menelaus lost this dual that took place between himself and Paris. This short line on page 127 seems useless and trivial while we read, but I quickly found how untrue that statement is simply by making a little note and searching through the Notes on the Translation. This section in the back of the book serves as a great tool to understanding the background stories of characters in The Odyssey that we would have trouble fully appreciating otherwise.
Guiding question #2: What other literary devices were used in book 4? What do they add to the story?
Part Three: Make Connections
In book 4 we are submersed in the theme of hospitality, or xenia. We are made aware of its significance during this time period as Homer offers examples of the King and Queen’s generosity toward Telemachus’, their guest, during his stay at their home. As soon as Telemachus and his men arrive by horse at the King’s palace in Sparta, one of Menelaus’ men asks if he should “unhitch their team for them or send them to someone free to host them well” (125). King Menelaus is so offended by his helper that he yells, “Now I see you’re babbling like a child! Just think of all the hospitality we enjoyed” and “Quick, unhitch their team. And bring them in, strangers, guests, to share our flowing feast” (125). Upstanding people during this time period saw it as proper to invite strangers and guests into their homes for a meal and stay before even asking of their names or intentions. During Telemachus’ stay he is bathed and rubbed down with oil by maids and told that “of all the treasures lying heaped in [Menelaus’] palace [he] shall have the finest, most esteemed” (144). This idea of the host treating their stranger of a guest with such care and honor seems foreign to us as the readers because we are used to it being almost exactly the opposite. In our society, we act extremely polite to our hosts, try not to overstay our welcome, and leave them with a sort of parting gift as a thank you for their hospitality. Having their home as a place to stay is gift enough.
As I finish up this blog with Harry Potter Weekend on ABC Family playing in the background I find my connection to hospitality in book 4: The Weasley Family. The Weasleys take Harry into their home and provide him with shelter, care, and the love of a family that he has never had. Mrs. Weasley always makes sure Harry is fed, clothed, and cared for by all in their household and never fails to extend an invitation to their home. She, much like the King and Queen of Sparta, gives gifts to her guest, Harry. On more than one occasion the Weasleys provide for Harry even though they are not financially stable enough to do so, handing him gifts with a “Happy Christmas” as though he was one of their own.
Below is a cheesy, but good link that shows scenes in which Mrs. Weasley demonstrates hospitality.
Guiding question(s) #3: What does the hospitality a person provides say about their character? Why was this revered in this ancient Greek society? What provided for the change from that society to our modern society now?
I think you made a good point when you brought up the scene where everyone was upset when they were discussing the Trojan War and the memory of Odysseus. When reading book four, I thought it was very interesting that people that did not even know each other were sharing such personal stories. While King Menelaus was sharing his past with a bunch of strangers, he mentioned Odysseus' name and Telemachus reaction was described as "tears streamed down his cheeks and wet the ground...both hands clutching his purple robe before his eyes" (128). Although Telemachus came to find out information about his father, Menelaus did not know who he was yet. I was surprised, throughout the books, how open people were about their personal lives. There was another instance when Pisistratus jumped in and told a personal story of his own. He said, "And I have a brother of my own among the dead, and hardly the poorest soldier in our ranks" (130). I think this relates to the last question because this kind of behavior is very different then what we see in our society today. Nobody I know would walk into a house full of strangers and dump their entire past on to them. Today, some people do not even share their problems with loved ones. This emotional scene in book four is important because it is one of the many examples in this book that shows the difference between the society then and the society now.
ReplyDeleteFor the first question you answered, I think you are correct, but I think another reason why Odysseus' hall pales in comparison to Menelaus' is because of what is going on in Ithaca. Odysseus' hall is filled completely by men who are tarnishing his honor and taking advantage of all of his hard work, and even planning to kill his son so that they can continue being fat and lazy. In menelaus' hall, Telemachus sees what a king's palace is supposed to look liker (orderly, peaceful), and is angry because now he sees how bad the suitors are making things for him.
ReplyDeleteGQ1 - One quick scene that helped me understand the culture of their society a bit more was the way that Menelaus acted after he heard Telemachu's story. He was enraged at the though of suitors taking advantage of someone, and called them "spineless, craven cowards" (135). This shows that the idea of taking advantage of a gracious host is an unthinkable sin.
GQ2 - I'm not sure if this would be considered a literary device, but one thing that I thought was interesting was the way that Menelaus told his story about his journey home from Egypt. When I was reading it I could tell that he had a strong voice, and could hear his character coming through. I could tell that he was very proud of the whole ordeal, and could even see a little bit of extra spice thrown in to make himself look even better. I just though it was interesting how Homer was able to give Menelaus a voice so that the story had even more importance.
GQ3 - Although many might say that the various kings were only acting so hospitably to please the gods, I still think that their actions say a lot about their character. They do not hoard their money, and are happy to help a stranger in need. I think it shows a great amount of kindness, and, at the very least, respect for the gods and their decrees. Nice connection to HP, I'm excited for the midnight show :)
I like how you used the quotes from the book to bring out the scenes to the readers. Your interpretation seems to be well thought out and great to relate to our own thoughts of the book. This book was mostly about grieving for people who suffered in the war. During the feast warriors were mourning and feeling sad. Helen drugs their drinks with magic that makes them happy no matter what. This shows that the grief must have been so overwhelming that Helen has to drug them.The difference is enormous the palace of sparta is one of the finest and filled with riches like mountains. It can be compared to Zeus's palace which shows its almost close of being a
ReplyDeleteheaven.Seeing the main characters weep shows how significant affect the Trojan war had on them. It kind of gives a sense of pity and sympathy to the readers. The suitors are waiting for Telemachus return to ambush him. Take all the kings riches and to get with Telemachus mother. After Penelope finds out that her son has left. She mourns and feels devastated. This shows that Penelope loves his son and husband. Shes a loving and caring mother. The Ghost leads us to there is going to be battle between Telemachus and suitors. We get a sense that in the next book we will find out what has happened to Odyssey. The hospitality of the characters show how pleasing the gods were important and that they are very generous.
I wonder how men in ancient times were so opened? Now days men never drop a tear in front of people.
I really liked the layout of your blog. It felt very organized, concise, and really to the point. I felt that all of the quotes used were very helpful in making more connections to the text and helped me understand things I did not see or recognize before. This chapter's main focus was an emotional hand pulling on heartstrings. Earlier in book two or three, Telemachus was standing before a whole group of men and cried openly about his father, like he did also in this chapter. Men were more emotional in this time period I guess, and is just one of many differences that seperate our two societies.
ReplyDeleteQuestion 1- I felt that a key scene in understanding the story of Odyssues are the scenes of hospitality in books 1-3. Telemachus tries very hard to appease the suitors of his mother and try to provide them with everything he could give, even though he did not like doing so. He also was a guest of Nestor and accepted his food and drink and gifts when Nestor hosted him and Athena on the island. I feel that the host/guest relationship is very vital in understanding the whole story becuase in the introduction that we read, we learn that Odysseus had to survive off of many hosts that provided key supplies or pieces of advice that helped him get back.
Question 3- The hospitality provided in Ancient Greece was vey important to their culture and society. Being a good host said to people: "Hey, this person just gave me food, water, and a place to stay for the night. And when I left, they gave me a gift for my travels. I RESPECT that person." Respect was a very important thing in ancient times for the Greeks, and many other societies too. Another possibility why the hosts were looked upon so well was that piracy was very common, and while not necessarily "bad", it was still had a very negative impact on the Greeks and the hosts could be the good people that counteract the pirates. I think we changed from that society because people got too paranoid of others, and were too selfish. None of us would think about giving a stranger a room in our house and a seat at the dinner table, and the next morning give him the keys to your car, but in Greece you did that because your "world" was much smaller due to lack of travel and you did not know if you were going to be depending on a host in the near future.
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ReplyDeleteGQ1: A scene that helped me understand the story is the same one as Brandon's. When Menelaus hears of what is going on in Telemachus' palace he is outraged. This helps to show how important the theme of hospitality is. In that time, it was huge in society to be a host and give gifts to your guests and to ensure they have the greatest time. But at the same time, the guest cannot just take advantage of the situation, which is exactly what all the suitors do. Telemachus didn't want them there but he still tried to be a good host but they just use and take Odysseus' worldly goods and abuse their titles as guests. Hospitality has been a huge theme that has come up in all four books already.
ReplyDeleteGQ3: I think what kind of hospitality a person provides say about their character and why it is revered in ancient Greek society go hand in hand. As a host, you want the best for your guests and you want to make sure they have the best time possible. So when this included giving gifts you made sure it was a gift you would be proud of to be publicly displayed. The gifts you are offering and the whole time you are a host basically represent who you are. Your social standing to everyone is based on this. It was a way for people to show off what they got. My guess is that the better your gifts and the better a host you were in ancient Greece, meant the higher people help you in regard and the more popular you were. I think selfishness and deciding not to spend a lot on gifts for guests changed this custom. People still want to show off what they have and throw good parties and be a great host, but they don't want to have to give away their things or buy things for other people just for coming to their party. People don't want to and can't always spend the money for these kinds of things. Nowadays, it is custom for he guests to bring a gift to the host even if it is just food or drink or flowers. But we still see times when the hosts give gifts, like goody bags at birthday parties. The gifts are not as big but the meaning is the still the same as it was in ancient Greece.
1. JoAnn, you did a great job with adding all of the key events from Book 4. I just looked back in my book to see if there was any part missing, but you nailed all the major events that came into play. I especially liked the first question you asked about the difference between Ithaca and Sparta because I also noticed the differences between the two cities from the Telemachus' admiration and the vast detail Homer added to exemplify the lavishness of Sparta.
ReplyDelete2. There are a lot of literary devices that are in Book 2, but they go along with the categories you already have listed in your blog above. I like how you went into the back to look at the translations that related to this particular book because it made Menaleus' quotes more understandable.
3. I think hospitality truly shows someone's humble character towards another person, and showing that they genuinely care about the other person's well being. It is admirable to see the Greeks put so much emphasis on hospitality because it is rarely seen in today's society anymore because of trust/stranger fears, except maybe in the south where they are supposed to be known for their "Southern hospitality." But, the Greeks caring nature for others shows how compassionate they are to those who are traveling across the land, and who are tired and need a place to sleep. Our culture should try and learn to be more like the Greeks in a figurative (because I doubt everyone would literally open their doors for strangers) way by reaching out to people who are less fortunate, and just being kind to strangers on the street.
Good job being very thorough on this, JoAnn!
I liked that you brought up the fact that the characters were so emotional about the Trojan War and the memories of Odysseus because I was also thinking about that when I was reading. In today's society, men are thought to be the emotional rocks; they are thought to be stable and not show emotions such as sadness or despair. So, one would think that those beliefs would be even more pronounced back then, when gender roles were so skewed compared to how they are now. However, the male characters in this book do show a lot of emotion. For example, on page 95 in book 2, Telemachus is attempting to banish the suitors from his palace and defend his father's honor. So, after an impassioned speech, it was described that Telemachus, "Filled with anger, down on the ground he dashed the speaker's scepter- bursting into tears. Pity filled the assembly." When reading this part, I thought that the crowd’s reaction would be ridicule or amusement, but not pity. I do think that Telemachus does deserve some pity for all the horrible things that have happened to him and his family, but I did not think that the crowd of suitors would ever give it to him. It also surprised me that people were so open about their personal lives with strangers. That shows a difference between then and now that I never really knew about- now, people are more reserved about their personal lives and will only share it with the people who are close to them. However, back then, they apparently were not so reserved with strangers. It connects to a previous blog response to Rob's blog for book 3, when he spoke about the hospitality of the people towards strangers. After writing that response and reading this post I realized that back then, when the world was smaller, people were more open with strangers and more willing to get to know someone who just walked in off the street.
ReplyDeletePrimarily, I have to disagree on your argument sating, “Telemachus finally divulges his reasoning for being at the King’s palace he says, “My house is being devoured, my rich farm lands destroyed, my palace crammed with enemies, slaughtering longhorn cattle” (134). This line gives reason to believe that Telemachus’ home in Ithaca is a simple farmland that could easily be destroyed. I interpreted the passage as Telemachus going to the red haired king, Menelaus, for help. He needed information on his father’s where about because with out him the kingdom is falling apart. The suitors in his palace do no respect Telemachus because he is a child in their eyes and take advantage of Telemachus’ inexperience as a leader. It is not the fact that Ithaca is an insignificant farmland that the kingdom is being devoured; it is the mere fact that with out rule the city is crashing down hard and fast.
ReplyDeleteTo respond to your first question, I think an important passage that adds to the story is King Menelaus’ story of his journey back to his homeland from Troy. He describes how he was stuck on an island with no wind to push his ship across the sea for a very long time. He was lucky enough to gained the sympathy of a goddess named Eidothea. She told him the secret on how to get off the island, which was to capture the Old Man of the Sea who never lies. When Menelaus does capture the god he asks who has perish and who lives of those who survived Troy and headed home. The key factor in this scene is that The Old Man of the Sea claims Odysseus is still alive. He states, “Odysseus Laertes son, who makes his home in Ithaca… I saw him once on an island, weeping live warm tears in the nymph Calypso’s house – she holds him there by force” (142). Not only does this declare that Odysseus is still alive it may also lead Telemachus to go and search for his father and free him from Calypso. If this were to happen he will dodge the ambush that is waiting for him on his route back to Ithaca.
In response to question three, I believe that in ancient Greek society it was believed that life’s goal was to please the gods and to do so you had to live under their rules. Also, if it was know that gods could take the form of humans then you being a host would never be able to tell who was who or what was what and therefore had to watch every move and every step you take. One false move could upset the gods and your life will be put in misery. Or so it was believed. I believe these views have changed because the belief in the gods and belief in god in many religions has diminished in the view of society. Society is no longer scared of the wrath of the gods or the after life. Instead society worries more about money and their own well being than that of others.
1. One scene that I noticed is where Helen and Menelaus are talking about Odysseus’ work during the Trojan War. They mentioned how Odysseus disguised himself as a beggar and they also talked a little about the wooden horse. By listening to their stories of Odysseus, he really sounds like a great hero, so it helped me to look at him from a perspective of someone who actually saw him in the war (from introduction, I saw Odysseus as a selfish person who is only concerned with honor and fame rather than a hero saving people).
ReplyDeleteAnd you mentioned the scene where the phantom of Penelope’s sister comes out and I liked how you interpreted it, but I thought of something different when I read it. When I was reading this part, I thought the theme of god (their presence and their relationships with human). We talked about how gods were really involved in human life, and this scene shows this very well. Athena pities Penelope who is so worried about her son, so she sends this phantom to comfort her, which shows how a goddess cares about a human being.
2. Use of epithets: “clear-sighted Telemachus” (133), “lionhearted husband” (147), etc. I think these epithets are a great way to describe a person. They are usually one or two words long, but they serve to give a full description of people’s personalities and characteristics.
3. The hospitality a person provides might suggest that that person is very kind and generous. But I think you can never tell if a person is truly kind or not because the hosts might be being nice for their reputation or just to show their kind actions to the gods. One of the reasons why this was revered in ancient Greek society was that they believed the strangers were protected by Zeus, which means that Zeus is watching over what happens to the strangers. In today’s society, people do not provide so much to strangers since there is no reason to. We do not believe in Zeus protecting strangers. On the other hand, there is a reason not to welcome strangers into our homes—crimes.
I think that the palace that Telemachus lives at is big, but Sparta is just bigger. They might have bigger buildings than Ithaca, but it doesn't mean that it is small. I think that their weeping shows that Odysseus was a very important aspect to the Trojan War and that everyone respects him and what he did. The suitors intend to kill Telemachus and this shows that they don't want to marry Penelope because they like her, but for the power and wealth that they would recieve if they did. I think that the ghost advances the story by helping enelope see that her son is going to be okay and also gives her hope that Odysseus may be alive too. I think the scene that explains that Proteus tells Menelaus about the whereabouts of Odysseus is important because it advances the story because now Telemachus knows where to search for his father and also knows that he is alive.
ReplyDeleteI think that the literary elements in the text were all mentioned in your blog. I think that you did a good job explaining and pointing out the critical areas of the book.
I don't think back then you can judge a person by their hospitality because they could be being nice just because Zeus told everyone that they must be nice to strangers. They could be nice because of their own personal reasons or they could just be nice because Zeus told them to and they are afraid what might happen to them if they don't.