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classical literature ancient greek literature Homer's Odyssey Greek mythology

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This document is a study guide for a Classical Literature (CLA) course, summarizing key events from Homer's *The Odyssey* and plot summaries from Euripides' *Medea*. It likely includes study material for a final exam or assessment.

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Week 9 Pages 551-62 567-82 **Summary of Book 10 of Homer\'s *The Odyssey* (The Island of the Winds)** In Book 10 of *The Odyssey*, Odysseus and his men continue their journey home after the Trojan War. This episode primarily takes place on the **Island of the Winds**, where they encounter **Aeolu...

Week 9 Pages 551-62 567-82 **Summary of Book 10 of Homer\'s *The Odyssey* (The Island of the Winds)** In Book 10 of *The Odyssey*, Odysseus and his men continue their journey home after the Trojan War. This episode primarily takes place on the **Island of the Winds**, where they encounter **Aeolus**, the god of winds, and face several challenges that delay their return to Ithaca. ### **1. Arrival at Aeolus' Island** After narrowly escaping the **Laestrygonians** (giant cannibals) in the previous book, Odysseus and his crew land on the **Island of Aeolus**, the god of the winds. Aeolus is a benevolent figure, and he welcomes Odysseus and his men, offering them hospitality and gifts.**Aeolus\' Gift**: To help Odysseus reach Ithaca, Aeolus gives him a gift: a **bag of winds**. This bag contains all the winds that could blow them off course, except for the **west wind**, which will blow them home to Ithaca. Aeolus instructs Odysseus to keep the bag closed and not to open it, as doing so would unleash the winds and blow them off their course. ### **2. The Crew\'s Mistake** As Odysseus and his men sail away from Aeolus' island, they make considerable progress toward home. However, the crew, curious and impatient, begins to wonder what is inside the mysterious bag. Odysseus, who is asleep at the time, had warned them not to open it. But when they finally open the bag, the trapped winds escape and blow the ship far off course.**The Consequences**: The winds carry the ships back to Aeolus' island. When they arrive, the crew is desperate and ashamed. They explain what has happened, hoping Aeolus will help them again. ### **3. Aeolus' Refusal** Aeolus, however, is angered by the crew's disobedience and feels that the gods are against Odysseus. He believes that the gods must be punishing Odysseus for some reason and thus refuses to offer any more help. **The Departure**: Aeolus tells Odysseus and his crew to leave, stating that they are doomed and the gods will not allow them to return home. He sends them away, and they are forced to sail on without any further divine assistance from him Week 10 Book 9-11 (perusall) 605-612 614-626 **Summary of Book 19 of Homer\'s *The Odyssey* (Penelope and Odysseus Meet)** Book 19 of *The Odyssey* takes place in the palace of **Ithaca**, where **Odysseus**, disguised as a beggar, has returned home after his long journey. This book focuses on the reunion between **Odysseus** and **Penelope** and further sets the stage for the resolution of the epic\'s main plot. Key events include Odysseus revealing more of his identity, the emotional reunion with his wife, and Penelope\'s clever test to confirm his true identity. ### **1. The Beggar and Penelope** - ### **2. Penelope Questions the Beggar** - ### **3. Penelope's Test for the Beggar** - ### **4. Penelope's Cautious Recognition** - ### **5. The Emotional Reunion** - Week 11 Ajax pg 3 -31 (perusall) Week 12 641-645 647-61 691-97 ### **Plot Summary: Europides Medea (653-691)** #### **Act 1: Medea's Betrayal** - - #### **Act 2: Medea's Plan for Revenge** - - - #### **Act 3: The Killing of Creon and the Children** - - - - #### **Act 4: Medea\'s Escape** - - Week 13 711-723 3 heroines who dies for the greater good : polyxena, iphigenia, antigone All "brides of hades " since they die during the time of life they would have married All 3 die willingly accepting their death for the greater good Antigone Sopocles- The Deaths of Her Brothers: After the death of their father, Oedipus, Antigone\'s brothers, Eteocles and Polyneices, fight for control of Thebes. They kill each other in battle, and the city is left in turmoil. Creon's Decree: Antigone's uncle, Creon, becomes the new king of Thebes. He issues an edict that Eteocles will be buried with honors, but Polyneices, who fought against Thebes, will be left unburied as punishment. Creon decrees that anyone who attempts to bury Polyneices will be put to death. Antigone's Defiance: Antigone believes that the gods\' laws, which require proper burial rites for the dead, supersede the laws of any mortal king. She defies Creon's edict and secretly buries her brother Polyneices, even knowing the consequences. When she is caught, she openly admits her actions and refuses to back down. The Tragic Outcome: Creon condemned Antigone to death by entombment. In Sophocles\' version, she is sealed in a tomb, where she eventually takes her own life. Her fiancé, Haemon (Creon's son), attempts to intervene on her behalf but ultimately kills himself beside her. Creon's wife, Eurydice, also commits suicide upon learning of Haemon's death. In the end, Creon is left to reflect on the consequences of his stubbornness and pride, having lost his family and witnessed the destruction caused by his decisions. 750-754 \`Heroine\'s journey- increasingly networked protagonist strides around with good friends, prodding them and others to victory, together. Hero\'s journey- Increasingly isolated protagonist stomps around prodding wvil with pointy bits, eventually fatally prods baddie , gains glory and honor. 5 ways heroines story differs from heroes 1. The goal or focus of the journey is different. Hero is concerned with defeating/retrieving something important. While heroines are looking for reunification with someone who was taken. She is concerned with networking or connecting with others 2. Hero is offensive, while the heroine looks for a way to achieve her goal through communication not physical offense. 3. Hero\'s strength means to fight alone ina 1 v 1 and to leave everyone behind to do so. Heroine requests aid is a sign of strength. More companions = stronger 4. When a heroine has her most powerful narrative and iconic moments , these will occur with others. usually characterized by intense communication and unity. Heroes are alone during this 5. Heroes are bittersweet due to sacrifices and loss. But heroines are a collective achievement of goals. ID's POLYXENA Daughter of king priam and queen hecuba of troy Sacrificed to achilles on his tomb so they could sail to troy She dies a " free woman" since she accepts her death IPHIGENIA Daughter of agamemnon and clytemnestra Cult shrines ; Brauron Sacrifice to artemis to agamemnon can gain her favor ( he haad to sacrifice something dear to him) ANTiGONE Daughter of Oedipus and jocasta The Deaths of Her Brothers: After the death of their father, Oedipus, Antigone\'s brothers, Eteocles and Polyneices, fight for control of Thebes. They kill each other in battle, and the city is left in turmoil. Creon's Decree: Antigone's uncle, Creon, becomes the new king of Thebes. He issues an edict that Eteocles will be buried with honors, but Polyneices, who fought against Thebes, will be left unburied as punishment. Creon decrees that anyone who attempts to bury Polyneices will be put to death. Antigone's Defiance: Antigone believes that the gods\' laws, which require proper burial rites for the dead, supersede the laws of any mortal king. She defies Creon's edict and secretly buries her brother Polyneices, even knowing the consequences. When she is caught, she openly admits her actions and refuses to back down. The Tragic Outcome: Creon condemned Antigone to death by entombment. In Sophocles\' version, she is sealed in a tomb, where she eventually takes her own life. Her fiancé, Haemon (Creon's son), attempts to intervene on her behalf but ultimately kills himself beside her. Creon's wife, Eurydice, also commits suicide upon learning of Haemon's death. In the end, Creon is left to reflect on the consequences of his stubbornness and pride, having lost his family and witnessed the destruction caused by his decisions. CLYTEMNESTRA Wife of agamemnon Kills agamemnon since he sacrificed their daughter iphigenia Cursed so no one believes what she says one of the most famous characters in Greek mythology, is considered **cursed** due to the complex and tragic history of her family, the **House of Atreus**. Her curse is part of a larger cycle of violence, revenge, and betrayal that spans multiple generations. The curse on Clytemnestra and her family plays a significant role in shaping her actions and ultimately leads to her own tragic fate. PROCNE Daughter of king pandion and queen pheobe married to tereus Husband rapes her sister Philomela and cuts her toungue out so she doesnt tell anyone Procne is told through tapestry and vows revenge Procne kills her son Itys and feeds him to her husband as revenge Leaves home when truth is revealed HECUBA Daughter of Dymas and Elope Married to king priam During war her son hector is killed by achilles Her city troy is destroyed Captured by greeks Once other son polydorus is killed she swears revenge Kills Polymestor and turns into dog/ wolf symbolizing her loss of humanity MADEA #### Act 1: Medea's Betrayal - - #### Act 2: Medea's Plan for Revenge - - - #### Act 3: The Killing of Creon and the Children - - - - #### Act 4: Medea\'s Escape - - ACHILLES Son of peleus and thetis Agamemnon took war prize (woman) Achilles left battle Great hero in battle of troy MENELAUS Son of atreus and aerope Brother to agamemnon Married to helen Helen was abducted by paris PRIAM Son of dardanus and bateia Father to Helen, hector. paris , cassandra, polites. Son hector is killed by achilles ANDROMACHE Wife to hector Mother to astyanax Loyal to hector ODYSSEUS\ \ AGAMEMNON\ Son of atreus and aerope Brother to menelaus Sacrifices daughter iphigenia so they can travel to troy Takes achilles war prize Husband to clytemnestra Clytemnestra kills him for sacrificing their daughter AJAX\ Son of telamon and salamis Doesnt get achilles armor Drove insane by athena and kills sheep and cattle thinking its agamemnon and others In shame of himself he kills himself and passes armor to son JASON\ Wa married to medea left her for glauce Is eventually killed by medea for adultery along with his kids PENELOPE Wife of odysseus After he leaves she keeps suitors busy She does this by weaving and unweaving a funeral cloth She finally agrees to choose a suitor if they can string odysseus bow which only odysseus can so She is smart and a heroine HECTOR Son of priam and hecuba Married to andromache Father to astyanax Hero during war Duels with ajax Fights achilles and dies Drug around walls by chariot by achilles after death HELEN Daughter of zeus and leda Married to menelaus Abducted by paris Primary catalyst for trojan war Blames herself for war TECMESSA Daughter of telamon Captured as war prize by ajax Fell in love with ajax Remains loyal to ajax even after he goes insane Keeps ajax in line until he commits suicide ORESTES Son of agamemnon and clytemnestra Born during trojan war during the time clytemnestra was having an affair with aegisthus and was planning to kill agamemnon Exiled for trying to get revenge for his father Returns as adult Killed clytemnestra and her lover PROPPS ARCHETYPES Hero\'s Journey Monster theory Heroes force Lyons metamorphosis Garriger Penelope purpose - to keep Odysseus honor and household Approach- deceit by the cloth being knitted Strength- Her cunning ability to deceive and manipulate Power- keeping away suitors until Odysseus arrives Ending- joyful since husband is returned and suitors are defeated Achilles Purpose- Kill hector Approach- Offensive Strength- Physical power Power- Kills groups of men alone Ending- Dies and cries in tent Odysseus Purpose- Defeat enemy and reunite Approach- Offensive Strength- Physical/wit Power- Power w others Ending- reunification with penelope Medea Purpose- Revenge Approach- violence and trickery Strength- magic / supernatural powers Power- alone, internal strength and will Ending- sacrifice to escape and completion of revenge Clytemnestra Purpose- revenge Approach- cunning Strength- emotional Power- wife\'s loyalty Ending- killed by her children Jason Purpose- power Approach- alliances through marriage Strength- physical Power- getting married Ending- dead kids by medea Hecuba Purpose- defeating an enemy Approach- offensive Strength- physical / wit Power- power alone Ending- gets revenge but is turned into dog Ajax Purpose- Achilles armor Approach- attack odysseus Strength- physical Power- being alone Ending- kills himself for honor Hector Purpose- war Approach- violence Strength- fights achilles alone (strength) Power- troys strongest soldier Ending- does not get proper burial Iphigenia Purpose- reunification Approach- acceptance Strength- obedience Power- respect from others Ending- maintaining order (also dies)

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