BA#5 Melanthius

1. Melanthius first appears in book 17 when Eumaeus is escorting Odysseus to the palace(17.231).



2.Melanthius is a goatherd who worked for Odysseus. He has been in service of the suitors since Odysseus left and the suitors favor him, especially "Eurymachus, who favored him the most" (17.282) He probably is favored because he gives the suitors "the pick of his flocks" (17.233, 20. 192) The two times he encounters Odysseus he insults him for being a beggar.(17.239, 20.219)

3. Melanthius does not have the same heroic qualities as (Pamela H. pointed out were "the class' evolving definition of a hero") as Eumaeus which are, loyalty, bravery, humility, selflessness, courage, "admirable" and someone who is "true to task". Melanthius has not been loyal and has betrayed his master Odysseus by serving the suitors in his master's home, being their informant and by helping them do away with Telemachus' inheritance. He is not an admirable, humble or selfless person since he treated Odysseus badly just because he is a beggar. He considers himself to be part of the suitors, "your begging makes us sick"(20.200).Unlike Eumaeus, Melanthius is not"true to task" and hires "worthless fieldhands" (17.270) to work for him.

4. Melanthius is not a hero because he does have the qualities to be considered a hero. He acts only on selfinterest, easily betrays his master and is not humble, loyal or admirable.

BA#3

Princess Nausicaa; Book 6: The Princess and the Stranger, line 20

Princess Nausicaa is a hero because she is courageous and clever. When she finds Odysseus naked in the open, she does not shy away or show weakness. Neither does she view him as lowly and ignore him as though he's not worth her time. When he begs her for pitty she doesnt baby him. Rather, she is understanding yet stern. She acknowledges his troubles and tells him he must "bear" his pain.(6.210)

Princess Nausicaa can be compared to Calypso. Both women have power and beauty, but they use stregnths differently. When Odysseus came across Calypso, she used position to mystify him and kept him with her by "force."(5.16) Nausicaa was unwed and looking for a husband. She could have used Odysseus' weak state as an opportunity to take advantage of him. When Odysseus tries to flatter her by commenting on her "build, bearing, and lithec flowing grace" she doesn't become gitty and forget about her respectable position.(6.167)

Princess Nausicaa shows she is a hero not only because of her character, but because she assisted Odysseus using compassion and common sense. She was selfless and smart when making decisions. She may not have defeated a cyclops or endured Poseidon's wrath, but she has proved herself to be a hero.

BA #5 Post 1

How Eurykleia kept Odysseus's a secret is a very hard thing that should be acknowledged. Here is Eurykleia, Odysseus's old nurse who has remained faithful to the family, who is trusted with the secret of Odysseus's identity. Eurykleia has seen everything that has been going on in the palace by the suitors and all of the mistreatment on her peers and more than likely herself. Most people in her shoes would want to go charging in at the suitors with this great warrior behind you and take the palace back. But instead she does as she is told and shows where her loyalty and trust is.

BA #5-Post 1

1.) A hero that emerges in Book 20 is Philoetius, the good cowherd (20.203).

2.) The character is loyal to his king and kind to strangers. He greets Odysseus with a warm welcome saying "Cheers, old friend, old father, here's to your luck, great days from this day on..." (20.219-20). Philoetius also proves his loyalty to his "lost" king while speaking to Odysseus by saying "Odysseus, my great lord and master...set me in charge of his herds...I could have fled, ages ago...but I still dream of my old master" (20. 230-49). Lastly, Philoetius is a brave character, willing to fight for the king he is loyal to by saying that if Odysseus were to come home, "you'd see my power, my fighting arms in action [against the suitors]" (20.263-64).

3.) Philoetius is very similar to Eumaues. Besides both being herders for their king's livestock, both men are extremely loyal to their king and pine for the day Odysseus is to return so that they may take their vengeance against the suitors. They are also both loyal to Telemachus with Philoetius stating "What a traitor I'd be, with the prince still alive, if I'd run off to some other country" (20.242-43).

4.) What make Philoetius a hero is that he exemplifies characteristics the class found to define a hero. He is brave, loyal, noble in the the way he treats Odysseus in the guise of a beggar and in how he talks and enduring, staying on Odysseus's estate to tend the cattle even though the conditions there are unkind.

BA #5

Odysseus shows again his heroic attributes when he returns home to Ithica, because of how he hides his identity to Telemachus when they are finally reunited. This is because he restrained himself from revealing his identity until he heard the condition of his house. That way, he wouldn't need to worry about the distractions of their rejoicing or catching up, once he finally did. This kept their task important, because he could think up a plan in advance, and stay coordinated with his son, rather than sloppy because details were left out in their celebration (catching up). The way he chose to reveal himself to Ithica proved that he is a true hero, because of the cleverness. He used his disguise to his advantage.

BA #5

Telemachus shows to be a true hero in chapter twenty by standing up for everyone in Odysseus's house. There are endless times in this chapter he is standing up for people. He also stands up for himself and makes a change that everyone can see from being a boy to becoming a man. Telemachus also stood up against the suitors telling them "This is no public place, this is Odysseus' house my father won it for me, so it 's mine" (book 20 line292-294). Telemachus was was making a statment that "No insults now, no brawling, no or it's war between us all" (book 20, line 295-296).

It is agreeable that anyone can be a hero depending on what they consider a hero. Throughout this book there has been many heroes’ because everyone shows a heroic trait. This is shown throughout the book and the line that reads “Here I sit, my heart aching, broken for him, my master, my great king fattening up his own hogs for other men to eat, while he, starving for food, I wager, wanders the earth" (Book 14, line. 44). Shows how at this point or time Eumaeus was being heroic by his loyalty.

Eumaeus

1.) Eumaeus first appears in the Odyssey on page 301- line 7.

2.) Book Fourteen's title is The Loyal Swineherd and the entire chapter proves Eumaeus's loyalty to Odysseus. He takes care of the animals in Odysseus' kingdom. He tells the beggar (Odysseus) how mad it makes him that he has to serve the suitors in his "great king's" home. He doesn't think that Odysseus will come home but he is so miserable without him. "Here I sit, my heart aching, broken for him, my master, my great king fattening up his own hogs for other men to eat, while he, starving for food, i wager, wanders the earth" (Book 14, ln. 44).


3.) Eumaeus's loyalty reminds me of Penelope's. Odysseus must be a wonderful person and a very hard man to forget, because it seems that everyone in his kingdom is dying without him. Before Odysseus, dressed as a beggar, goes to bed he notices that the swineheard doesn't go to bed indoors and it makes him very happy, "not his style to go to bed indoors, apart from his pigs. He geared up to go outside and it warmed Odysseus' heart, Eumaeus cared so much for his absent master's goods" (Book 14, ln. 592). Penelope is a woman and therefore her reaction to her husband's absence is different, she cries and mourns, her loyalty is the same. Athena tells Odysseus of the pain she is enduring, "But she, she waits in your halls, as always, her life an endless hardship...wasting away the nights, weeping away the days" (Book 13, ln. 383).

4.) I believe that Eumaeus is a hero. He has never left his master's home even though his master did and has not returned for twenty years. He takes care of Odysseus' belongings and doesn't approve of people coming in and trying to take it. He mourns for Odysseus like a best friend would. He is more of a quiet hero because he hasn't taken any action, but he still is a hero because of his undoubted loyalty.

Circe was met by the men when they reached the Aeaean island (10. 148). Circe is yet another beautiful "nymth with lovely braids" (10.149). She is the daughter of Perse, but she can "speak with human voice" (10.150). Circe is an enchantress and a weaver who is described as "enthralling" (10.249) by Odysseus's "most devoted' (10.247) man. Circe is spellbinding, literally and figuretively, so much so that she turned Odysseus's men into pigs. Odysseus also became a pig, but only metaphaorically, as for one year he cheated on his wife, staying with Circe. Circe is very enticing, cunning, and directive, as she sets the situation in her palace up, enticing Odysseus, as his plans are set off course.Both Circe and Calypso used allure in the same fashion, as they wove and sung seductively, setting Odysseus off course. Alike in appearance, both nymths use their gentle kindness and intriguing beauty to thwart Odysseus, in order for them to selfishly attain what they desire...him. Circe is much more complient than Calypso, who was not eager to let Odysseus go, so she resorted to more psychological tactics. When Zeus ordered Odysseus's release, Calypso "shuddered at those words and burst into a flight of indignation" (5.129). It took her a little while to release her selfish hold on Odysseus and comply to the prophetic gods' wishes, but she issued him a warning, "But if you knew what pains are fated to you before you reach that shore, you'd stay right here..." (5.228-230). She resorted to this psychological headgame because deep down, even though Odysseus has been depressed staying with her, she wanted him to remain there as her lover. Circe, on the other hand, was seemingly more interseted in Odysseus desires over her own. Odyssues wouldn't eat until his crew was turned back into men, and Circe complyed. Circe's use of kind complience and enticement, instead of using heady warnings, prompted Odysseus to remain on her island for a year willingly, and when he finally decided to leave, as his crew was getting restless, Circe urged him on with directives, as she was seemingly satisfied that she got what she could, emotionally and physically, from Odysseus.I believe that Circe is a hero. She sheltered Odysseus physically and emotionally, and when he was ready to leave, she promoted the journey by giving him directions to get home. She, for the most part, put Odysseus's needs ahead of her own, as heros do. She did use her enticing allure to seduce Odysseus, but it was his weak will that kept him there. When he was ready, she selflessly took pride in aiding his journey home. Circe is definately strong-minded, genuine, and caring. It was she who helped Odysseus gain the assurance and confidence to go forth with his journey when he was nervious about who would pilot his ship with her easing words, "Royal son of Laertes, Odysseus, born for exploits, let no lack of a pilot at the helm concern you..." (10.554-555).

BA #3

The hero in chapter 12 was Odysseus because he showed that not even he is indestructible. The way he shows this is when he asks the men to “bind me with tight chafing ropes” (79. 276). So than he would not want to go to the Sirens which would kill him in the end. It takes a willing man to admit that he will have a weakness that he cannot control and seeking help is a huge thing for Odysseus, because of how smart, and wise he says he is.

BA # 3 - Neoptolemus

1. Neoptolemus is described through Odysseus' memory in Book 11 (p. 266, line 576). At this point in the book, Odysseus is in the House of Death...the underworld. He is talking to the "ghosts" or spirits of many men who have died in war. Although Neoptolemus never actually appears in the book, memories of him are recalled at this time.

2. Neoptolemus is Achilles' son who fought at Troy with Odysseus. Odysseus has met with Achilles in the underworld, who has asked him for news about his "gallant" son (559). Achilles wants to know if his "boy" became a champion, and from Odysseus's description, it is clear that he has. Neoptolemus was a leader who never gave up. He was a strong and loyal soldier, always ready and willing to put himself in the line of fire. This description of Neoptolemus makes Achilles happy and proud of his son. Since coming to the underworld, he has always wondered about his son, and Odysseus now put all his questions and worries at ease.

3. Neoptolemus can be compared to Telemachus because they are both described, in one way or another, as transforming from a boy to a man. In Books 1 and 2, Telemachus is a boy, whereas in Books 3 and 4, we see that he has grown to be a powerful man. This is similar to the information we get about Neoptolemus. Achilles asked Odysseus about the status of his son because he wanted to know if the young boy he once knew turned into a strong man. This is proved to be true when we read about all of his triumphant battles, his committment, and his leadership as a soldier. Along with this, both Neoptolemus and Telemachus have powerful, heroic fathers that they are compared to (Odysseus and Achilles). Knowing this makes us think about the pressure they both had in combat since they were the sons of strong and powerful men. In many ways, they had to be courageous to keep the fame and prove themselves.

4. Neoptolemus is a hero because he is not only powerful and brave, but he is also someone who "saved the day." He is shown to be brave when Odysseus said he was a soldier who would "always charge ahead" (585). Also, when the other men were scared and crying during tough times, Neoptolemus remained strong and eager to win. His courage made him stand above the rest and overcome the obstacles that the men faced. Odysseus described how he "never flicked a tear" and always "begged" to go out and fight (602,603). Then, once he had saved the day and "sacked King Priam's craggy city" (607), he left on his ship without any war wounds. This young boy that Achilles once knew certainly turned into a powerful hero that remains in the memory of Odysseus.

World Literature I: Barrington

1) Zeus: Book I: Athena Inspires the Prince, Page 78 ln 31. It is immediately apparent that Zeus has all the power. It tells how, "the father of men and gods was first to speak" (34). 2) Zeus is king of the gods and father of the Olympians and mortals. He expresses his heroic power through his impressive spheres of influence which include the sky and the weather, with his lightening bolts, hospitality and the rights og guests and suppliants, the punishment of injustice, the sending of omens, and the governance of the universe, controlled to some extent by Fate as well. 3) Zeus here is much like a previous character - Unapishtim. In the epic Gilgamesh, Unapishtim is a God among men. He was turned immortal by the gods. Both act as a paternal figure in their stories. Both are very hands off and try not to interfere too much. While Zeus makes observations and sends other people to carry out his will, such as his daughter, Athena, and his son, Hermes, Unapishtim takes a hands off stance. Gilgamesh reached him to ask him questions and the calloused but still parental character offered the wisdom of the plant. Zeus acts more and gets better results.4) Zeus is definately a hero. While he is a god, he does have selfish pride, but on the other hand, he also has godly strength and power. The physique is not discussed because in the story, we see more about his characteristic attributes. He sent his daughter down to Earth to help Odysseus way back when he was fighting the Trojan war, and in the story of the Odyssey as it is being told, he told her to go back and motivate and lead Telemachus, the shy and meak, to save his father and reunite a family, though it be insiginficant to immortals. Later her tells his son to venture to Earth and free Odysseus from the nymph and give him possible salvation off the island and captivity.

Odysseus

There are many characters in which to choose from Homer's epic The Odyssey, but I chose Odysseus. Not untill book 5 do we now see Odysseus in action, up until now do we hear second hand of Odysseus and his heroics, held in such high regard and admiration by King Menelaus and King Nestor. However in book 5 on the island we do not see him as the herioc figure he is touted as by others, no, we see him as a broken man, consumed by grief and tormented by the gods. He seems to be resigned to his captive fate on the island with Calypso, a man who spends his days in sorrow and his nights in a bed that is not his own, no way to escape. Not until Hermes brings word to Calypso that Zeus decrees that Odysseus must be allowed to leave. On his travels across the ocean do we start to see Odysseus begin to shine as a hero.
We see Odysseus overcome Posiedon's wrath. His ship now destroyed Odysseus must swim for landfall. He has lost sight of land and lost his way but Odysseus never surrenders to the ocean and heroicaly overcomes a myriad of obsticles to finally reach shore, tiring but never giving up, showing great determination and fortitude in the face of death.

B.A. #2 (Penelope)

I feel that Penelope is a hero because she exudes the highest form of emotional perseverance in the book. She, unlike her husband Odysseus, can withhold the temptation to satisfy her intimate needs and the company of a suitor. After Troy was beseiged in 10 years and 3-4 more years had passed, Penelope says to her bard and the suitors, "How I long for my husband - alive in memory, always, that great man..." (88) Not only is she forced to deal with the loss of her husband, but later, when Telemachus leaves without telling her, Penelope experiences an emotional burden that most characters don't often face, leaving her psychologically exhausted.

The most profound example of her perseverance is illustrated in the creation of her wedding dress. As the "matchless queen of cunning", Penelope tells the suitors she will be ready to marry following the completion of her dress, but does not intend to finish it. The narrator says, "By day she'd weave at her great and growing web - by night, by the light of torches set beside her, she would unravel all she'd done." (96) This is a very bold action because after 3 years of working on the dress, it would be naiive of her to think the suitors would believe she was trying to complete it. For four years of tolerating the suitors to gorge themselves on Ithaca's finest wine, food, and pleasantries, she has managed to overcome many hardships through her determination and undying faith.

B.A.#2 (Athena)

1.) Athena first appears in Homer's The Odyssey in Book 1 line 11 by reference from the narrator. She first appears by name in Book 1 line 53.

2.) Athena is a goddess, the daughter of the powerful Zeus. She is a character with great sympathy for immortals, such as Odysseus, whose struggles propel her to action. She feels the anguish of Telemachus, the son of Odysseus, as he grapples with the questions surrounding his ambigious lineage. She speaks wisely and convincingly, but I feel her greatest character trait thus far is her ability to be empathetic.

3.) Athena can be compared to the goddess Ninsun from the Epic of Gilgamesh. Ninsun is the mother of Gilgamesh. Both characters "adopt" a motherly position for an immortal that they did not birth. When Gilgamesh seeks her blessing to enter the Forest to destroy Humbaba, Ninsun is wise to acknowledge that this feat will take both Gigamesh and Enkidu acting as brothers to be successful. Enkidu, born of the earth and without a mother, is adopted by Ninsun and told to "be a brother for Gilgamesh" (102). Telemachus, who stands alone against the tormenting suitors, lacks the direction to bring about change. Athena's advice and guidance can be viewed as motherly, as it offers protection and a promise of a brighter future. She inspires him by saying that "You must not cling to your boyhood any longer--it's time you were a man" (1.341-42). This sounds to me like something a mother would say to her child.

4.) I believe Athena is a hero because she takes action to save Telemachus from his path towards an unheroic death, which is paved by his own inaction. She first dares to challenge the almighty Zeus that he does nothing to save Odysseus because he has "no care for him" in his "lofty heart" (1.73). A hero has to be brazen in their communications if they are to be respected and listened to. She instills this quality in Telemachus when she advises him to call an assembly and challenge the "suitors to scatter" (1.315). Nothing Telemachus has accomplished through the first few books of The Odyssey would be possible without the heroic Athena guiding him towards his own emergence as a hero.

B.A # 2 (Telemachus)

1.) Telemachus first appears in the text on page 81, canto 2, line 132.
2.) A brief decription of Telemachus is a young man around twenty years old. In books one and two of the text the audience is given the image or idea that Telemachus is a young weak boy. In books three and four the audience is given the image of Telemachus as a strong powerful man. Books one through four show a transformation of Telemachus from a weak innocent boy into a strong courages man.
3.) Telemachus can be compared to his father Odysseus because Telemachus has inherited some of his fathers traits such as his courage and not to mention his good looks. Both Telemachus and Odysseus have traveled to Sparta but for two different reasons. While Odysseus traveled to Sparta for war, Telemachus travels to Sparta in peace in order to learn about his fathers long journey and to earn a name for himself. "Next I will send him off to Sparta and sandy Pylos, there to learn of his dear father's journey home. Perhaps he will hear some news and make his name thought the mortal world " (1.109-112). The most important aspect that Odysseus and Telemachus have in common is that they both get help from the goddess Athena through difficult situations.
4.) I would consider Telemachus as a hero because he grows and matures from being weak and innocent to becoming brave and courages. He is courages during his journey to Pylos and Sparta where he finds that his father is in fact still alive. Telemachus is also courages because he spoke his mind to all of the suitors that have invaded his fathers palace and have been harassing his mother to remarry even though he is out numbered by them. Telemachus is brave because he is has taken on the responsibility to protect his mother and his home. Telemachus is also a selfless character because he has gone through mental and emotional changes in order to secure the well being of his mother as well as his fathers kingdom.