Context for “Penelope” - Carol Ann Duffy The Odyssey Context for “Penelope” - Carol Ann Duffy

Homer’s Odyssey One of two ancient Greek poems attributed to Homer The Iliad, it’s prequel, discusses the battles and conflicts occurring throughout the trojan war while the Odyssey tells the tale of one man’s journey home from Troy. Therefore, the Odyssey begins where the Iliad leaves off Composed in about 700 B.C.E by Homer It is said that the original poem was composed in an oral tradition and meant to be heard, not read Critics argue that it was composed by multiple authors Originally written in poetic dialect of Greek and has now been translated into many languages Third person narrative focusing on either Odysseus or Telemachus in books 1-9 and first person narrative by Odysseus in books 9-12

Character Introduction and Setting Odysseus: Great King of Ithaca who fought in the Trojan war (13th or 12th century BC) Renowned for his role in “The Odyssey” as he took 10 years to return from the war after it had ended, travelling through many mythological lands and meeting many mythological people. (Away for about 20 years total) Penelope: Wife of Odysseus who spent the whole time waiting for the return of her husband and fending off suitors who had come to take his place. Known for stitching the burial shroud of Odysseus’s father, Laeretus and undoing her work at night to keep the suitors at bay. Telemachus: Son of Penelope and Odysseus, is tasked by Athena to search for his father in the first 4 books of the Odyssey and eventually helps Odysseus reveal himself and kill all of Penelope’s suitors

Story Line Part I •Odysseus and his fleet leave Troy to go towards Ithaca •Land on the island of the Lotus eaters •Land on the island of the Cyclops where Odysseus blinds Polyphemus •Land on the Aeolian island of Aeolus, the keeper of winds, which gives them a bag full of wind to only open when arrived in Ithaca. The bag is opened too early and the winds push them back to Aeolia where Aeolus does not welome them. •Land on the island of Aeaea, home of Circe where Odysseus stays for a year •Odysseus then is advised by Circe to go to the Underworld

Continued timeline of the Odyssey •Odysseus and his crew return to Aeaea, to bury one of his shipmates (who had died in Aeaea). •They sail into the Strait of Messina where Scylla and Charbydis reside. Odysseus chooses to sail close to Scylla rather than the whirlpool of Charybdis, and loses six men (one for each of Scylla's six heads). •Odysseus and his crew land on Thrinacia, home of Helios' sacred cattle. Though Odysseus had warned his crew not to eat Helios' cattle, they ended up eating some of the cattle while he was away. Helios was angered and asked Zeus to punish those who had eaten his cattle. Zeus brought about a great storm, completely destroying Odysseus' ship and killing all his men.

Odysseus, clinging to a piece of his destroyed vessel, was washed away at sea. He is swept past Scylla and Charybdis, again, and again manages to pass by safely. •Odysseus washes ashore on the island Ogygia, home to Calypso. Odysseus stays with her for seven years. •After staying with Calypso for seven years, Odysseus built a boat and set sail once more. Poseidon, seeing Odysseus at sea, brings a violent storm down on Odysseus and his ship is destroyed. Odysseus washes up on the shore of Scheria, kingdom of Alcinous, king of the Phaeacians. King Alcinous, Queen Arete and their daughter Nausicaa are extremely hospitable to Odysseus; providing him with clothing, food and entertainment. King Alcinous offers Odysseus one of his ships so that Odysseus can finally return to his homeland and family. •-After twenty long and hard years, Odysseus returns at last to Ithaca.

Timeline of the Odyssey in Penelope's point of view •Penelope was a woman who was married to Odysseus and mother of Telemachus. •When Odysseus was called to fight in the Trojan War, Penelope was left behind and expected to remain faithful to him. •When Odysseus returns he finds to his satisfaction that Penelope has indeed remained faithful and has devised a way to repel suitors. •Penelope vowed that she would choose her suitor once she has completely finished embroidering a burial shroud for Odysseus’ father. Every night for 3 years Penelope unpicked and re-stitched the shroud in order to keep her suitors at bay. •It is because of her faithfulness; Penelope is widely viewed as an icon of martial fidelity (or connubial).

Bibliography http://www.classics.upenn.edu/myth/php/homer/index.php?page=timelines http://www.poemhunter.com/homer/biography/ http://www.rwaag.org/penelope

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