From Tragedy to Comedy HUM 2051: Civilization I Fall 2011 Dr. Perdigao September 9-14, 2011

Decoding Homer’s Epics Warriors struggle to be remembered through timé, esteem Some read The Iliad as tragic, The Odyssey as comic Zeus sends Hermes (god of messages)—“hermetic” (that which is secret or sealed), freed from Calypso Conventions of the Epic: Invocation to the muse Beginning in medias res Use of Homeric epithets Use of Homeric or epic similes Use of catalogues Long set speeches by major characters Here, “the man of twists and turns”—like the plot

Core Elements Chronology: more complicated, less linear Journey: education/demonstration Disorder: order (restored)

Staging The Odyssey Begins late—7-8 years into Odysseus’s travels, when maximum pressure is exerted on home island Reason for starting there—house in ruin vs. house restored, begs question of How do you keep a kingdom, a family, in order? The Iliad =war; The Odyssey =peace How things are kept in order during peace time Agon still remains—struggle as would be in wartime, here eris in time of peace and war The Odyssey ends with restoration of order, The Iliad with a moment of peace but amidst war

Structure of The Odyssey Story of homecoming Domestic narrative Figuring out what to do when war is over, how do you go back home First stories—Telemakia—of Telemachus, with Odysseus absent Telemachus—insight—like his father, recognizes the goddess Athena Mentes/Mentor Penelope compared to Odysseus in his sphere, is as skillful as he is, weaving, unweaving plot, “twists and turns”

Mirrors, Foils to Odysseus “Perhaps he will hear some news and make his name throughout the mortal world” (208)—Telemachus destined for greatness as well, his “unsung future” (211) Antinous, Eurymachus Nestor, Pisistratus: Pylos Menelaus, Helen: Sparta Helen’s story (244, 243): Gives men “heart’s-ease” to “forget all our pains,” tells of how her heart “had changed” Telemachus says, “remember his story now, tell me the truth!” (229, 111; 247, 368) to Nestor, Menelaus Old Man of the Sea—Proteus ( ): lion, serpent, panther, wild boar, water, tree, then tells stories of Ajax, Agamemnon, Odysseus Agamemnon as parallel to Odysseus—behaviors as opposite, homecoming, treachery

Reframing Calypso’s offering of immortality, beauty, rejected by Odysseus—Greek values asserted (265), leaves Ogygia Ino Athena’s intervention against Poseidon Phaeacians, Nausicaa, transformation, Alcinous, Arete Book VII, Odysseus takes over own story (285) Story of seven years with Calypso “long-enduring great Odysseus” Broadsea’s challenge Demodocus’ stories (Book VIII) (“a man who knows what suffering is” [299]) To “sing the famous deeds of fighting heroes” (289, 86), retells The Iliad, brings Odysseus to tears Story of Aphrodite and Ares (294, 300), net as trap Story of Trojan horse (299) End of Book VIII, returns to Odysseus as storyteller

On Civilization Circe, Aeaea, as captive as well but “never won the heart inside me” as “nothing is as sweet as a man’s own country” (302, 37-38) Lotus-eaters, desire to linger, to forget (304) Cyclops—“no meeting place for council, no laws either... each a law to himself, ruling his wives and children, / not a care in the world for any neighbor” (304, ) “What are they—violent, savage, lawless? / or friendly to strangers, god- fearing men?” (305, 195) “We’re suppliants—at your mercy!... strangers are sacred” (308, 305) Play with naming, Nobody; “I was already plotting” (311, 469)