Odyssey Test

1. What have you learned about Greek culture, values, and religion? Address the roles of women and men, honor and virtues, gods and goddesses, etc. (250 words)
From the Odyssey I learned that the Greeks were very welcoming and always allowed travelers to stay in their homes. They found it very important to please everyone and would give gifts if they were traveling and would generously feed and take care of any travelers who came to spend the night. They valued relationships with others and therefore always tried to accommodate anyone who came around. The also valued their promises to each other and would keep them no matter the cost. The Greeks believed in the Gods and would sacrifice lambs or goats to them if they needed help. They would ask for help from the Gods if they were in need and would pray to them regularly. The men were very important in Greek culture and were seen as higher up in society than the women. They were always served and waited on by the women and were allowed to have many lovers. Although the men were seen as better in the Greek society the women were also very important because they did much of the work. Honor was also very important to the Greeks and they would always try to do their best no to disgrace the family name, or better yet make themselves well known so they’d be remembered in the future. Their virtues weren’t as important because the men were allowed to act as philanderers. The gods and goddesses were very important to the Greeks. The people thought that these gods controlled everything around them and could easily change their course in life.

2. What resonated with you in reading about Odysseus’ adventures? Why? (150 words)
The fact that Odysseus remained in love with Penelope resonated with me. It was moving that although Odysseus had traveled all over the sea, visited many islands, and “saw” many other women and goddesses, he still loved Penelope. He had no idea if she had remained faithful to him or if she still loved him, yet he still strived to get back to Ithaca to be with her. It was also moving that Penelope and Telemachus had hope that Odysseus was still alive the entire time he was gone. It also resonated with me that Odysseus cared so much for the people he was traveling with. He tried to keep them safe and would do as much as he could for them. Although at times he became angry with them, the fact that he still cared about them, and they cared about him, was a very strong point in the book.

3. This epic poem is dated nearly 3000 years ago, why is it still relevant? (150 words)
The Odyssey is still relevant today because it tells the story of a strong man trying his best to stay faithful and get back home to his wife and son. The fact that some people may have such things to deal with lets it apply to today’s society. It has very strong points and educates people about the past in an interesting way that the reader can easily relate to. It helps many people understand the past of Greek culture and the Greeks’ beliefs. It is also still relevant because of the mystery behind it. The mystery of whether or not it is a true story and who and where it originated from is very interesting to many people. The mystery of its supposed author, Homer, is intriguing to people because he was said to be a blind prophet, and it is unknown if he actually existed. The poem has become part of the world’s classic literature because of its importance and the education about the past it offers readers.

4. How would you characterize the narrator, the fictive "Homer" whose voice we imagine as singing the verses of the Odyssey?
I would characterize Homer as a wise man. He seems like an outsider to his community because of his mythical tales of far away lands and encounters with gods and goddesses.

5. What kinds of behavior are treated as contemptible in the Odyssey?
In the Odyssey it was contemptible behavior if a person did not offer a guest shelter, food, and care for the night. It was also bad if a person committed suicide and they would be sent to the underworld.

6. How does the poem represent mortal women? Since Penelope is the most important woman in the Odyssey, what qualities does she possess, and how does she respond to the troubles she faces? (Some of the other women are of note, too-Eurycleia the serving woman, the faithless maidservants, Nausicaa the Phaeacian princess, and Helen of Sparta, Menelaus' queen, whose elopement with Prince Paris sparked the Trojan War.)
The poem represents women in many different ways, but overall they are very strong characters. Penelope is a strong woman who is very devoted to her husband, and although she must face having many suitors living in her home she remains kind to them. Eurycleia and the maidservants seemed to be metaphors for how some men think women should be, quiet, and serving to them. Nausicaa is a strong woman who knows what she wants and will do whatever is necessary to obtain it. Helen is also a strong woman and stands up for what she wants and how she feels.

7. How do Homer's gods think and behave? How do their actions and motivations differ from the conception of god in other religions of which you have knowledge? What role do the Homeric gods play in human affairs, and what is the responsibility of humans with respect to those gods?
The gods and goddesses of Homer’s poem are very intelligent and cunning. They behave and act in their own self-interest; however they are careful not to upset each other. They are often motivated by the actions of others. The gods and goddesses of Homer’s epic poem have a great influence on the lives of mortals and can easily change their destinies. The humans must be very careful not to upset the gods and make sacrifices to appease them when the humans are in need of help.