Hermes and calypso book 5 phaeacians and odysseus book 7. Evidence that xenia was integral to greek society can be found in the fact that zeus, the king of the gods, was also portrayed as the god of xenia. With a prayer to athena for hospitality from the phaeacians, odysseus sets out for the palace. Book 1 book 1, part 1 invocation to the muse pt1 book 1, part 2. She tells him it is not right that no one in ithaca remembers zeus while the suitors plot to kill telemachus. Holt literature textbook 9th grade unit 11 the odyssey. Even though odysseus appeared to be a homeless, wandering beggar, he was still received well by eumaios. In phaeacia and on ithaca, the hospitable reception of odysseus as a guest and the development of the guesthost relationship lead to the recognition and revelation of his true identity. Hospitality in the odyssey study guides and book summaries. The odyssey by homer book 5 summary and analysis youtube. Dawn rises the next day and athena addresses zeus about the suffering of odysseus on calypsos island.
How is xenia shown in the first four books of the odyssey. Nestor and menelaos take in telemakhos warmly as a guest and eumaios plays an excellent host to odysseus, while odysseus is disguised as a wandering beggar. Since book focuses on odysseus return to ithaca after a brief visit to phaeacia, this book epitomizes the end of the journey of trials, and the heros longanticipated return to his homeland. Because book 5 presents the readers first meeting with odysseus, it is interesting that homer chooses to show him alone on a beach on calypsos island, apparently defeated and weeping. Another example of good xenia in the odyssey is odysseus reception by eumaios homer 248 249, a swineherd on his estate in ithaka. The odyssey guided questions used for class discussions. Seating hermes, she puts before him nectar and ambrosia, the sustenance of the gods. The true exemplars of good hospitality in the odyssey are the phaeacians who host odysseus when he washes ashore near their town.
Odysseus prays for to athena for hospitality from the phaeacians. Athena implores zeus to help odysseus, who was such a kind and just ruler, and is now trapped in calypsos house without any way home. Three times and four times happy those danaans were who died then in wide troy land, bringing favor to the sons of atreus, as i wish i too had died at that time and met my destiny on the day when the greatest number of trojans threw their bronzeheaded weapons upon me, over the body of perished achilleus, and i. Another prominent example of xenia is seen in book 6 when odysseus comes upon nausicaa. Every household in the epic is seen alongside xenia. Jan 04, 2014 in the odyssey, xenia is a theme which is shown repeatedly throughout the book. Ulysses was left in the cloister, pondering on the means whereby with minervas help he might be able to kill the suitors. About the odyssey the odyssey summary character list glossary themes quotes and analysis books 14 books 58 books 912 books 16 books 1720 books 2124 symbols, allegory and motifs metaphors and similes irony imagery the fractal structure of epics literary elements related links essay questions quiz 1 quiz 2 quiz 3 quiz 4 citations. To someone more knowledgeable than i on what information is good and bad, if there is something else thats helpful to attach as well as far as logs and screencaps, please let me know so that i can include them in the future. Apr 01, 2011 one of the most important themes in the odyssey is the concept of xenia, which is the old greek word for hospitality. Good and bad xenia in the odyssey by homer 892 words.
Presently he said to telemachus, telemachus, we must get the armour together and take it down inside. Xenia is displayed in many instances throughout the novel, and the importance of xenia is emphasized by the actions of it, but also the violation of it. Calypso, the sweet nymphfor seven of the ten years odysseus has spent wandering the mediterranean sea, hehas been held captive by the goddess calypso on her island. Litcharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in the odyssey, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work. The god zeus xenios oversaw appropriate observation of the xenia laws. Indeed, it is worked into the odyssey as a major theme, and comes to influence the plot in significant ways. Throughout the poem, odysseus is a series of apparent contradictions, a much more complicated character than we would find in any stereotypical epic hero. Xenia, the greek concept of hospitality and the guesthost relationship.
Xenia is a prevalent theme in the book and holds a central place in the odyssey. Book 5 the odyssey, traits of the epic hero, book 1 odyssey. When guests showed up, they were expected to be good guests bring gifts and behave themselves. May 17, 2015 xenia hospitality kleos a greek earns kleos by carrying out great deeds. Summary and analysis book 5 odysseus nymph and shipwreck. Poseidon is notably absent, and athena once more advocates odysseus case. Definition at the time that homer wrote the odyssey there were many people that were travelling around the classical world so it was important that everyone understood the rules of xenia and consequences of disobeying it so that travellers could have safe places to stay. The odyssey guided questions used for class discussions book 1 discussion questions.
Xenia represented a very reciprocal relationship, with both parties exchanging gifts and favours. It is a practice extended to all strangers who appeared at the door and is of great importance violation is a crime. Start studying book 5 the odyssey, traits of the epic hero, book 1 odyssey, book 1 odyssey. To conclude, good xenia is shown in the first four books of the odyssey by nestor, telemachus and menelaus, while bad xenia is exhibited by the suitors and eteoneus. Conversely, eumaios presented great xenia when taking odysseus in, even while he was disguised as a beggar. Instead of turning him out as the enemy, achilles abides by the rules of xenia and allows him to stay. Significance and consequences of xenia in the odyssey the.
Zeus advises athena to help telemachus return home. About the odyssey the odyssey summary character list glossary themes quotes and analysis books 14 books 5 8 books 912 books 16 books 1720 books 2124 symbols, allegory and motifs metaphors and similes irony imagery the fractal structure of epics literary elements related links essay questions quiz 1 quiz 2 quiz 3 quiz 4 citations. And now, as dawn rose from her couch beside tithonusharbinger of light alike to mortals and immortalsthe gods met in council and with them, jove the lord of thunder, who is their king. This lesson will summarize book 5 of homers epic poem, the odyssey, in which the gods finally decree. Odysseus had become shipwrecked and sought shelter in a bush. Shes suprised by the visit but extends hospitality before asking its cause.
Evidence that xenia was integral to greek society can be found in the fact that zeus, the king. Xenia in the odyssey there are many themes in the book the odyssey by homer. Virgil used several characteristics associated with epic poetry, more specifically homer s epics, including the use of hexameter verse, book division, lists of. It is no accident that xenia is such an important theme in the odyssey, as it helps homer present which. While he is held there, calypso sleeps with him and offers him immortality if he will. Homer composed the odyssey in a meter known as dactylic hexameter, which gives the epic its elevated style. Why is xenia such an important theme in the odyssey. In book 6, odysseus meets princess nausicaa, who, despite the threat of a strange man and the possibility of becoming the subject of rumor, offers him food and help reaching the city of scheria. Nov 27, 2012 the guesthost relationship, powered by the observance of xenia, as a social institution was probably something familiar in the life of the contemporary audience of the odyssey and its poet. The importance of hospitality in the odyssey essay examples. Jan 25, 2016 summary and analysis of book 10 of homers odyssey themes. Parallels between virgils aeneid and homers iliad and.
Translated by robert fitzgerald salamanca high school. Significance and consequences of xenia in the odyssey. This book details odysseus visit to the swineherd of ithaca, eumaeus, in which the. Odysseus, captive to the nymph, calypso, wants desperately to return home to ithaca. Homers epic poem the odyssey tells the story of odysseus, greek hero of the trojan war, and his adventures at sea during his travel home. You have to be careful in the odyssey, because theres always that chance that youre inadvertently ticking off some immortal with powerful connectionslike a close family tie to the god of the sea. In modern times, hospitality is something we rarely think of, and the first thing that comes to mind is the hotel industry, but in ancient greece, xenia was not about hotels, or just about etiquette, it was a way of life with many benefits in a world that was still mostly savage. Perhaps, then, xenia plays a role in allowing odysseus to shed his disguise during his return home and when he is prepared to fight the suitors. Oct 10, 20 much like in book 3, both the guest and host are exhibiting good xenia, in that menelaus is liberal with his offerings and that telemachus is sure not to exploit his hospitality. At the time that homer wrote the odyssey there were many people that were travelling around the classical world so it was important that everyone understood the rules of xenia and. Apr 19, 20 there are many rich and varied themes in the odyssey. Literary devices of the odyssey book summaries, test. Oct 04, 20 xenia in book 3 beginning xenia refers to the classical concept of hospitality, and is a recurring theme through the entirety of the odyssey.
As book 5 begins, zeussends the god hermes to tell calypso to release odysseus. Meanwhile, athene, up to her old tricks again, conjures a grey mist to hide odysseus while he sleeps. Alkinoos, seeing this happen, remembers the prophecy we heard in book viii that his ship would be turned to stone and mountains thrown up around his island if his people were nice to strangers and promptly whacks himself on the forehead. Telemachus and pisistratus arrive at menelauss palace, where the king is celebrating the two separate marriages of his son and his daughter. How to solve the treasure hunt and earn the pirates life for me award. Throughout the book, zeus demands the highest level of. Notice how the singer gives his listeners hints about how his slory is to end. The odyssey books 58 summary and analysis gradesaver. The importance of hospitality in the odyssey essay. There are many rich and varied themes in the odyssey. What is the importance of odysseuss bed in homers odyssey. A throwback to the bad old 90s days of comicbook movies 4. Zeus agrees to send his son hermes immediately to ogygia in order to liberate the king of ithaca from calypso. When writing the aeneid, virgil or vergil drew from his studies on the homeric epics of the iliad and the odyssey to help him create a national epic poem for the roman people.
Indeed, the plot of the odyssey establishes a positive connection between recognition and the observance of hospitality. May 05, 2009 in the odyssey, xenia is a theme which is shown repeatedly throughout the book. Hermes and calypso book 5 phaeacians and odysseus book 7 what. The development of xenia and its role in the odyssey a. Parallels between virgils aeneid and homers iliad and odyssey. Summary and analysis of book 10 of homers odyssey themes. Hospitality called xeniawas a big deal in the ancient world. However, it may be surprising that above all these, it is one that appears so simple, xenia, that has a hugely dominant role to play. Click anywhere in the line to jump to another position. Much like in book 3, both the guest and host are exhibiting good xenia, in that menelaus is liberal with his offerings and that telemachus is sure not to exploit his hospitality. As early as book 1 we see that odysseus wife, penelope and son, telemachus are obliged to. Menelaus tells his aide eteoneus to invite the strangers to feast with them. The poem is the story of odysseus, king of ithaca, who wanders for 10 years although the action of the poem covers only the final six weeks trying to get.
Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Cliffsnotes study guides are written by real teachers and professors, so no matter what youre studying, cliffsnotes can ease your homework headaches and. Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans. Book 5 the odyssey, traits of the epic hero, book 1. Odyssey, epic poem in 24 books traditionally attributed to the ancient greek poet homer. He has no way to voyage home to his own native land, no trim ships in reach, no crew to ply the oars and send him scudding over the seas broad back odyssey, book 5, lines 1219. In the last book of the iliad, priam supplicates achilles in an attempt to get his son hector back. Good and bad xenia in the odyssey by homer 892 words bartleby. Throughout the book, zeus demands the highest level of xenia, yet some people do not abide by his rules.
The importance of xenia in the odyssey and its consequences one of the most important themes in the odyssey is the concept of xenia, which is the old. The internet classics archive the odyssey by homer. This type of hospitality was very unique and it played an important role in the ancient greek society. Consequences of disrespecting xenia within the odyssey are shown first when odysseus encounters polyphemus and upon his return home when he confronts penelopes suitors. By the time homers audience encounters odyssey 23, odysseus has revealed his identity to his son. In book five, athena said to zeus, now hes left to pine on an island, racked with grief in the nymph calypsos house she holds him there by force. If you show xenia as a host, zeus, god of xenia, is seen to guarantee hospitality when you travel. Likewise, the hosts were expected to, well, be good hosts provide food and shelter.
Though the odyssey takes course over the span of 24 books while the aeneid replicates the happenings in the odyssey in 6 books. If you could just outline a couple on point it would be much appreciated. Athena advises telentaclnis homer opens with an invocation, or prayer, asking the muse9 to help him sing his tale. Telemachus, the focus of the first four books of the odyssey, provides an early example of good hospitality as both a host and a guest.
Xenia is presented as a means of diplomacy as well as a means of appeasing the gods, and serves to strengthen. Oct 21, 2009 xenia in books 1 5 of the odyssey by homer. Jan 23, 2018 what are examples of good xenia in the odyssey. Explain your views and support them with details from the poem.
However, it may be surprising that above all these, it is one that appears so. Much of the first half of the epic features telemachus and odysseus arriving at. Xenia refers to the classical concept of hospitality, and is a recurring theme through the entirety of the odyssey. Jul 18, 2017 the odyssey book summary in under five minutes.
Xenia, or hospitality is one of the largest, most prominent themes throughout the book. The guesthost relationship, powered by the observance of xenia, as a social institution was probably something familiar in the life of the contemporary audience of the odyssey and its poet. In the odyssey, homer employs most of the literary and poetic devices associated with epics. The development of xenia and its role in the odyssey a really. Throughout the odyssey there are many ongoing themes, but one of the most important themes of this story is the tradition of greek hospitality or xenia.