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)
While reading the Odyssey, I learned a lot about Greek culture, and the values of the people. I would say that I learned more from watching the movie than reading the book, because it gave me a visual, and it was easier to put the story together. So, I'm not sure how acurate my perception of Greek culture is. But the first think I noticed about them was their clothing. It was all togas and robes and such. Something that seems very valuable in Greek culture is family. Especially between Penelope and Odysseus, becuase what they had was true love. Another value seemed to be materialistic things. For example, they were always concerned with how many sheep they had and how the gifts they had recieved or given.
The people in the Odyssey all had specific roles. So, this is what I took for what the role of each person is. If you are a woman, your purpose is to bear a child for your husband. If you are not a royal woman, then your place is as a maid. Men are the protectors and providers for the family. They are the "rock" of the family. Gods and goddesses are worshiped by all. People pray to the gods and it's always good to have the god's on your side. However, the gods will do something for man that he should do for himself. As for honor and virtues, those are very important. If you are not an honorable man, then you might as well be scum. You will not be respected.
2. What resonated with you in reading about Odysseus’ adventures? Why? (150 words)
When I think of the Odyssey, and Odysseus' adventures, the first thing that comes to mind is suffering. I think of Odysseus' adventure, and I just feel sorry for him. I mean, he went through a lot. And it was all to get home to Ithaca to see he wife and son. That's probably what stuck with me the most was how truly in love Odysseus was with his home and family. He went through hell and back again so he could get to his wife. Like literally, he went to hell. He was also offered eternal happiness, but turned it down. It really pissed me off when in the beginnig they were almost to Ithaca and then that guy opened up the bag full wind. They were so close to making it home, but then it was all just ripped away from them. And that, until the end, was the theme of the book. Nothing went in favor of Odysseus and his family. It sucked.
3. This epic poem is dated nearly 3000 years ago, why is it still relevant? (150 words)
The Odyssey is a relevant piece of writing in our time, becuase people like to analyze it. People want to find out what was going on three thousand years ago. Now, your wondering what this has to do with our time. Well, I think that in the world that we live in, everything is always the same. I mean... of course we didn't have Ipods or t.v.'s or anything like that three thousand years ago, but if you go beyond that stuff, the people are the same. They have the same problems, they have the same kinds of feelings, they are pretty much just like us. Therefore, people like to read the Odyssey to relate to it. That is my take on one of the reasons why the Odyssey is such a popular piece of literature.
Short Answers-
4. How would you characterize the narrator, the fictive "Homer" whose voice we imagine as singing the verses of the Odyssey?
I'm not sure what is meant by "characterize". But when I think of the mysterious Homer, I think of an intelligent man with an incredible imagination/memory. Also when I imagine Homer, I think of a lonely man who spent much of his life alone. Why? I don't know. And maybe that's why he wrote about love and such so much in the Odyssey.
5. What kinds of behavior are treated as contemptible in the Odyssey?
The contemptible behaviors that I mostly thought of in the Odyssey were being dishonorable. And if you didn't live up to your promises, then that was just unacceptable.
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.)
As far as mortal women go in the Odyssey, most of them were strong. Especially Penelope. The poem also portrays women as loyal, and smart.
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 that are in the Odyssey were fairly clever. I couldn't say what the exact purpose of them is, but I know that they in a way regulate human bevior. And depending on what they think of it, they either have a positive or negative view about you. It's good to be on the gods' good side, because they are very powerful. They have different powers all around the earth. Like Posiedon is the water, and I forget his name...but that one guy was the god of wind. I do know one thing about the gods though... Although they can help man, they can not do what man should do for himself.
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)
While reading the Odyssey, I learned a lot about Greek culture, and the values of the people. I would say that I learned more from watching the movie than reading the book, because it gave me a visual, and it was easier to put the story together. So, I'm not sure how acurate my perception of Greek culture is. But the first think I noticed about them was their clothing. It was all togas and robes and such. Something that seems very valuable in Greek culture is family. Especially between Penelope and Odysseus, becuase what they had was true love. Another value seemed to be materialistic things. For example, they were always concerned with how many sheep they had and how the gifts they had recieved or given.
The people in the Odyssey all had specific roles. So, this is what I took for what the role of each person is. If you are a woman, your purpose is to bear a child for your husband. If you are not a royal woman, then your place is as a maid. Men are the protectors and providers for the family. They are the "rock" of the family. Gods and goddesses are worshiped by all. People pray to the gods and it's always good to have the god's on your side. However, the gods will do something for man that he should do for himself. As for honor and virtues, those are very important. If you are not an honorable man, then you might as well be scum. You will not be respected.
2. What resonated with you in reading about Odysseus’ adventures? Why? (150 words)
When I think of the Odyssey, and Odysseus' adventures, the first thing that comes to mind is suffering. I think of Odysseus' adventure, and I just feel sorry for him. I mean, he went through a lot. And it was all to get home to Ithaca to see he wife and son. That's probably what stuck with me the most was how truly in love Odysseus was with his home and family. He went through hell and back again so he could get to his wife. Like literally, he went to hell. He was also offered eternal happiness, but turned it down. It really pissed me off when in the beginnig they were almost to Ithaca and then that guy opened up the bag full wind. They were so close to making it home, but then it was all just ripped away from them. And that, until the end, was the theme of the book. Nothing went in favor of Odysseus and his family. It sucked.
3. This epic poem is dated nearly 3000 years ago, why is it still relevant? (150 words)
The Odyssey is a relevant piece of writing in our time, becuase people like to analyze it. People want to find out what was going on three thousand years ago. Now, your wondering what this has to do with our time. Well, I think that in the world that we live in, everything is always the same. I mean... of course we didn't have Ipods or t.v.'s or anything like that three thousand years ago, but if you go beyond that stuff, the people are the same. They have the same problems, they have the same kinds of feelings, they are pretty much just like us. Therefore, people like to read the Odyssey to relate to it. That is my take on one of the reasons why the Odyssey is such a popular piece of literature.
Short Answers-
4. How would you characterize the narrator, the fictive "Homer" whose voice we imagine as singing the verses of the Odyssey?
I'm not sure what is meant by "characterize". But when I think of the mysterious Homer, I think of an intelligent man with an incredible imagination/memory. Also when I imagine Homer, I think of a lonely man who spent much of his life alone. Why? I don't know. And maybe that's why he wrote about love and such so much in the Odyssey.
5. What kinds of behavior are treated as contemptible in the Odyssey?
The contemptible behaviors that I mostly thought of in the Odyssey were being dishonorable. And if you didn't live up to your promises, then that was just unacceptable.
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.)
As far as mortal women go in the Odyssey, most of them were strong. Especially Penelope. The poem also portrays women as loyal, and smart.
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 that are in the Odyssey were fairly clever. I couldn't say what the exact purpose of them is, but I know that they in a way regulate human bevior. And depending on what they think of it, they either have a positive or negative view about you. It's good to be on the gods' good side, because they are very powerful. They have different powers all around the earth. Like Posiedon is the water, and I forget his name...but that one guy was the god of wind. I do know one thing about the gods though... Although they can help man, they can not do what man should do for himself.
posted by jaglarz. at 10:12 PM
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