The Odyssey: Book 10 The Bewitching Queen of Aeaea

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The Odyssey Book 10The Bewitching Queen of Aeaea
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Connection Bell Work and Discussion

• A major THEME in the literature of the ancient
  Greeks concerns the roles of fate (the nonhuman
  power that determines the outcome of events) and
  the free will (the power that humans have to
  control the events) in human life.
• In what ways can romantic attraction become a
  trap? Give several examples.

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Summary

• Odysseus was entertained for a month by Aeolus,
  king of the winds, who sent him off with the gift
  of all the winds bound in a sack, except the
  favorable west wind.
• When they had nearly reached home, Odysseus' crew
  opened the bag, thus letting loose a storm which
  drove them back to Aeolia. Aeolus cast them out
  in hostility, for they seemed to be detested by
  the gods.
• They sailed to Laestrygonia and were attacked by
  Antiphates, king of the giant Laestrygonians, and
  his army.
• They reached Aeaea, the island of the
  sorceress-goddess Circe. Eurylochus led half the
  crew to explore the house of Circe, unaware that
  she transformed all who entered into pigs. Only
  Eurylochus remained outside and could report the
  fate of the others to Odysseus.
• Odysseus ventured out to save his men and
  received a magic herb from Hermes. Protected from
  Circes potion he threatened her at sword point.
  She returned his men to human form and offered
  hospitality to the crew.
• Circe informed Odysseus that to reach home he
  must consult the blind prophet Tiresias of Thebes
  in Hades. She gave detailed instructions for the
  trip to the underworld, and he departed, leaving
  behind the young Elpenor, who had been killed in
  a fall.

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Connection Discussion with Text

• Which of Odysseus actions determine the destiny
  of his men? When are Odysseus and his men at the
  mercy of geography, of acts of the gods, and of
  other things beyond their control?
• What can you conclude about Homers view of the
  ability of human begins to control their own
  lives? How does his view compare with your own?

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Aeolus
The god of wind who gives a bag of wind to
Odysseus to carry him home to Ithaca when
Odysseus lands on his island. Unfortunately for
Odysseus, his men open the bag out of curiosity
just as Ithaca comes into view and they are
pushed all the way back to Aeolus island. Aeolus
does not help them this time because he had
previously warned them not to open the bag.
Quote

• Yet he set the west wind free to blow us on our
  way and waft our squadron home. But his plan was
  bound to fail, yes, our own reckless folly swept
  us on to ruin.

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lasestrygonians
Quote
King of the Laestrygonians, his howl brings
giants from all around who throw boulders at
Odysseus while he escapes on his ship.
But the king let loose a howling through the town
that brought tremendous lasestrygonians swarming
up from every side- hundreds, not like men, like
Giants! P234
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Circe

• A goddess who lives on the island of Aeaea, Circe
  enchants men with her island potion and causes
  them to act as if they are swine. Circe tries to
  do the same to Odysseus but a man on the island
  gives him an antidote so it does not affect him.
  Circe tells Odysseus that he must journey to the
  underworld to talk to Tiresias ghost.

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Eurylochus
Odysseus second in command who takes part of the
crew to explore Circes house, unaware that she
turned men into pigs, however he stays outside
the house and watches so he can report to
Odysseus what happens to the men.
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Acheron and Erebus

• Acheron is the river of pain in the under world
  and the root word of the modern word ache. It is
  used of travel in the under world. Erebus is the
  ruler of the lower half of the under world, it is
  also the dark region of the under world that the
  dead must pass through to reach the under world.

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Elpenor

• Friend of Odysseus who gets drunk on Circes
  island and falls backwards off a roof he is
  sleeping on and dies.

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Hermes

• A major Greek god, Hermes is the son of Zeus and
  the messenger god. He gives Odysseus the magical
  herb to make him immune to Circes drink, and
  tells him to threaten Circe with his sword if she
  tries to cage him.