Honors I: the Odyssey Adventures Analysis Tasks

Honors I: The Odyssey Adventures Analysis Tasks

Class Period: 2 and 6

Group Members and Contributions: Homerette

Adventure Title: “The Lotus- Eaters”

Pg. #’s: 373, lines 29-55

Date: 16 November 2017

1) Paraphrase (put into your own words) between 80-130 consecutive lines of your adventure. Do so by sentence and/or by stanza. Paraphrases are NOT summaries and should be roughly as long as the original.

Paraphrase:

Zeus kicked up a powerful thunderstorm which set our bows plunging under the winds and tore our sails into shreds. We thought we would die for sure we took down the masts, took the oars out, and headed for the nearest shelter from the wind just off shore.

For two days and nights we waited out the storm, exhausted and demoralized, grieving our predicament. Then, on the third morning, dawn brought fair, sunny weather. We put up our masts and sails and let the breeze take the ship, letting the steersmen rest.

I thought we would make it home now, but when I came around Malea the current took us back out to sea and another gale took us off course past Cythera. For nine days, more dangerous seas and winds. On the tenth day we arrived at the Lotus-Eaters Island.

We stopped there to get some water, and the shipmates gathered for lunch. I sent two men and a runner to find out about the inhabitants of the island. In no time my men had eaten some of the sweet Lotus plant offered by the friendly denizens, and they were rendered intoxicated under its spell---forgetting our journey home. I had to drag them back to the ship wailing and tie them to their oars to get them to leave the island. I called out an order that they were to clear the beach and their proximity to that Lotus and with that, we dipped our oars into the ocean and were off again on our journey home. 2) Identify at least one of Odysseus’ heroic traits and at least one of his weaknesses.

(Note line #’s)

Heroic Trait: In lines 101- 105, Odysseus is a true leader because he is a confident

decision maker. In this case he takes charge of his men, “rescues” them from

their intoxication and restores order- thus restoring the mission.

Weakness: Odysseus can be dangerously supercilious. For example in lines 101-

105 he has angered Zeus and, as a result, put his men and mission to return home

at risk. The near-fatal storms are ultimately a result of his arrogance.

3) Identify and explain one example of the epic plot format:

Intervention of the gods: Mankind, especially noble heroes like Odysseus,

constantly walked a thin line between pleasing and offending the gods. The gods

feature prominently here as Zeus conjures up the storm to punish Odysseus for his

pride.

4) Identify one step of the heroic journey represented in your adventure. Please use the terminology of your Campbell Hero’s Journey notes. (Note line #’s)

1) Test, Allies, Enemies: Not only is Odysseus facing the battle with nature’s

wrath (lines 70-74), he must also face the lure of the Lotus plants which

threaten to seduce his men away from their (his) mission (lines 101- 103).

In addition, these crewmates have become a band of brothers. Not only does

Odysseus feel responsible for protecting them on a personal level, but his

mission to return home will be jeopardized without the teamwork of his crew.

5) Identify at least ONE example of the cultural beliefs and/or values of the era (epic setting or theme). (Note line #’s)

Epic Setting- Ancient Greeks believed the natural world was teeming with life

which explains the personification of Dawn as a beautiful woman with golden

ringlets. The ocean also was both a means for protection and a route for

commerce and battle.

6) Identify and explain at least ONE archetype.

Temptress: The Lotus-Eaters are representative of the archetypal temptress

because their lotus intoxicates the crew member and tempts them away from their

duty: to return to Ithaca.

7) Identify at least three examples of poetic devices (Homeric simile, epithet, allusion, metaphor, personification, alliteration). Specify the type of figurative language and its effect/contribution to the purpose of the passage. (Quote and line #’s)

1) Heroic Simile:

The simile, “driving veils of squall moved like night on land and sea,” (lines 71-

72), compares the intensity of the squalls not only to a veil which serves the

purpose of hiding or masking making the storm ominous, but the storm also

descends on the ships as the night does, completely enveloping the landscape and

the tiny vessels in all-encompassing power.