The Odyssey Adventures Group Project

Class Period: 1, 3, 4, 7

Group Members and Contributions: Homerette

Adventure Title:”The Lotus- Eaters”

Pg. #’s:987, lines 70-108

Date: 24 April 20____

2) Paraphrase (put into your own words) between 100-150 consecutive lines of your adventure. Do so by stanza and by sentence in paragraph form. This is not a summary.

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, we weathered 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 renderedintoxicated 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.

3) Identify at least one of Odysseus’ heroic traits and at least one of his weaknesses. (Note line #’s)

Heroic Trait- Odysseus is a true leader. 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 (lines 101-105).

Weakness- Odysseus can be dangerously supercilious. His 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.

4) Identify at least two step(s) of the hero’s journey represented in your adventure. Please use the terminology of your Campbell notes. (Note line #’s)

Hero’s Journey:

1)Ordeal: Not only is Odysseus facing the battle with nature’s wrath (lines 70-74), but he must also face the lure of the Lotus plants which threaten to seduce his men away from their (his) mission (lines 101- 103).

2) Allies/ Enemies: 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 two examples of the cultural beliefs and/or values of the era. (Note line #’s)

Cultural Beliefs and Values- 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 was both a means for protection and a route for commerce and battle.

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.

6) Identify at least three example of figurative language (Homeric simile, epithet, metaphor, personification). Specify the type of figurative language and its effect/contribution to the purpose of the passage. (Note line #’s)

Heroic Simile-

1) The simile, “driving veils of squall moved like night on land and sea,” (lines 71-72), not only compares the intensity of the squalls to a veil which serves the purpose of hiding or masking thus rendering the storm ominous, but also to nightwhich envelopes the landscape and the tiny vessels in its all-encompassing power and darkness.