Literary Luminary

Name: Quirby Alberto

Text: Books XIII to XV
Date: August 31, 2010
Books: The Odyssey Of Homer

Literary Luminary: The Odyssey features a powerful array of epithets and figures
of speech. Your job is: (a) to prepare a summary of the reading. Make a quick statement
to discuss the UNIVERSAL TRUTH found in the text; (b) to identify “Golden Lines”—or
special passages in the text (interesting, powerful, funny, puzzling, or important
sections). You will also ponder on how certain lines in the text are further illuminated in
succeeding scenes. Decide which passages or paragraphs are worth remembering, and
indicate how you plan to present them: (a) You can read the passages aloud yourself, (b)
ask someone else to read them, or (c) read them together as a group. Make sure to
discuss your analysis of the selected text.

Quick Statement: What, for you, is the UNIVERSAL TRUTH in the text?
Compare this with others’.
In my opinion, the universal truth is disguise and deceit.

Book XIII: Athena woke Odysseus and at first assumed a disguise as

she tried to convince him that he was home. Even when she revealed
herself as an immortal, he thought that she may be tricking him.
Then, she revealed her identity and assured him that she will help him
as they plan for him to return home disguised as a beggar.

Book XIV: Odysseus went to the house of the swineherd and accepted
his hospitality as a beggar. He concocted an elaborate story about his
fall from rags to riches to entertain Emaios. He also tried to introduce
some relationship between the beggar and himself.

GOLDEN LINES Book Significance and

Analysis
'Good brother, Lines 154 to 158 Zeus is depicted
here is the way it of Book XIII as the enforcer of
seems to my hospitality,
mind best to do. nonetheless, he
When all the sanctioned
people are Poseidon's
watching her punishment of
from the city as the Phaiakians,
she comes in, who angered
then turn her into Poseidon by
a rock that looks following this
like a fast ship, code of conduct
close off shore, in helping
so that all people Odysseus to
may wonder at return home.
her. But do not Therefore, for
hide their city Zeus, preserving
under a stable
mountain.' relationships with
his brother is
more important
than returning
favors to one of
his most
suppliant people.

'Ah now, the Lines 172 to 184 Alkinoos

prophecy of old is of Book XIII immediately
come to recognized the
completion, that fulfillment of the
my father spoke, prophecy and
when he said resolved to
Poseidon abandon their
someday would custom of helping
be angry with us, wayward
because we are travelers.
convoy without
hurt to all men …
'

' … Shame on the Lines 200 to 216 Odysseus thought

leaders of the of Book XIII that he was
Phaiakians and betrayed since he
their men of simply did not
counsel, for they recognize his
were not home at first
altogether glance, but when
thoughtful, nor he found that
were they none of the
righteous, when treasure was
they took me stolen he then
away here to thought
another land; but otherwise.
they told me they
would bring me
to sunny Ithaka,
and they did not
do it. May Zeus of
the suppliants
punish them, for
he oversees other
men besides, and
punishes anyone
who transgresses
…'

'Son of Laertes Lines 375 to 381 Odysseus

and seed of Zeus, of Book XIII lamented about
resourceful his wife's
Odysseus, situation and
consider how you together with
can lay your Athena is
hands on these conspiring to
shameless destroy the
suitors, who for suitors that have
three years now taken over his
have been as house.
lords in your
palace, and
courting your
godlike wife, and
offering gifts to
win her … '

'Surely I was on Lines 383 to 391 Odysseus realized

the point of of Book XIII that he could
perishing by an have ended up
evil fate in my like Agamemnon,
palace, like nevertheless,
Artreus' son Athena tells him
Agamemnon, not to be afraid
unless you had because she will
told me goddess, be there to
the very truth of support him.
all that has
happened. Come
then, weave the
design, the way I
shall take my
vengeance upon
them; stand
beside me,
inspire me with
strength and
courage, as when
together we
brought down
Troy's shining
coronal … '

'Let him not be Lines 421 to 425 Of course, Athena

too much on your of Book XIII knew of
mind. It was I Odysseus'
myself who saw imminent return,
him along on that thereby making it
journey, so he seem illogical
would win that she would
reputation by send Telemachos
going there, and on such a risky
he has no voyage, however,
hardship, but now the journey
is staying at his proved to be
ease with the son instrumental in
of Atreus, and all his maturation
abundance is by and elevation of
him.' his reputation in
faraway lands.

'Eat now, Lines 80 to 84 of Eumaios

stranger, what Book XIV complained about
we serving men the suitors who
are permitted to have destroyed
eat: young pigs, the estate and
but the fattened longs for the
swine are return of his
devoured by the praise worthy
suitors, who have master Odysseus,
no regard for whom he fears is
anyone in their lost for good.
minds, no pity.
The blessed gods
have no love for a
pitiless action,
but rather they
reward justice
and what men do
that is lawful … '

'But the suitors, Lines 89 to 92 of In spite of

you see, have Book XIV Odysseus' pact,
heard some god- Eumaios, along
sent rumor, and with Penelope
they know about and Telemachos,
the dismal death no longer trust
of our man, and travelers,
they will not vagabonds
decently make looking for
their suit, nor go something in
home to their return for
own houses, but fabricated news,
at their ease they because they
forcibly eat up his have been given
property, and false hope on so
spare nothing.' many occasions.

'Hear me! I shall Lines 172 to 178 Helen's

be your prophet, of Book XV interpretation of
the way the the bird omen
immortals put it relied on the
into my heart, perception of
and I think it will Odysseus as an
be accomplished. aggressive and
As this eagle predatory
came down from creature, who
the mountain, asserts its
where was his superiority over a
origin and more common
parentage, and and vulnerable
caught the goose one.
that was nursed
in the household,
so Odysseus,
after wandering
long and
suffering much,
will come home
and take revenge
…'

'Hear me now, Lines 307 to 317 Odysseus tested

Eumaios, and all of Book XV the limits of
you other Eumaios'
companions. I am hospitality by
very eager to offering to leave
make my way at in the morning
dawn to the city and as response
and beg there, so to this Eumaios
I will not wear did not allow
you out, and your Odysseus to get
men. Only advise mixed up with the
me well, and send suitors, instead
a good guide to he insisted and
go along with me urged him to
and see me there. stay.
Once in town I
must even go
begging in my
need, for
someone to hand
me a bit of bread
or a cupful …'

'Telemachos, not Lines 531 to 534 Similarly,

without a god's of Book XV Theoklymenos
will did this bird said as this
fly past you on vicious bird
the right, for I swooped down
knew when I saw upon their
it that it was a innocent prey, so
portent. No other too, will Odysseus
family shall be vanquish the
kinglier than suitors without
yours in the any sign of
country of Ithaka, warning to their
but you shall impending doom.
have lordly power
forever.'

Possible Reasons for Picking a Passage:

funny controversial important

surprising
confusing informative

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