Echoes from Mount Olympus

Study Guide

“The All-Too-Human Gods”

pages 9-11

Study Guide Questions:

1. The essay compares the Olympian gods to a dysfunctional family. What
examples does it give to support that metaphor?

They fight, intermarry too often, betray each other, are sexually unfaithful,
are poor parents, enter into unhappy marriages . Zeus and Hera always
fighting—he’s cheating, she’s getting revenge. Aphrodite cheated on
Hephaestus. Brothers fought (Zeus fought with his brother; Hermes
sometimes stole)

2. Why do you think the Greeks and Romans didn’t create perfect gods and
goddesses?

We want our gods to look like us. The stories are much more entertaining this
way. Show that even the gods of the universe aren’t perfect; we can relate to
them better this way.

They created gods in their own image!

3. What good points and bad points does the essay mention about the
civilizations of ancient Greece and of ancient Rome?

Civilizatio Good point Bad point

n name

Greek some democratic slavery

 governments

Greek “rose to great heights of there were dictators—it

civilization and culture” wasn’t always democracy

Roman long periods of peace mistreatment of women

Roman “rose to great heights of mistreatment of women

civilization and culture”
Film 33:48, 37:38
48:24—slaves
“Zeus and Hera”
by Bernard Evslin, Dorothy Evslin, and Ned Hoopes
pages 18-21
Background:
The Titans represent one generation of gods. (Cronos is usually called a
Titan.) Zeus and the Olympians are the next generation. Many early
cultures were polytheistic. They believed in more than one deity, each
with his or her own personality and relationships with other deities such as
the sun, ocean, storms, wind, war, or love. The major gods and goddesses
formed a pantheon. The Greek pantheon members mostly lived on Mount
Olympus, and they often took human form. Giving human traits or forms
to non-human beings is called anthropomorphism. Thus, the pantheon
consisted of anthropomorphic deities, the Olympians. The main twelve
are listed on pages 12-13.

VOCABUALRY (read over before starting the story)

discord conflict; strife prophesied predicted; foresaw

forger maker; craftsman swaddling tightly wrapped;
infidelities disloyalties; affairs restricting
intriguers schemers; plotters tumult commotion; disturbance
pent up shut up; confined

Study Guide Questions:

1. Outline the three generations of deities described in this story.
I. Oranos was the First One
A. He had a son, Cronos
B. He had a daughter, Rhea
 II. Cronos and Rhea married
B. Rhea gave birth to
1. Hestia
2. Demeter
3. Hera
4. Hades
5. Poseidon
6. Zeus

III. Zeus and Hera married

A. By Hera, Zeus fathered Ares, Hephaestus, and Eris
B. Zeus also fathered Athena, Hermes, Apollo, and Artemis, among
others, by other females

2. Using specific examples from the text, describe below at least FIVE ways in
which the author portrays the Titans and Olympians as members of a very
dysfunctional family.

a) They are selfish (Chronos doesn’t want to give up his

throne even to a grown son, ever, and neither did Oranos)

b) They are abusive parents (Chronos swallowed his children

and wanted to kill Zeus)

c) They have incestuous relationships (Zeus married Hera as

Rhea had married Chronos)

d) They are sometimes unfaithful spouses in unloving

marriages (Zeus cheated on Hera –“infidelities”—and she
pulled tricks on him)
 e) They are vengeful and try to hurt rather than help each
other (Chronos killed Oranos and Zeus kills Chronos)
3. This story also provides possible explanations for the origins of two or three
natural phenomena/traditions/words/symbols, etc. List these below, as well as
the cause(s) given for each:

Phenomenon, tradition, Mythical cause given in text

word, symbol etc.
The battle between the Titans and
tidal waves the Olympians
thunder The noise of the Hundred-handed
Ones’ flinging Boulders at the Titans
avalanches The rocks tumbling down the Mount
Olympus, thrown at the Titans by the
Hundred-handed Ones
origin of the word Goat-god Pan was shouting with joy as
“panic” the Hundred-handed Ones threw
boulders at the Titans, and his shouts
drove the Titans away. They thus ran
away in a “panic.”
Traditional New Year’s Zeus may have killed Cronos with a
Day symbols scythe, which Cronos also used on
Oranos. So this has turned into the
image of the baby confronting the old
man with a scythe.

Greek Mythology Gods & Goddesses film 7 mins, 11:23, 14:09

Hesiod, (flourished c. 700 BC), one of the earliest Greek poets, often called
the “father of Greek didactic poetry.” Two of his complete epics have
survived, the Theogony, relating the myths of the gods, and the Works and
Days, describing peasant life.
Greek Mythology Gods & Goddesses film 20 mins

“The Firebringer”
by Louis Untermeyer
pages 22-25

VOCABUALRY (read over before starting the story)

destiny fate; future immortal deathless; ageless

fettered shackled; chained manacles handcuffs; chains
forethought ability to think ahead tyranny dictatorship; despotism
Other Unfamiliar Words & Their Definitions (write these below as you
read)

Study Guide Questions:

l. Describe the early (unsuccessful) human races that Zeus created, and why
Zeus wasn’t satisfied with them.
The first race did nothing but eat and drink. The second planned only evil
things. The third fought among themselves, did not worship the gods, and
had no respect for anything.

2. What was Prometheus told to use— and not use—to create a new race of
humans?
He was to use clay mixed with anything from the earth. He was forbidden
to take anything from heaven, the gods, Mt. Olympus, etc.
3. Why do you think Prometheus was forbidden to take anything from the
heavens?

Stuff from the heavens could be too powerful.

Zeus didn’t want anyone rivalling the gods.
If humans had everything the gods did, the gods wouldn’t be anything special
Some may say that the gods wanted to keep certain things for themselves.
Others may think that it was a test of his loyalty to the Olympians or his
obedience to Zeus.

4. Why do you think that Prometheus was disobedient and took the forbidden
fire anyway? Why does Prometheus believe that giving humans fire is more
important than Zeus’s threat? Did he do it for the humans’ sake? For his own?
Some of both? Explain.
He had taught his creations many things, and clearly they exhibited none
of the weaknesses of Zeus’ three races, but they were cold and hungry. Out
of love or perhaps pride, he was unwilling to leave them in misery. He
took responsibility for them. It seems more sympathy than pride, but if he
had not done this, his creation would have died off eventually, it seems,
and thus he would have failed. So it may have been a matter of pride.

5. Zeus is against humankind’s progress and punishes Prometheus for helping

achieve progress through science and technology. Where can we see similar
situations in real life?

Dictatorships such as N. Korea limit information technology to keep citizens

under control.

The debate about medical marijuana might be one example—people

refusing to see its scientifically-proven benefits.

People wanted to deny pain relief to mothers giving birth, back in the
1800s, because it supposedly went against the Bible.

DOE’s Assistant Secretary for Policy, David Sandalow recently remarked:

 I think skepticism about science puts the United States at competitive
disadvantages. Other countries are marching forward in the 21st
century, to deploy new technologies. That creates wealth.

…  The National Center for Science Education notes about creationism

that “students who accept this material as scientifically valid are unlikely
to succeed in science courses at the college level.”

6. How does the Prometheus story parallel somewhat the story of the creation of
humans in Genesis? (This can be found in any Bible, in the Book of Genesis
Chs. 1-3.)

Adam and Eve eat forbidden fruit and Prometheus does something he’s not
supposed to because Zeus forbade it (fire was from the heavens). Adam
was made from clay and Zeus said Prometheus could use clay to make
humans.
Lesser beings disobedient to a deity and punished for it. Lesser beings
taking something and using it to gain god-like power after deity told them
not to.

7. How was Prometheus punished?

He was chained to a rock, and an eagle ate his liver daily.

8. What deal did Zeus offer Prometheus eventually (p. 25)?

Tell me the secret of the fate of the gods (which woman is going to give
birth to the child who is going to overthrow him one day), and you can go.

Why doesn’t Prometheus take Zeus’s offer, and what does this tell us about
Prometheus’ character?

He refused to “help a tyrant who would not help mankind” and would
rather suffer instead. This tells us that Prometheus is indeed selfless and
heroic. Tyrants need others to help them remain tyrants. We know Zeus
bestows favors on those who help him, so this gets others to support him.
9. The narrator of the story tells us that Prometheus gave mankind “his
forethought, his fearless spirit as a fighter against tyranny, his courage and, most
of all, his compassion for all people everywhere” (p. 25).
Are these qualities possessed by Prometheus? Use specific references to the
story to support your point.

His realization that humans needed fire showed forethought, as did his
refusal to tell Zeus a secret that he knew Zeus would use only for his own
benefit and probably against humanity. Though tortured, he shows
courage and fearlessness in not giving in; he also showed courage is
disobeying Zeus, and this disobedience was indeed motivated by
compassion, though we cannot be sure of that till later in the story.

Are these qualities possessed by mankind in general? Use specific references to

real life to support your point.
It seems more likely that they are not, considering the number of wars and
frequency of violence amongst humanity. However, it is true that humans
have a capacity for forethought, compassion and courage which no other
animal possess (at least not all at once).

Where in history have we seen “tyrants”?

A tyrant was originally one who illegally seized and controlled a
governmental power in a polis in Greece. Tyrants were a group of
individuals who took over many Greek poleis during the uprising of the
middle classes in the sixth and seventh centuries BC, ousting the
aristocratic governments
For current information, see
See https://planetrulers.com/current-dictators/

Where in history have we seen people refuse to “help a tyrant”?

We could cite the leaders of the American Revolution (against King
George but ALSO against Puritan theocracy); underground movements
against Nazism (such as the White Rose)
Greek Mythology Gods & Goddesses film 22 mins

“Pandora”
by Barbara McBride-Smith
pages 27-30

Background:
Using colloquial American language, Barbara McBride-Smith tells the tale of the longstanding feud
between Papa Zeus and the Metheus brothers, Pro (Prometheus) and Epi (Epimetheus). As part of his subtle
plan, Zeus creates a woman, Pandora, for Epi to marry. Zeus gives Pandora a beautiful box but forbids her
to open it.
The story of Pandora came into prominence in the Theogony, Hesiod’s epic poem, written circa 800
BC. The myth dates back to the first centuries of humanity, just after the Titanomachy, the Great War
between the Titans and the Olympians. It is interesting to note that the reference to Pandora’s “Box” came
only in the 16th century from Erasmus of Rotterdam. The bottom line is that the entire story about Pandora
was fabricated. It may be considered as a misogynist stand that the creation of woman was the harbinger of
all evil on this world.
Note: Phestus is more properly called Hephaestus.

VOCABUALRY (read over before starting the story)

commenced began; started

“Pandora”
by Barbara McBride-Smith
pages 27-30

Background:
Using colloquial American language, Barbara McBride-Smith tells the tale
of the longstanding feud between Papa Zeus and the Metheus brothers, Pro
(Prometheus) and Epi (Epimetheus). As part of his subtle plan, Zeus creates a
woman, Pandora, for Epi to marry. Zeus gives Pandora a beautiful box but
forbids her to open it.
The story of Pandora came into prominence in the Theogony, Hesiod’s
epic poem, written circa 800 BC. The myth dates back to the first centuries of
humanity, just after the Titanomachy, the Great War between the Titans and the
Olympians. It is interesting to note that the reference to Pandora’s “Box” came
only in the 16th century from Erasmus of Rotterdam. The bottom line is that the
entire story about Pandora was fabricated. It may be considered as a misogynist
stand that the creation of woman was the harbinger of all evil on this world.
Note: Phestus is more properly called Hephaestus.

VOCABUALRY (read over before starting the story)

commenced began; started

Study Guide questions:

1. What are Pandora’s qualities?

She is strong, beautiful, smart and curious.

2. What is Zeus’s wedding gift, and what is odd about it?

It’s a box, covered with gold and inlaid with jewels, that she’s not supposed to
actually open.

To what modern item does the narrator compare this gift; why?

To a pillow with a tag that says it’s illegal to remove the tag; the box has the
same thing on it.

3. What happens when Pandora finally opens her gif

t?
All sorts of things come out, most of them bad: disease, disagreement, envy, old
age. One remains behind: Hope.

4. We are told that “Pandora got a grip on herself” and closed the box, but
earlier we were told that she had opened it because “she was smart.” What do
you make of these two seemingly contradictory statements?

Perhaps the narrator means she was “too smart for her own good.” But her
story (which is described as a total fabrication in the background info) may also
be seen as condemning intelligence in women (women who are smart get
punished—it is MYSOGYNISTIC story).

5. Some explanations of Pandora’s name say it means “all-gifted” (i.e.,

possessing many talents) and others “gift to all.” Which interpretation do you
think makes more sense? Why?

“All-gifted” makes more sense, since she was a gifted woman according to the
narrator’s description. “Gift to all” may have an ironic sense to it, since Zeus
gives her to mankind but she then unleashes evils on the world.

6. HOPE stays in the jar and is NOT released upon the world as the rest of the
contents are. The author makes this seem like a good thing in her version here
(hope is “kept safe in the box”), but does that actually make sense? Explain.

No, because hope is imprisoned and will not be among humankind as the bad
things in the box were. If those other things are having an effect on mankind
because those other things were released, then it is logical that HOPE cannot
have any effect on us. But for the Greeks, hope was not necessarily a good
thing. They believed in fate and the will of the gods, so hope might be futile
(useless). The Christian view would be that Pandora messed up even more by
trapping hope in the jar—making her an even worse female.

7. Although this is an ancient myth, the author has the narrator use words and
phrases from current American culture; these are called anachronisms.
List at least six such anachronisms (references to modern American culture)
below.
Redecorating, toilet paper, straightening out a sock drawer, coffee table, the tag
on the pillow, soap operas. Racism, sexism, terrorism, tourism, Communism,
capitalism, alcoholism, drug addiction, pornography, censorship, bombs,
nuclear waste, PMS, IRS. “Ring-around-the-collar” “heartbreak of psoriasis.”

Which type of narration did you like best: that of “The Firebringer” or of this
story? Why?
8. How is this story similar to the Biblical tale of Eve, the serpent, and the
forbidden fruit? Use the chart below to make comparisons:

Pandora Story Eve Story

Pandora is the first mortal woman Eve is the first woman

Pandora is ordered by a god not to Eve is ordered by God not to do

do something; she is tempted to do something; she is tempted by Satan
so anyway (but Zeus does both the to do so anyway
ordering AND the tempting here)

When Pandora disobeys, bad When Eve disobeys, human nature

things such as sickness, anger, becomes “fallen,” and bad things
envy, etc., are unleashed into the such as hard labor, childbirth
world pains, and most of all mortality,
are made the fate of humanity

A female is blamed for unleashing A female is blamed for unleashing

evil on the world evil on the world
 “The Wise Goddess: Athena”
by Betty Bonham Lies
pages 31-33

Background:

This piece is considered more of a character study or essay than a myth. Like
many myths, however, it focuses on a competition between gods. Its main focus
is the theme of WISDOM.

VOCABUALRY (read over before starting the story)

brackish salty; saline

innumerable countless; many
Study Guide Questions:

1. How did Athena settle disputes?

By wise judgment, not fighting; using words instead of violence

2. Make a list of Athena’s other accomplishments as depicted on p. 33.

Patroness of Athens with her symbols being the olive tree and the owl; flute,
trumpet, earthenware bowl, women’s arts, esp. weaving; plough, rake, yoke;
bridle, chariot, ship; science, mathematics. Took side of Greeks during Trojan
War and watched over Odysseus during his 10-year journey home.

3. How is this portrayal of a female entity in this essay different from the one
put forth in “Pandora”?
Athena has power and respect; she is not controlled by males or expected to
obey them, and she is not faulted for bringing about or unleashing harmful
things. “She can serve as a model for women everywhere. The divine protector
of human civilization, the goddess of war who preferred peace, the judge who
believed in mercy…”

4. In the concluding paragraph how does author Betty Bonham Lies define
“heroism” and “courage”?

Courage does not necessarily mean fighting, but standing firm for what is right.

Think of at least two real-life examples of people who demonstrate this sense of
“heroism” and “courage.” Name/identify them and describe their actions below.
Your descriptions should support your choices.

Annie Sullivan—Helen Keller’s teacher; overcame extreme poverty and medical

problems to get an education and dedicate her life to helping Helen

Malala Yousafzai— a 15-year-old schoolgirl from Pakistan, was shot in the

head by Taliban assassins in October 2012 because she wanted to go to school.
Has become an international activist for the right of girls to go to school;
nominated for Nobel Peace Prize.

“Arachne”
 by Olivia E. Coolidge
pages 48-51

VOCABUALRY (read over before starting the story)

descendants children; heirs

obscure unknown; unnoticed
obstinacy stubbornness; reluctance

Study Guide Questions:

1. What are the different explanations for Arachne’s skilled weaving? What is
Arachne’s response?

People think the goddess Athena must have taught Arachne.

She is angry and disagrees with them because she knows are jealous that they
cannot weave like this; but they would not want to work as hard as Arachne
does, so they tell themselves that it’s a god-given talent, and not hard work.
However, Arachne boasts that she is good solely because she practices from
early morning until late at night.

2. Why do other people’s comments about her skill bother Arachne?

She knows she works very, very hard, but other people attribute her
achievements to a goddess and not to Arachne’s hard work.

Why won’t Arachne admit the possibility that her talent for weaving is a gift
from the goddess Athena?
She knows how hard she works and wants sole credit for the result. We’re told
that she’s “proud” and lives for praise.
Is Arachne truly 100 percent responsible for the beauty of what she produces
(see p. 50, bottom)?
No, because her father’s skill in dying the wool is also crucial to the appearance
of the finished products.

3. What does Arachne weave during the contest with Athena? What does this
show about her?
She depicts the deities in “evil or unworthy actions”; this would seem to show
that she is not trying to suck up to Athena and is not afraid of her. But we could
also say she’s disrespectful.

4. What does Athena weave, and what does this show about her?
She depicts mortals competing with the gods and therefore being punished. (In
the middle is her competition with Poseidon.) This shows that she is vengeful
and really just wants to assert her control.

5. What does it suggest that Athena tears Arachne’s tapestry before the contest
can be judged?
Although she won because she was quicker, she may be afraid people will not
think her product is the best. Or, she may not want to have something around
depicting the gods in a negative light.

6. Why does Athena change Arachne into a spider instead of letting her hang
herself?
Again, it’s a matter of a deity having the final say, the ultimate control. Man
cannot hope to compete with the gods and succeed, not be punished. Arachne
will be around as an example to people not to challenge the gods. If she were
dead and buried, she would eventually be forgotten.
7. What message would you say this story send about taking pride in your
talents?
It can blind us to the contributions of others and to having had good luck or
fortune.

Should people avoid expressing pride in their accomplishments? Why or why

not?
They can take pride but must always give credit to others who make their work
possible; they cannot really take credit for natural talent in itself. Don’t boast!!

What seems to be the difference between talent and accomplishment?

The former may be god-given, but the latter depends mostly on hard work.
Talents are given or possessed, but accomplishments are earned.

8. Do you find the characters and actions of Arachne and Athena worthy of
admiration, disapproval, pity or other feelings? Fill out the chart below,
noting actions taken by each and your judgment about those actions.

Action Character Your Judgment

(Athena or Arachne)

Works many hours at

Arachne Admirable
her craft

Ripping apart Athena Shows bad

Arachne’s work sportsmanship; pitiful
 b/c she seems insecure
and childish
Arachne Selfish; doesn’t share
Doesn’t give father the glory; unfair
credit
Portrays bad things Arachne Could be considered
about the gods courageous and
truthful; but also
disrespectful.
Guaranteed to anger
Athena. She was
jealous and angry; not
a good idea b/c it
resulted in Arachne’s
becoming a spider
Turns Arachne into a Athena She needs the last
spider word; excess of pride;
control-freak; not so
good a judge or
peaceful here!

9. What element of nature is this story the origin tale of?

The spider
 “Demeter and Persephone”
by Homer, translated by Penelope Proddow
pages 56-64

VOCABUALRY (read over before starting the story)

laments expressions of sorrow stately noble; elegant

lavish extravagant; extreme stealthily secretly; covertly
omen foreshadowing; sign treachery betrayal; disloyalty

Background:
The blind poet Homer is best known as the author of the Iliad and the Odyssey.
Little is known about him except that he lived in the ninth century B.C. Some
even think he might be fictional. However, the Homeric style was acknowledged
and imitated by poets in the sixth century B.C. Their Homeric hymns, such as
“Demeter and Persephone,” were presented at public festivals, probably as
songs.
Note:
“He Who Has Many Names” and “He Who Receives Many Guests” refer to
Hades.
When reading a poem, do not put a pause at the end of a line unless there is a
mark of punctuation, such as a comma, dash, or period, to indicate that a pause
belongs there.

Study Guide Questions:

1. Why does Helios think that Hades would be a good choice as a husband?
Helios says he is very powerful and rules over many people (who happen to be
dead).

2. Why do you think the poet refers to Zeus as “black clouded”?

Answers will vary. To be surrounded with a black cloud is to be possessed by
dark moods, which can lead to thoughtless or mean-spirited behavior. Zeus
displays "black-clouded" behavior when he allows Persephone to be taken by
Hades.

3. Demeter is the earth goddess, responsible for growing things and for
agriculture. How would you evaluate her helpfulness to mortals?
Answers will vary. Demeter grieves for her daughter at the expense of the
mortals. She is the “Giver of Shining Gifts,” but only when things are going
well for her.

4. Evaluate Zeus’s responses to Demeter's grief. What finally got his attention
and caused him to take action?
He changes his mid only when he gets wind that Demeter is planning on making
the earth barren, thus depriving the gods from getting human offerings. His
motives in getting Persephone back are totally selfish.

5. Who is the first-person speaker, the “I” and “me” at the start and end of the
poem?
A human asking Demeter to grant fertility, “Abundant life.”

6. Imagine you had to create three-act play based on the poem. Where would
each act begin? Why?
Act I- from abduction to Demeter leaving to find her—or through the
conversation with Helios

Act II—Demeter being sad and the crops dying

Act III—Persephone is allowed out of Hades for two seasons out of three

OR
Act One would go from the beginning to when Demeter leaves Olympus, “her
face disguised” (or at the end of the next strophe). Act Two would end where
Hermes takes Persephone from Hades, and Act Three would begin with
Persephone’s journey home.

7. What does this poem explain the origin of?

The growing seasons versus the winter.
 “Persephone, Falling”
by Rita Dove
page 65
Study Guide Questions:
1. In the poem, what happens to Persephone because she “strayed from the
herd”?
Someone in a “glittering terrible carriage…claimed his due”—Hades comes
and takes here away. “Claims his due” implies he was owed her.

2. Who is speaking in the second strophe (word group in a poem that doesn’t
have a regular rhyme scheme), beginning with the word “Remember”?
Persephone’s mother, Demeter

3. What does the term “strayed from the herd” mean when used to describe
human actions?
To be a nonconformist, not go along with everyone else, be an individual.
Opposite of having a herd mentality: doing something because everyone else is.

4. Is it a good or bad thing to “stray from the herd”? Explain.

It is good because without it, mankind would progress much more slowly;
individuality leads to creativity. “Herd” implies unthinking actions.
The mother in the poem, though, wants her daughter to be protected by the herd.

Sticking w/ your playmates not necessarily same things as being part of a

“herd.” You can think individually & still have friends. Straying

5. Do your elders encourage you to “stray from the herd,” or do they discourage
it?
Why do you think this is?

6. There has been much public discussion recently regarding whether today’s
parents are overly protective of their children. What do you think, and why?
 “Cupid and Psyche”
by Barbara McBride-Smith
pages 85-91

VOCABUALRY (read over before starting the story)

degradation disgrace; dishonor fester become infected

exquisitely beautifully; perfectly

Study Guide questions:

1. Why does Cupid fall in love with Psyche? (Explain what he was supposed to
do and what actually happened.)

His mother, Aphrodite, was jealous of Psyche because Psyche was absolutely
gorgeous. So, as usual, she sent her Son Cupid out to hit her with an arrow and
have her fall in love with “the ugliest creature in the universe.”

Distracted by Psyche’s beauty as she sleeps beside a stream, Cupid stabs

himself with his own magic arrow, falling hopelessly in love with Psyche. Cupid
also works some magic on Psyche so she’ll stay unmarried while he figures out
what to do.

2. What lines in the story draw comparisons between the nature of the gods and
human nature?

Examples include “Cupid was a mama’s boy,” and “you know how mamas are
about their babies, “won a golden apple in a beauty contest,” “Texas redneck
worse that a Minotaur,” witness protection program, Aphrodite suggests Cupid
take a vacation
3. What does Psyche have to do to get Cupid back, and how does she
accomplish the tasks?

While searching for him, she faces trials given to her by Aphrodite, such as
sorting grain (she’s helped by ants) and getting a box from Persephone in
Hades (she’s helped by a talking tower). But psychologically, she must learn to
trust him. Since he is watching over her, we can assume he sees that she really
does love him and will risk everything to be with him again.

4. What would you say is the moral of, or lesson conveyed by, this story? (State
it in one sentence.)

Trust must be present on both sides for any relationship to be successful.

“Homer, The Blind Poet” by Alisoun Witting

“Odysseus” by W.H.D. Rouse
pages 74-81

Background: The Trojan War, Odysseus and Penelope

According to legend, the war began after Paris of Troy kidnapped Helen of Greece.
The Greek army sailed to Troy to bring Helen back. After ten years of war, the Greeks
defeated the Trojans by trickery. They built a gigantic wooden horse and presented it to the
Trojans a gift. That night Greek soldiers hidden inside the horse unlocked the city gates—
letting in the rest of the Greek army. The Trojan War was considered a myth until ruins
discovered in the nineteenth century in Turkey proved to be the site of ancient Troy.
Historians now believe that Troy and Greece actually waged a long war.

Homer’s Odyssey also tells the story of Penelope. For 20 years, she awaits her
husband’s return. During this time, many noblemen ask—even demand—to marry her. She
refuses to believe that Odysseus is dead but finally says she’ll choose a new husband when
she finishes weaving a funeral shroud for her father-in-law. She weaves by day and at night
unravels her work. When her suitors catch on, they are furious.

VOCABUALRY (read over before starting the story)

siege blockade; persistent attack bowling rolling; moving quickly

steward caretaker; manager sty pig pen

Study Guide Questions:

1. What journey does Odysseus wish to make?

When the Trojan War ends, Odysseus wants to go home to Ithaca.

2. What delays Odysseus on his journey?

The lotus eaters; people are tempted to stay on their island because the fruit is
so delicious
He has to survive many dangers, including the winds, temptation of staying with
the Lotus Eaters the and listening forever to the Sirens; the Cyclops
Polyphemos; passing between Scylla and Charybdis, being delayed by Calypso;
the wrath of the sea god Poseidon, a witch named Circe who turns men to
beasts; and finally having to fight Penelope’s suitors.

3. As a heroic figure, is Odysseus more of a great warrior or more of a great

thinker and trickster?
As this story shows, Odysseus is more likely to think his way out of trouble than
to fight. Examples include his having himself tied to the mast to pass the sirens,
calling himself “Noman” so Polyphemos would use this word to the other
Cyclopes; attaching himself and his men to the rams to get out of the Cyclops’
cave. He does, however, physically fight Polyphemos and the suitors.

4. Why do you think Hermes gives Odysseus protection from the enchantments
of Circe?
In Greek myths, the gods often take sides for or against particular humans.
Odysseus notes that Zeus is the god of strangers. As the messenger of the gods,
Hermes is often sent to take care of problems. Zeus may have been pleased that
Odysseus invoked his name, and so sent Hermes to help him. Athena may have
done so as well, as according to the mythology she was Odysseus great helper.