Ms. J. Peterson's Blog: Blogger #17 - Andrew Neria - Period 1 - 4/29/21

General Overview

In the first half of class, we discussed our upcoming Odysseus Post Card Mini Project as well as our classwork. The goal is to pretend we’re Odysseus writing a postcard to Penelope (your wife) or Telemachus (your son). Further instructions can be found here. We started our lesson with a couple discussions. Afterwards, we dove into some important terms. Finally, it came time to read “The Cyclops,” which we read up to page 8. For homework, we were to finish “The Cyclops,” answer questions about the story, and then post and comment on a discussion board. To top it off, we were also assigned Book X to read.

*Click the image for a link to “The Cyclops”

This depicts Odysseus and his men on their way to stay the drunken Polyphemus in the eye

Aim: How do Odysseus' actions in "The Cyclops"

support or refute his epic character?

Do Now: WHOLE CLASS DISCUSSION

As previously discussed, the term, “Xenia” is the ancient Greek concept of hospitality, the generosity and courtesy shown to those who are far from home and/or associates of the person bestowing guest-friendship. The rituals of hospitality created and expressed a reciprocal relationship between guest host.
Therefore, based on your understanding of the term, how important do you believe this attribute or behavior is to exemplify? Why?

We discussed that times have changed, and customs and societal expectations along with it. The reason for this standard of hospitality is because people believed any stranger could be a god in disguise. Treating them poorly could result in a curse or punishment. Today, many of these beliefs are often disregarded or seen as outlandish. In modern day society, letting strangers into your home because they might be a god is simply foolish, but showing kindness to guests is also something we could all use.

CLASS DISCUSSION

Reflect on the heroes you have encountered throughout your life, in various forms: literature, movies or TV. Identify any weaknesses the hero(es) may have, and explain how it impairs their ability.

We used Iron Man as a talking point on this matter. We brought up his massive ego, and how it was ironic because of his character design. He had no powers; they came from his suit. However, he believed himself to be smarter and better than anybody else. Many times, this personality had put Iron Man into tough situations, in both his superhero and personal life

*Iron Man is the face at the very top of the image

Terms We Learned in Today’s Lesson

*Click the terms to find a helpful video for further information

Homeric Simile- also known as Epic Similes, are elaborate comparisons, consisting of many lines, between two different objects using “like”, “as”, “so”, or “just so.” (we are very well acquainted with short similes; homeric similes are extended versions of the literary device)

Foreshadowing- future events in a story, or perhaps the outcome, are suggested by the author before they happen. (The subtlety of foreshadowing can effectively bring out feelings of unease or suspense from the reader)

Hubris- a Greek term meaning excessive pride or over-confidence; arrogance (The ancient Greeks often looked down on this trait; it was often used as a hero’s tragic flaw)

Tragic Flaw- also known as hamartia, a trait in a character that often leads to their downfall. (Hubris is often the tragic flaw in many ancient Greek heroes.)

The Cyclops Reading

We took turns as a class reading each paragraph. We got halfway through page 8, but we did not get to the discussion. Below are the questions and my answers to them.

1. Based on your understanding of foreshadowing, review lines 153-156. How is foreshadowing used, and what exactly is being foreshadowed?

Odysseus feels in his bones that something bad will happen upon meeting the cyclops, a “towering brute… all outward power, a wild man, ignorant of civility.” Foreshadowing is used effectively here because it is not a flashback nor is it directly telling us what will happen in the future. All it is doing is setting the mood, a tense unease, to put the reader on edge.

2. What heroic qualities does Odysseus display thus far? (Heroic Qualities: Intelligence/Resourcefulness, Strength, Bravery and loyalty, Weakness)

Odysseus displays his clever tact and his leadership. However, Odysseus can also be seen as a reckless fool who put his men in danger, getting some of them killed on his selfish endeavors. His men warned him, urgently asking him to take what they needed and leave. However, Odysseus’s curiosity got the better of him, which is what led to the brutal murder of some of his men and a curse upon his remaining comrades.

3. What does the fact that he doesn’t want to attack the Cyclops reveal about his character?

The fact that Odysseus does not want to attack the Cyclops further shows his battle prowess as well as his intense wit. He mourns the loss of his soldiers, yet cleverly devises a plan to escape. He know that the rock blocking off the entrance was too heavy to move, and taking on Polyphemus head-on would be a losing battle, so he opted to blind him and escape tied to the bottom of his livestock.

4. Refer to line 232-243. How does Homer use figurative language to create imagery? (identify examples and explain their effect)

Homer compares the men to puppies to now only show the sheer difference in their size and power compared to Polyphemus, but to appeal to our morals. The image of innocent and helpless puppies being murdered brutally makes the scenario all the more disturbing. The cyclops is also compared to a mountain lion to accentuate his animalistic violence. Homer uses gruesome depictions of “innards, flesh, marrow bones” and so on to paint Polyphemus as a truly cold-blooded, ravenous being,

5. How should we judge the heroic qualities of Odysseus based on his actions with the cyclops?

We can tell that his abilities as a warrior are not to be underestimated. Despite his poor decision-making in the beginning of the ordeal, he quickly develops a counterattack, which he uses to save his men and avenge those who were lost.

6. Contrast Polyphemus’ values and the values of Odysseus (hospitality [xenia], respect for the gods, protections for his men).

Polyphemus has no respect for the gods, completely disregards hospitality whatsoever, and has no men to protect. Polyphemus says that he could entertain them or mistreat them just as easily, because he was not a Zeus-fearing being. He also does not have any men to protect, since he lives alone in his cave. Odysseus, however, deeply respects the gods, assumes that everyone will show him hospitality, and seems to be very protective over his men. He has the blessings of many gods, and he also talks about hospitality towards guests when talking to the cyclops. Despite sending a number of them to their demise, he seems to care for his men a lot, and mourns their death afterwards. Their values are polar opposites of each other,

7. Can you identify any qualities/characteristics that both Odysseus and Polyphemus share?

Odysseus and Polyphemus are both incredibly egotistical. Odysseus believed himself to be blessed by the gods and all-powerful, after emerging a hero in his previous battles. Polyphemus fears no god, on the other hand, and believes he can do whatever he wants. He claims that whether the men live or not depends on his whim. Hubris is the downfall of many in ancient Greek stories, which is why both parties lost in the end.

8. If Odysseus represents civilization, and Polyphemus represents nature, what do you think Homer is saying about the relation of man to nature?

Homer is saying that man and nature are opposites. Nature is savage and unforgiving. It cares not what costumes you have nor the people who support you; it is as ruthless as ever. Mankind, on the other hand, is too inquisitive for their own good. They seem weak and pale in comparison to the raw strength of nature. Yet, man overcomes it using tact and wit.

9. Can you see potential dangers (that are becoming increasingly evident, especially in the modern era) in this position taken by Homer?

The potential dangers of this position taken by Homer conflicts with the idea of being one with nature. In recent times, now more than ever, a huge disconnect between nature and humanity is more noticeable than ever. This stance on nature opposing mankind can be harmful to the world, especially in a world where we are so distant from the rest of the Earth.

As previously discussed, the story is told through flashback (Odysseus is revealing the past events of his journey), therefore, how has Polyphemus’ curse impacted the course of Odysseus’ future?

Polyphemus prayed to his father, Poseidon, to prevent Odysseus from returning home. If fate would destine him to return, the curse would ensure that it would be years until he would be able to come home, and the years in between would be dark and difficult. His comrades would fall and he would return to “bitter days at home.”

* “The Cyclоps”- Odysseus to the right, Polyphemus to the left

Reflection

I had previously read an excerpt of “The Cyclops,” more specifically the Nohbody section. I was completely into the story the entire time. It is important to read classics like this not only to help expand on our knowledge of literature, but also to help us appreciate good writing and recognize the techniques used. By understanding good literature and what makes them good, we can translate that into our own pieces. This is also a fun and interesting way to expand on our arsenal of literary devices. I learned about hubris, tragic flaw, homeric simile, and elaborated on my previous knowledge of foreshadowing while also exposing me to classics that I have been interested in for a long time. Exploring work from different time periods can also help us understand the change of culture, customs, and values throughout history. This can be especially helpful when digesting stories with unfamiliar elements. For example, xenia and hubris are important factors that come to play. Their culture revered the gods and their actions may seem foreign to us. An understanding of the variation in social norms in different places and time periods can help in understanding and diversifying the wide scope of literature, of which we have barely scratched the surface.

Miscellaneous Helpful Sources