Odyssey 16-20

Homer continues exploring how the extension of, and reaction to,xenia, or hospitality, reflects various characters’ concerns. Nestor’s insistence that Telemachus stay and feast with him in Pylos before returning to Ithaca confirms that he is an honorable man. Telemachus’s eagerness to avoid this social commitment may seem a breach of social appropriateness. His evasion is justified by his prioritizing of practical considerations the need to return home quicklyover decorum and other formal considerations. Besides, Telemachus’s warm reception of Theoclymenus, in addition to the genuine urgency of the moment, takes some of the edge off of his apparent inconsiderateness.

Homer uses minor characters of low rank to great effect in Books 17and 18. These charcters seem to function as foils—characters whose traits or attitudes contrast with and thereby accentuate those of other characters. Melanthius’s disrespectful treatment of Odysseus stands in stark contrast to Eumaeus’s unflinching loyalty to his master. Similarly, in contrast to the devoted Eurycleia, Melantho proves the embodiment of ingratitude toward Penelope: though Penelope raised her like her own child, Melantho shows no concern for Penelope’s grief. Additionally, Irus’s mingled bravado and cowardice provide a good foil for Odysseus’s prudence and courage. Homer also uses Irus to foreshadow the ultimate downfall of the suitors. Disguised as a beggar, Odysseus cuts down an impudent beggar, leaving little doubt as to what he will do to the impudent nobles when he reassumes his noble form.

Even though Amphinomus shows some kindness toward the seeming beggar, Odysseus pities him. Nothing can save him from the punishment that Athena has planned for him. In fact, Athena doesn’t even take his kindness into consideration. Homer explains that “even then Athena had bound him fast to death / at the hands of Prince Telemachus and his spear” (18.178–179). Athena condemns Amphinomus to the same fate as the most worthless suitors of the bunch.In Book 17 Homer gives us the most critical depiction yet of Antinous, who disgusts even the other suitors with his abuse of the disguised Odysseus. Whereas other suitors at least give the beggar food, Antinous displays nothing but contempt for the man’s apparent low breeding and physically assails him. Penelope thus labels Antinous “the worst of all . . . black death itself” (17.554). Homer portrays Antinous as a dishonorable noble. 

The explanation for the contempt in which the others hold Antinous for mistreating Odysseus lies in the feudal structure of Homeric society, which was bound together by reciprocal obligations and responsibilities among people of different social classes. While it would be a mistake to think that the Greeks considered mistreatment of the poor an automatic sign of evil or moral deficiency, we definitely get the sense that Antinous is abusing his rank when he beats the seemingly helpless beggar. Antinous is guilty not of evil but of arrogance.The insults hurled at him accuse him not of straying from some moral code but of straying from the expectations of his noble birth.

Odyssey 6-10

book 9 is told in a flashback.as Odysseus sits in the palace of the Phaeacians telling the story of his wandering journeys.Providing some of the richest and most celebrated examples of his cunning, they speak much to the resourcefulness of the poet, who uses Odysseus’s voice to render a more complete picture of his hero’s journey, as to that of the hero himself. The apprehension that Odysseus feels as he heads toward the cave, which seems to prompt him to take the wine along, foreshadows his upcoming encounter with Polyphemus and the need for trickery to prevail. The significance of Odysseus’s blinding of the cyclopes becomes clear when Polyphemus lets his sheep out to graze the next morning; similarly, Odysseus’s lie about his name seems silly at first but adds a clever and humorous twist to the necessity of keeping the other Cyclopes from rescuing Polyphemus. Odysseus’s eventual revelation of his identity to Polyphemus ultimately proves foolish, and, because it embodies a lack of foresight, stands in stark contrast to the cunning prudence that Odysseus displays in his plan to escape from the cave. Though his anger at Polyphemus for devouring his shipmates is certainly understandable. By telling Polyphemus his name, Odysseus pits his mortal indignation against Poseidon’s divine vengeance. This act of hubris, or excessive pride, ensures almost automatically that Odysseus will suffer grave consequences. Indeed, his eventual punishment costs him greatly.He wanted to make sure that people know that he was the one who blinded Polyphemus, instructing Polyphemus to make others aware of what he has done. Odysseus believes that the height of glory is by spreading his name through great deeds.


The human tendency to give in to temptation is a main theme throughout Book 10. By boasting about his defeat of the Cyclops, the members of his crew prove unable to resist looking into Aeolus’s bag, which they were not supposed to do. Their greed ends up complicating their voyage. for example Odysseus lets a year waste away in the arms of the goddess Circe. While his crew certainly seems not to mind, even though his wife is waiting for him. Only when his crew “prods” him and calls him on his delays is Odysseus persuaded to leave Circe’s realm. Eurylochus issues an especially harsh reproach of Odysseus for mistakenly leading his crew to its destruction. He describes the death of their comrades at the hands of the cyclopes as evidence of Odysseus’s mistakes: “thanks to [Odysseus’s] rashness they died too!” (10.482). Though Odysseus checks his anger and calms down, his own crew questioning him shows the holes in his authority.

odyssey day 1

This story begins in middle of everything instead of starting at the beginning. i think that starting this story in the middle of Odysseus's journey automatically engages the interest of the audience. it also provides room for many flashbacks throughout the story. In book 5-6 this is out first encounter with Odysseus. the book shows him as very cunning and thoughtful. he weighs every decision he makes. He weighs whether to rest by the river or in the shelter of the woods along with other things as well. these kinds of instances show demonstrate his balanced warrior mentality.In each case, he makes a decision and converts thought into action with speed and poise. In his encounter with Nausicaa he demonstrates his skill in interacting with people and charisma, his subdued approach comes off as “endearing, sly and suave”. it seems that the Odyssey focuses the them on the unseen universe of the human heart, with feelings of loneliness, confusion, and despair. in addition to these idea the author also presents Odysseus in a very unheroic way, he sulking on a beach, longing to be home. 

genesis day 4

In chapter 32 and 33 you get a sense of a sibling rivalry. I find it strange that Jacob fears his own brother Essau. he fears that Essau will attack his camps he seperated them into different camps so that way if Essau attack one of them he still has another one left. jacob then wrestles with God which dislocated his hip so now the people of israel can eat the sinew of the hip. who comes up with this stuff I don't really understand some of this stuff. When Essau finally arrived he ended up helping Jacob instead of hurting him. i think this goes to show you that your family will always be there to help you in your time of need. Jacob had nothing to fear and in the end helped everyone make it to Succoth with the help of Essau.

genesis ... 12 16-18 21-23

In most of these stories the men have more then one wife. Abraham did not have any children with his wife so he tries to bear children with the wife's mistress. Abraham's wife is fine with this and lets him do it, but then holds contempt for her and punishes her which forces her to leave. I find it interesting that the bible is talking about adultery which is usually considered a sin. In addition to this god commands that all of Abraham's children should be circumcised, I never knew that this was some that "God commanded". i think that it is strange. I also find it concerning that God is giving the ability to an older women to bear a child well into her 90's. She even laughs at this notion because of her age she does not think she is able to bear a child either. She then gives birth to Issac, which is not even medically possible because women go into menopause well into their 50's.

Abraham's wife is also not a nice women. She is telling her servant that she needs to leave with her son  because the son of this women can not be heir with her son Issac. She seems to be very jealous and vengeful. then after this god decides to test Abraham and tell him to kill him and use him as a burnt offering. God is testing Abraham's loyalty to him. An Angel comes down from the heavens and tells Abraham not to murder his son because he now knows that Abraham fears God. I think that it is crazy that God is testing Abraham to see if he fears him. Makes me think that God seems a little crazy.

Genesis day 2

In the Story of Cain and Abel. God and Cain have a very interesting conversation after cain has killed his brother. God asks Cain where his brother is. in response Cain says "am I my brothers keeper". I think that this is linked back to the farming thing. Abel was the keeper of all the sheep. So  in response he says that out of anger and jealousy. after this god says "Your brother's blood cries out to me from the soil". This another reference to his farming. Since Cain is a farmer that is what the reference is to. also i think this is referring to how after you die you are buried in the ground. and god can hear him from the grave crying out due to his untimely passing. 

I also thought this was a typical story of jealousy and sibling rivalry. They were both competing for God's affection. After both Cain and Abel give their different offerings god states that he likes Abel better. This makes Cain enraged and jealous which causes him to kill his own flesh and blood. He then lies to God and tells him that he has no idea where his brother is. I think this shows that he is shameful because of what he did to his brother. 

The story of Noah's ark differs from the first few chapters of Genesis. We see the deity who created, but in this chapter the deity is destroying what he had originally created.