Category Archives: Greek Epics

Memories are triggered by the scar on Odysseus’s leg in Book 19 of The Odyssey. Discussion Prompts Do you think Penelope knows who she’s talking to? Why or why not? How long do you think the shroud has been finished? Why? What do you think of the interaction between Eurykleia and Odysseus? AP Credit: TheContinue reading “Greek Epics XLIV: Odyssey Book 19, or Scar Face, I Mean, Leg”

Odysseus almost drops his disguise in Book 18 of The Odyssey. Discussion Prompts AP Credit: Liminality. Discuss. Athena does a lot in this book. What does that tell us about free will? What does it say about the suitors that they still have homes to go back to each night? What do you think ofContinue reading “Greek Epics XLIII: Odyssey Book 18, or WWE Presents The Odyssey”

Odysseus finally reaches the palace in Book 17 of The Odyssey. Discussion Prompts Who is your favorite suitor? Why? Penelope is compared to both Artemis and Aphrodite. Which is it? Why? How is Argos still alive? WTF is wrong with the suitors? Why is Eumaios addressed in the second person throughout this book? Who isContinue reading “Greek Epics XLII: Odyssey Book 17, or Odysseus Finally Goes Home”

The Telemakhy and the Odyssey finally meet up in Book 15 of The Odyssey. Discussion Prompts: AP Credit: Compare/contrast the two slave stories that come out in Eumaeus’s history. How much agency do you think the young female slave has when she plots with the Phoenicians to kidnap Eumaeus and liberate herself? Why do youContinue reading “Greek Epics XL: Odyssey Book 15, or Remember Telemakhos?”

Odysseus visits his old swineherd in Book 14 of The Odyssey. Discussion Prompts How much of the story that Odysseus tells Eumaeus is true? Why? How does the story Odysseus tells Eumaeus color what you think about the story that he told the Phaiakians? Why? What do you think of Odysseus now? Why? Why doContinue reading “Greek Epics XXXIX: Odyssey Book 14, or This Little Piggy Went Close to Home”

Odysseus is finally home! Sort of. We’re only half-way through. There’s a lot that still needs to be resolved. Discussion Prompts AP Credit: Liminality and sleep. Discuss. There’s a lot that happens when Odysseus is asleep (the bag of winds, the cattle of the Sun, the Phaiakians drop him off at Ithaka). Why do youContinue reading “Greek Epics XXXVIII: Odyssey Book 13, or Home Again, Home Again, Sailing Is Done”

How many people have to tell you not to eat the Cattle of the Sun? We’ll find out in Book 12 of The Odyssey. Discussion Prompts What would you do if you were Eurylokhos and the rest of Odysseus’s men? Starve? Or eat Helios’s cattle? Do you trust Odysseus? Why or why not? Why isContinue reading “Greek Epics XXXVII: Odyssey Book 12, or Tiresias Warned You”

Odysseus talks to a lot of ghosts, no busting required. Also, I used to have this comic strip pinned to my bulletin board back when I had a real office with a bulletin board. It still makes me giggle. ‘Cause I’m that kind of nerd. Discussion Prompts AP Credit: Liminality. And… go! How do youContinue reading “Greek Epics XXXVI: Odyssey Book 11, or Who Ya Gonna Call?”

Odysseus and his men visit a few more islands. Not every island results in someone’s death, but for the most part, it’s not going very well. Discussion Prompts Odysseus doesn’t trust his men with the bag of winds. Is he justified in this lack of trust? Why or why not? If you were Aiolos, wouldContinue reading “Greek Epics XXXV: Odyssey Book 10, or Men are Pigs”

In Book 8, Alkinoös asks Odysseus to tell his tale, and in Book 9, that tale finally starts. This is probably what you were thinking The Odyssey would be about. Discussion Prompts AP Credit: The mistake Odysseus’s men make with the Kikonês is not the original plunder; it is that they are too greedy. WhatContinue reading “Greek Epics XXXIV: Odyssey Book 9, or Vizzini Told Me to Go Back to the Beginning”