LITERATURE CIRCLES

Literary Luminary
Name: Jerome Lim
Text: The Odyssey
Date: 16 August 2010
Books: Books ix to xii

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 books 9 to 12, Odysseus basically goes on the long journey in search for answers –
answers that will eventually lead him back home. He could have gone straight to his
home using his own instincts, but he went around many circles and even down to the
house of Hades in search for solutions to his problem of going back home. The
Universal Truth we can derive from here is the fact that whenever we have intriguing
questions in life or about life, we shouldn’t just trust on ourselves to finding the
answer to these questions. We should always seek the help of other more experienced
and wiser people who are there to guide us in life. The journey in search of answers is
a long and tricky one, and we must always be cautious. When things go well, we will
see that our life long journey will pay off in the end.
 GOLDEN LINES
So it is that nothing is more
sweet in the end than country
and parents ever, even when far
away one lives in a fertile place,
when it is an alien country far
from his parents
These people have no
institutions, no meetings for
counsels; rather they make their
habitations in caverns hallowed
among the peaks of the high
mountains, and each one is the
law for his own wives and
children, and cares nothing about
the others. (Cyclopes)
We are your suppliants, and
Zeus, the guest god, who stands
behind all strangers with honours
due them, avenges any wrong
toward strangers and suppliants.
“The Cyclopes do not concern
themselves over Zeus of the
aegis. Not any of the rest of the
blessed gods, since we are far
better than they.”
Grant that Odysseus, sacker of
cities, son of Laertes, who makes
his home in Ithaka, may never
reach that home; but if it is
decided that he shall see his own
people, and come home to his
strong-founded house and to his
own country, let him come late,
in bad case, with the loss of all
his companions, in someone
else's ship, and find troubles in
Book Significance and Analysis
9 It is true for Odysseus,
LITERATURE CIRCLES and perhaps most of us,
that a home, where our
loved ones and relatives
live, is far greater than a
house that is abundant
in everything.
9 Odysseus talks about
the Cyclopes and
describes them by
saying they are
uncivilized and
inhumane. He also
implies the greatness of
human civilization
because of its
advancements and
kindness.
9 According to Greek
custom, Zeus stands
before all strangers and
that is why people
should treat them as
guests.
9 The Cyclopes have a
grudge and hatred for
the god Zeus and do not
follow the same custom
of hospitality as the
Greeks do.
9 This may be the very
reason why Poseidon,
the Earthshaker, has
had a hatred for
Odysseus throughout his
journey. It is because
Poseidon’s son,
Polyphemos, was
blinded by Odysseus and
has called his father to
avenge him.
 LITERATURE CIRCLES
his household.
So he spoke, and the evil counsel
of my companions prevailed, and
they opened the bag and the
winds all burst out. Suddenly the
storm caught them away and
swept them over the water
weeping, away from their own
country.
Shining Odysseus, it was my
longing for you, your cleverness
and your gentle ways, that took
the sweet spirit of life from me.”
-mom
So by this, do not be too easy
even with your wife, nor give her
an entire account of all you are
sure of. Tell her part of it, but let
the rest be hidden in silence.
“Unhappy men, who went alive
to the house of Hades, so dying
twice, when all the rest of
mankind die only once,
10 In this part of the story,
we see how Karma and
the term “curiosity killed
the cat” take a roles in
their journey. The evil
intentions of the
companions of Odysseus
gave them the curiosity
to look into the bag,
which eventually led to
their downfall.
11 This line is quite
intriguing because of all
the causes of death
Odysseus’s mother could
have encountered, it
was something that was
not at all harmful. But
perhaps there is a
deeper meaning to this.
11 This line is not telling
Odysseus to trust no
one, not even his own
wife. It is telling him to
be extra cautious when
dealing with secrets or
anything that may be an
asset to him.
12 The Greeks may believe
that death happens
when a person visits
Hades’ realm and not
exactly the separation of
body and soul as what
we perceive death now.
However, since it is

“Unhappy men, who went alive
to the house of Hades, so dying
twice, when all the rest of
mankind die only once,
“All deaths are detestable for
wretched mortals, but hunger is
the sorriest way to die and
encounter fate.”
From there I was carried along
nine days, and on the tenth night
Odysseus escapes to Kalypso's
island the gods brought me to
the island Ogygia, home of
Kalypso with the lovely hair, a
dreaded goddess who talks with
mortals. She befriended me and
took care of me. Why tell the rest
of this story again, since
yesterday in your house I told it
to you and your majestic wife? It
is hateful to me to tell a story
over again, when it has been well
told.’
LITERATURE CIRCLES
12 The Greeks may believe
that death happens
when a person visits
Hades’ realm and not
exactly the separation of
body and soul as what
we perceive death now.
However, since it is
almost impossible to
visit the house of Hades
with both body and soul,
it may have a very
similar meaning to our
defintion of death.
12 When Eurylochos, one of
the companions of
Odysseus, said this, he
believed that it would be
okay to die of any cause
of death except to die of
hunger.
12 Here, we see the
connection of the earlier
parts of the book to
Odysseus’ starting
journey. We saw how all
the stories that
Odysseus told
eventually led to the
scene where we first
encountered him on the
island of Ogygia.
 LITERATURE CIRCLES

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funny controversial important surprising

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