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Post by Mr. Thomas on Oct 7, 2013 8:52:38 GMT -5
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Post by chrisnoble on Oct 7, 2013 16:52:55 GMT -5
B. The significance of Hermes giving Odysseus the information on how to act when he sees Circe is one of the most important parts of the book. If Hermes didn’t tell Odysseus what to do, then there would be no ending to the book and everything would stop there. “The moment Circe strikes with her long thin wand, you draw your sharp sword sheathed at your hip and rush her fast as if to run her through” (page 239 lines 325-327). If Odysseus didn’t know how to defend himself against Circe, then he would have also been turned into a pig just like his men.
E. When Circe says, “I’m wonderstruck- you drank my drugs, you’re not bewitched! Never has any other man withstood my potion, never, once it’s past his lips and he has drunk it down” (page 240 lines 362-364), I was curious how many people have been bewitched by her. There isn’t any clue that answers that, but if I was Odysseus, I would be a little afraid and nervous even though he had the magic herb.
G. If I was one of Odysseus’s men when Circe anointed them with the magic oil and the men turned back to humans, I would feel very happy. I don’t even know a word to describe how upset and angry I would be if I was turned into a pig, but if I was turned back to a human after being a pig, then I would feel extremely happy and relieved.
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Post by nicholasleong on Oct 7, 2013 17:34:59 GMT -5
Nicholas Leong
Mr. Thomas
Sophomore English
10/7/13
Discussion board
F. I feel like the relationship between Odysseus and his crew is getting better. His crew is starting to like him because Odysseus saved them from staying as grown pigs for the rest of eternity. I get this feeling by when the books says : “And yes, they knew me at once and each men grasped my hands and a painful longing for tears overcame us all, a terrible sobbing echoed through the house.” In my head I imagined them turn from pigs into adults and their eyes just wide open and a look of relief on their faces when they see Odysseus and they realized that he got them turned back to normal humans. Especially at the point where they say each of his crew members grasped Odysseus’ hand one by one just to show their appreciation to him.
I. I agree with Chris noble where he says : The significance of Hermes giving Odysseus the information on how to act when he sees Circe is one of the most important parts of the book. If Hermes didn’t tell Odysseus what to do, then there would be no ending to the book and everything would stop there.” However, I am a bit confused how Hermes would know that Odysseus was going to land on that Island.
A. When Circe realizes that Odysseus was who Hermes was talking about and went to her knees and hugged Odysseus’s legs I thought of a little kid who was really sacred of something and went to hug their parents legs.
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Post by phillipgay on Oct 7, 2013 18:28:58 GMT -5
C. I don’t know why Hermes has so many names? Like “Hermes god of the golden wand”. Also, what was Hermes looking for when it says “Like a young man sporting his first beard, just in the prime and warm pride of youth”? Also, in the quote “its power alone will shield you from the fatal day.” What is the power of the drug? What is the fatal day that they talk about?
E. In the quote “the moment Circe strikes with her long thin wand, you draw your sharp sword sheathed at your hip and rush her fast as if to run her through! Shell cower in fear and coax you to her bed- but don’t refuse the goddesses bed, not then, not if she’s to release your friends and treat you well yourself. But have her swear the binding oath of the blessed gods shell never plot some new intrigue to harm you, once you lie there naked-”, I think that it is kind of weird how he has to do this even if he doesn’t want to. He is forced to have sex with this goddess if she wants to and he can’t do anything about it if he doesn’t want to. Also, what Hermes said would happen is exactly what did happen. How did he know that this was going to be the turn out of the situation? I think that it is kind of ironic how he knows.
I. See now I think that your opinion is very thought out Nick, but I disagree with Chris. I think that if Hermes would have never told Odysseus how to act with Circe, then the book would be even more interesting and have an even more interesting ending than it has now. Not to criticize your opinion, but I just think that it would be a better story if Hermes never came down to tell Odysseus what to do.
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Post by kyleconnolly on Oct 7, 2013 18:46:47 GMT -5
C) One thing that I was confused about, was Odysseus' trust of the God Hermes. Odysseus and Hermes have nothing against each other, but after being kicked out of Aeolus palace because he was apparently hated by the Gods. After "Well, I warn you, you won't get home yourself, you'll stay right there, trapped with all the rest. But wait, I can save you, free you from that great danger. Look, here is a potent drug. Take it to Circe's halls, it's power alone will shield you from the fatal day." (Book 10 Lines 315-320) I understand that it would be random for Hermes to come out of nowhere and help Circe poison Odysseus, but how can Odysseus believe Hermes after what Aeolus told him?
E) One thing that I noticed was right after Odysseus had shown Circe that he was Odysseus, the one Hermes always said would come to her palace, that Circe wanted to engage in sexual intercourse right after trying to turn Odysseus into a pig. "Come, sheath your sword, let's go to bed together, mount my bed and mix in the magic work of love, we'll breed deep trust between us." (Book 10 Lines 370-372) I found it very funny especially after she had given Odysseus a potion, and predicted it would turn him into swine.
F) One thing I noticed about the relationship between Odysseus and his men, is that he shows great care for them. Despite basically ruining their chances of returning home by opening the sack of winds, Odysseus pursues his men after hearing they had been turn into pigs by Circe. "You will never return yourself, I swear, you'll never bring back a single man alive. Quick, cut and run with the rest of us here, we can still escape the fatal day!" (Book 10 Lines 295-298) Despite the warning and threat of death, Odysseus carries on to go save his men.
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Post by eddieditolla on Oct 7, 2013 18:46:52 GMT -5
Eddie DiTolla
Mr. Thomas
English 10
The Odyssey Book 10 lines 302 – 631
C. I have a question about a person in Book 10 who is this gut Elpenor? All it says is “There was a man, Elpenor, the youngest in our ranks, none too brave in battle, none too sound in mind. He’d strayed from his mates in Circe’s magic hall and keen for the cool night air.” (Pg. 247 lines 608 – 611.) Is this some guy they brought up about and who escaped Circe’s magic hall? It seems like that he goes right into a story about him but, is there a background this person?
D. The lines that I like in Book 10 were when Odysseus is telling Circes to say the oath then it goes right to what the handmaids do. “One draped the chairs with fine crimson covers over the seats she’d spread with linen cloths below. A second drew up silver tables before the chairs and laid out golden trays to hold the bread. A third mulled heady, heart-warming wine in a silver bowl and set out golden cups. A fourth brought water and lit a blazing fire beneath a massive cauldron.” ( Pg. 241 lines 390 – 397) I like these lines because it shows what the hand maids do for Circes and it also tells in the later lines that the maids will wash Odysseus which I find a little weird to do and how they put him this cauldron. I wonder how big this cauldron is?
I. I agree with Phil Gay because I too believe to find that weird that Odysseus has to I think that it is kind of weird how he has to do this even if he doesn’t want to. He is forced to have sex with this goddess if she wants to and he can’t do anything about it if he doesn’t want to. Another reason I agree with Phil and not Chris because I too think that it would be better for Hermes not tell Odysseus what to do.
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ryan
New Member
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Post by ryan on Oct 7, 2013 18:51:16 GMT -5
D or E. I really enjoyed lines 361-362 said by Circe. They read the following: “Who are you? Where are you from? Your city? Your parents? I’m wonderstruck— you drank my drugs, you’re not bewitched!” The reason I enjoyed reading these lines was because, earlier in class today we talked about how, since this book 10 is from Odysseus’ mind, he seems to over exaggerate his stories a lot to make it seem like he is incredibly amazing at everything… which he is doing here. I say he is doing this now because I doubt that a goddess would actually weep and beg for mercy on her knees for Odysseus not to hurt her.
H. If I were making the set for when Odysseus was walking down the hall with Circe I would make the place hauntingly majestic. I say this because I imagine right now Odysseus is terrified because Circe’s palace looks so beautiful and perfectly normal even though it is obvious that something is seriously wrong because many of my comrades are gone. The hallway would have marble floors with a red carpet that seems to go on forever, as if it is part of Circe’s plan to make you feel fatigued upon reaching your destination. There would be crystal chandeliers and red currents on the side of the hallway, but secretly behind these curtains would be pig pens with Odysseus’, now transformed into pigs, comrades squeal.
A. Circe’s trap palace kind of reminds of all of the tourist traps in New York City. Like Circe’s beautiful voice and kind demeanor the colorful flashes and billboards of tourist traps draw you in to pay big money for things that you can get for much cheaper somewhere else.
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Post by kevinmcmahon on Oct 7, 2013 19:11:32 GMT -5
D) The one character that I had really enjoyed when reading “The Odyssey” chapter 10 lines 302 – 631was Odysseus. The reason I liked Odysseus because of the way he cares for his soldiers and try to save them from the clutches of Circe. As it says in the book “You turned my men to swine in your own house and now you hold me here as well – teeming with treachery you lure me to your room to mount your bed, so once I lie there naked you’ll unman me, strip me of my courage! Mount your bed? Not for all the world. Not until you consent to swear, goddess, a binding oath you’ll never plot some new intrigue to harm me”. This shows how his men and his own wellbeing influence his decision of lying with Circe.
) One line that I like in the book was when Circe was telling him to go to the house of death. Here she says “You must travel down travel down to the House of Death and the awesome one, Persephone, there to consult the ghost of Tiresias, seer of Thebes, the great blind prophet whose mind remains unshaken”. The reason I like this is because it talks about the God of Death the one God that interests me the most out of all the other Gods. It also allows me to learn about the great blind prophet Thebes and what makes him so great.
I) One thing that I do not understand is why Thebes and the house of Death has to do with Odysseus trying to get back home. It says after Circes explains what he has to do “I’d no desire to go on living and see rising light of day”. This doesn’t explain why he has to go to the House of Death.
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Post by alfredfrederic on Oct 7, 2013 19:25:33 GMT -5
C) Why was Hermes there to begin with, and why was he helping Odysseus? What did he mean by, “Never unman you, strip away your courage!” ? (Line 334 Book10) Why couldn’t Odysseus leave the island? Why was some of this crew so scared? Didn’t they just see war and an island is what scares him? Is it just fear of what happened to them happening again because of Odysseus? And why does Circe climb onto the boat? Is it to stop them or what? Why does Odysseus say the phrase, “You think we are headed home, our own dear land? Well Circe sets us a rather different course… down to the house of death.”? (Lines619-621 Book 10)
E) I’m surprised that what Hermes said would happen happened, he told Odysseus what to do and actually helped him out, and this seems to be out of his way to do this. He really doesn’t seem that he cared but he doesn’t seem to be fond of Odysseus being killed or turned into a pig either. SO why did Hermes do it anyway? Does it seem that he was sent to do this again? Or just he was there and decided to do something?
G) If I were any of the crewmembers, I wouldn’t be sure what to do. We just went through so many problems and because of Odysseus we were going through more. Why would I have any trust in him?
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Post by robertmaruca on Oct 7, 2013 20:39:49 GMT -5
The Odyssey Book 10, Lines 301-630
C. Circe, why are making sure Odysseus and his crew go down to the House of Death before they can restart they’re journey back to Ithaca. I hope you don’t trick them and get them into more trouble because you did recite the oath. Should you break the oath the gods on Mount Olympus could punish you. I just want to make sure that you are doing this for a good a reason, maybe you know something good can come out of this adventure. Please don’t get into more danger than he has to, he’s been through a lot lately.
E. Odysseus really showed his true leadership potential at the end of this reading. Even though he has shown that he has some pretty bad character traits, in this passage he really let everybody know that he is really leader who cares about his shipmates. Odysseus made an effort to try and save his mates and he was rewarded by getting a very important gift from Hermes. This act of courage from Odysseus just really emphasizes how far one act of courage can get you. Odysseus manages to get all his men back and even rallies them to stay on board for an adventure that was by no means planed.
F. Odysseus’ relationship with his shipmates his proving to be a very strong one and it is shown in this book. I am especially talking about the part when Circe tells Odysseus that he needs to make one pit-stop before continuing on to Ithaca. The crewmates show their displeasure with the demand from Circe, but Odysseus manages to keep them all together and rallies them ahead of a daunting trip to the House of Death. Odysseus’ strong leadership skills are highlighted in this book.
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Post by gonzaleza16 on Oct 7, 2013 20:54:37 GMT -5
Anthony Gonzalez
Book 10 302-631
F. One thing that I want to point out is that even through everything that happened Odysseus still leads his crew and fight to his last breath for them. You can tell he is a good leader because when he hears that they have been turned to pigs he goes back for them and not just leave them there. That is one example of Odysseus being a good leader and not a bad one.
C. One thing I was confuse about was why did Odysseus have to travel to the House of Death and why couldn’t he just go home. Why didn’t the Circe just grant him the path and way to go home? He had done everything she asked and she is still asking for favors. I think that she gets what she wants at the end.
I. I agree if aired about why the crewmembers would trust him still. They have been through so much and they were promised that they would go home and now they cant go home and have to go on a mission.
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Post by victorpasquin on Oct 7, 2013 21:32:01 GMT -5
C) Throughout the reading I was confused as to who Elpenor is and why is he introduced to begin with. It says, "There was a man, Elpenor, the youngest in our ranks, none too brave in battle, none too sound in mind. He’d strayed from his mates in Circe’s magic hall and keen for the cool night air.”(Book 10 Lines 608-611) It just seems to make no sense as to why he is suddenly introduced and briefly described. After this, Elphenor is not mentioned, he is introduced in a matter of three lines and then completely forgotten about.
E) One event that I noticed and that amused me was when Circe wanted to sleep with Odysseus right after she had said she was going to turn him into a pig. Circe says, "Come, sheath your sword, let's go to bed together, mount my bed and mix in the magic work of love, we'll breed deep trust between us." (Book 10 Lines 370-372) It was really surprisingly funny to me that a after wanting to turn Odysseus into a pig, she wants to have sex with him.
F) One thing that stood out to me was the relationship between Odysseus and his men. Despite basically ruining their lives, not only in this occurrence but when Odysseus prevents them from leaving the island of the Cyclops. In Book 10, Odysseus opens the sack of winds to leave his men, he shows that he cares for them because he goes back for them after he hears that Circe has turned them into pigs. "You will never return yourself, I swear, you'll never bring back a single man alive. Quick, cut and run with the rest of us here, we can still escape the fatal day!" (Book 10 Lines 295-298) Even thought, Odysseus receives this warning, he still tries to go back and save his men from Circe.
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Post by VonGarcia on Oct 7, 2013 22:10:04 GMT -5
E.) I was extremely surprised to see Hermes. He was the god who clearly said the he didn’t want to be involved with anything to do with Odysseus. I was also very surprised with the instruction Hermes gives him. “But don’t refuse the goddess’ bed, not then, not if she’s to release your friends and treat you well yourself.” He basically instructs him to sleep with her. But, the planned happened to work out flawlessly. I’m also surprised that he has to go meet someone from the underworld in order to reach his home. C.) How was sleeping with Circe the solution to their situation? Was Odysseus really that attractive that if he sleeps with her she would suddenly be nice and offer them gifts? I’m also wondering on who this person who they are going to meet with in the underworld is. What was this person capable of and why did they have to go to her for instructions? I.) robertmaruca: I totally agree that it’s kind of weird that she sends them to the underworld. I think she didn’t give out that much detail, which leaves me with the feeling that she is tricking them to go into a trap or something. |
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Post by Luissantana1 on Oct 8, 2013 11:28:22 GMT -5
E) I like the fact that hermes is coming into play now in the book. The reason being is because we have heard great things about him. But also that now he is being shown more and he could be a big factor now. Also that he was being good and helped out with Odysseus as he was on the island.
F) I feel like now there may be a good relationship between Hermes the giant slayer and Odysseus. I believe so because this is the second time he is mentioned with Odysseus. The first time was when he went to the island and told the message of Zeus to let him go. Another thing is that he is helping Odysseus once again and could have saved him from life or death. This could be a long lasting relationship between these two because it seems as if they have been good to each other as of now.
G) I am thankful for having this drug it has helped me a lot. I wasn't able to turn into swine as my other shipmates have. I am so sorry that this has happened to them. But I Odysseus has saved them and overpowered circles and made them human again. But I must be circes lover for this to all work out.
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Post by Aria Jenkins on Mar 1, 2024 19:43:34 GMT -5
9th grade literature
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