Odyssey, Book 13

Eddie DiTolla
Mr. Thomas
English 10
19 October 2013
The Odyssey Book 13
D. Some lines that I like I book 13 were “Up from the benches, swinging down to land, first they lifted Odysseus off his decks – linen and lustrous carpet too – and laid him down on the sand asleep, still dead to the world, then hoisted out the treasures proud Phaeacians, irged by open-hearted Pallas, had lavished on him, setting out for home.” (Book 13 lines 131 – 137) I enjoyed these lines because I like the little details and the motion by motion plays of what the sailors did like up from the benches, swinging down to land, first they lifted Odysseus off the decks. Another thing I like is in line 134 when it says “Still dead to the world.” I like this line because it is kind of Odysseus rebirth to the world or he is going to have a rebirth.
E. In the beginning of this book I felt like that the Phaeacians were amused by his story and they were also amazed. “His tale over now. The Phaeacians all fell silent, hushed, his story holding them spellbound down the shadowed halls.” (Book 13 Lines 1 – 2).
H. The scene that I chose to write a scene about is “There on the coast a haven, named for Phorcys, the old god of the deep – with two jutting headlands, sheared off at the seaweed side but shelving toward the bay, that break the great waves whipped by the gales outside so within the harbor ships can ride unmoored whenever they come in mooring shore.” (Book13 lines 109 – 114) I imagine that when the land comes into site they are excited. The looks like a fork a little and the shore looks beautiful but groups of rocks in areas and they see the town and everyone hustling around that break of great waves/ big waves and the gales of wind maid the waters misty. At the point there is this lonesome Olive tree there.

A. The fact that Odysseus hasn’t been home in so long reminds me of last Friday when I was taking the train home. I was on the train and I fell asleep because I was up late the night before working on a science project. When I woke up I realized that I missed my stop and went all the way to Port Washington, the last stop. I was so mad because all I wanted to do was get home and go to sleep. I had to wait for about 20 minutes for the train to leave the station and another 30 minutes to get to my stop. In the Odysseus it says: “Ithaca, at last” (page 289 line 108). This is exactly how I felt when I got to my front door after my long trip home from school.
C. Why does Poseidon have to be so mean? It is terrible to punish the people that helped your nemesis get home. “But now they’ve swept him across the sea in their swift ship with boundless gifts-bronze and hoards of gold and robes-aye, more plunder than he could ever have won from Troy if Odysseus had returned intact with his fair share!” (pages 290-291 lines 153-157). I think Poseidon should just stop treating Odysseus terribly and give him credit for surviving this long to get home.
G. If I was Odysseus when he returned to Ithaca and nobody recognized him, I would feel terrible. To think that you got home after so long and then having a belief that you were in the wrong place must be terrible.

A) Today when a soldier goes missing or takes a long time to return, usually their lover or friends presume them to be dead. Usually the lover gets pressure from her other friends to forget about them and go with the friend instead of keeping hope and staying faithful. It really happens today with our veterans. That’s why Odysseus is so nervous about his wife remaining faithful to him and not marrying any of the suitors.

B) Finally! Odysseus finally gets back to Ithaca! “Ithaca at last”(Chapter title) all right! It is surprising that Athena finally reveals herself, and the fact that she tells him about the suitors. We needed this book to explain what’s going to happen in the book 14. I can’t wait to see what happens next. Athena just gave Odysseus hope and readied him for the suitors. I want to see the suitors when he walks to them and meets them. Their reactions will be priceless.

E) Odysseus’ reaction to being told about the suitors is priceless. “Royal son of Laertes, Odysseus, old campaigner, think how to lay your hands on all those brazen suitors.” (Book 13 lines429-430) In other words, think of what your going to do to those suitors when you see them. I can feel the excitement building through this entire book. I cannot wait to see what Odysseus is going to do to those ungrateful and criminal suitors who are trying to steal his wife. I can give a guess, he’ll probably do something that involves a lot of blood and torture.

Anthony Gonzalez
Odyssey Book 13

F. I feel that the strongest bond in this book is between Odysseus and Athena. The reason I say that is because Athena has been there for him maybe not all the time but has been there in the most important. She has helped him come home and remind him of home. She is one of the main reasons why Odysseus is still alive and is well. Athena is one of they very few gods and goddesses that like and want to help Odysseus succeed in returning to Ithaca.

I. Kevin I think that Athena disguised herself in the beginning when they met was because Odysseus was so overwhelmed and she didnt want him to be even more overwhelmed so she stayed hidden and then when Odysseus was a little better and knowing where he was she revealed herself.

C. I also have a similar question that that Chirs has. Why cant Poseidon just leave Odysseus alone and get over his little gruge? Hes taking this to serious already and should drop the hatchet that they both have already? He has given enough pain and suffering already that he should be satisfied already.

A) Normally when soldiers go to war, they can communicate with their wife or husband and kids to check on them and how life is going while he/she is away. This significantly reduces the chances of the wife/husband cheating on them because by seeing them everyday, they can tell each other how much love they have for one another, and how excited they will be to see each one another. This is different in the case of Odysseus and Penelope. Odysseus has no way of communicating with Penelope for over ten years, he has a lot of doubt in the faith of Penelope and I don't blame him.

C) After all that Athena had done for Odysseus, why does she have to disguise herself, instead of just showing who she really is? Is it maybe because she doesn't want Poseidon knowing she is helping him? “As his story ended, goddess Athena, gray eyes gleaming broke into a smile and stroked him wither hand, and now she appeared a woman, beautiful, tall, and skilled at weaving lovely things” I think that Athena is either scared of Poseidon or she has something personal against revealing herself to mortals.

I) chrisnoble I think that Poseidon won't let go of his grudge of Odysseus because if you can remember, Odysseus blinded his son Polyphemus, who called out to him making sure that Odysseus would either not return home at all, or come back a broken man. Polyphemus almost taunted his dad by saying "If you truly are my father, you will make sure Odysseus does not return, and if he is destined to, he will return without a crew and a broken man."