Classwork 4/12/10

1) Briefly discuss what books 1-4 are about and relate to a theme

Books one and two set up the story. In these two books, Telemachos is trying to decide weather or not he should give up on his father, or go out to find him. In books three and four, he sets out for the adventure. He finds two different people to ask about his father, Odysseus. He asked if they heard any rumor about him, or if maybe they saw what happened to him with their own eyes. However, Telemachos is still searching for Odysseus.
We can relate this to the themes of adventure, justice, responsibility, and mainly, loyalty.

2) Break-up the action of each book

In book one Homer tells us about the situation: it is now ten years after the Trojan War ended and Odysseus is the only war hero that hasn't returned home. While Telemachos has to try to decide weather or not his father is dead, he also is trying to deal with another situation. His father's kingdom is controlled by just his mother Penelope. All of these men are trying to marry her so that they can be king.
That brings us to book two. Telemachos knows that if he can find his father, or find what happened to him, he can make the right decision of how to move on. If Odysseus is alive, he can come back to rule his kingdom, and later pass the kingdom down to Telemachos. If he is dead though, he can give his mother away to a new husband and king.
Book three is the start of the quest for Odysseus. He and Athena (Mentor) see a sacrificial act. They then talk to Nestor about the fate of Agamemnon.
In book four, Telemachos is recongnized as the son of Odysseus and gets invited for a feast, and to stay the night.

3) List all the major character

Agamemnon
Helen
Menelaus
Nestor
Mentor(Athena)
Telemachos
Penelope
Antinoos
Eurymachos


4) Explore- Agamemnon and birds as symbols

Birds symbolize gods. Whenever a bird appears in the story, you know that it is one of the greek gods or goddesses.

Agamemnon symbolizes the theme of loyalty. Agamemnon was avenged by his loyal son, and we see here in the Odyssey, the same loyalty between Telemachos and Odysseus.