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OCR A’level Classical Civilisation
Component 11: The Odyssey
Booklet 1: summaries and initial tasks Prescribed Books: 1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23 Translation used: EV Rieu (Penguin)
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Knowledge, Understanding and Skills In all components of OCR’s A Level in Classical Civilisation Learners will be required to: • understand, interpret, evaluate and analyse a range of evidence from classical sources in their social, historical and cultural context • evaluate and use this evidence to produce analytical responses, and effectively substantiated judgements • present these judgements in a clear, concise and logical manner • develop your knowledge, skills and understanding over the two year linear A Level course to evaluate with appropriate levels of sophistication, demonstrating a deep, complex understanding of the literature, ideas and materials studied, as well as their cultural context • (for A’level) only, to make use of knowledge and understanding of relevant secondary scholars and academics in order to further develop your analysis and argument.
Key knowledge and skills that you will be developing over the module Key topics
Knowledge/skills
Literary techniques and composition
• structure and plot of the epic • language of the epic including the use of speeches, formulae, similes and other narrative and descriptive techniques and their effects • literary context in which the Iliad was created and handed down including: • oral tradition and context • transmission of the text • whether it was the work of one or more poets
The heroic world: characterisation and themes
• concept, values and behaviour of a hero including the ideas of timē (honour) and kleos (reputation) • characterisation of major and minor characters •nostos (homecoming) • disguise • recognition • fantasy and the supernatural
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The social, cultural and religious context
• power of fate • role of the immortals • relationship between immortals and mortals • justice and revenge • hospitality and guest friendship (xenia) • family • relationships between men and women, parents and children • part played by women in the epic and their position in society • role of slaves
When studying literature learners will be required to show knowledge and understanding of:
• ways in which writers shape meanings in classical texts • ways in which classical texts might be interpreted by different readers or audiences both in an ancient and modern context • ways in which classical texts relate to the historical, social, political, religious and cultural contexts in which they are written and received • ways in which classical texts relate to literary traditions and genres of the classical world.
When studying literature you should be able to:
•respond critically to texts and consider how the attitudes and values of the classical world or author are expressed • apply their knowledge of cultural contexts to support, substantiate and inform evidence-based judgements about the classical texts • use classical texts to demonstrate an understanding of the social, historical and cultural context of the classical world, with recognition, where appropriate, of the complex issues of reliability and the difference between what a text might say and what can be inferred from this • critically explore and explain the possibility of different responses to a text from different audiences, from the classical period, up until the modern day.
The Odyssey: Books Summaries Remember: Passages for the commentary questions will be selected from the prescribed texts. You need to be aware of what happens in the other books, but you will not be directly assessed on them. Note about books 1-4: The Telemachy is a term traditionally applied to the first four books of the Odyssey, so named because they tell the story of Odysseus' son Telemachus, as he journeys from home for the first time in search of news about his missing father. 3
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Book 1 The epic begins with the invocation of the Muses, requesting inspiration and the beginning of Odysseus’s story. It’s been 10 years since the conclusion of the Trojan War and everyone but Odysseus and his comrades has returned from their service in Troy. Due to their devouring of Hyperion the Sun-god's oxen, his comrades are now dead and Odysseus is stuck on the island of Ogygia with Calypso, a beautiful goddess-enchantress. Nevertheless, Odysseus still yearns for his wife and home. Meanwhile, back in Ithaca, Penelope sits waiting for Odysseus to return while fending off a palace full of suitors for her hand in marriage. Telemachus, Penelope and Odysseus’ 20 year old son, can do nothing to help and has finally come to believe that Odysseus is dead. Athene eventually goes to Ithaca to talk to Telemachus. Disguised as Odysseus’ friend Mentor, she tells him that Odysseus is still alive and will soon return. She also tells Telemachus that he should call a gathering of the lords and suitors, and tell the suitors they are banished from the Kingdom. She then advises him to visit Pylos and Sparta to find out as much as he can about his father. After Athene departs, Telemachus sees his mother with the Suitors, upset by a particular bard’s (Phemius) song. The song itself is a tale of despair for those that have returned to Greece. Telemachus however, tells her that she should not be upset by the song, as other men have failed to return from Troy and that she can always leave if she does not enjoy the music; he can deal with the suitors. He announces to the suitors that he will hold an assembly the following day and that he expects them all to leave the estate. Antinous and Eurymachus are unhappy with the announcement, though, and demand to know who Telemachus was talking with, to which Telemachus only responds that it was a friend of his father’s. Telemachus is guided by Eurycleia, the elderly nurse, to his room where he retires to plan his journey Book 2 The next day, as Telemachus calls the assembly, an elder of Ithaca praises Telemachus for his actions as there has not been a single assembly since Odysseus left. Telemachus follows with a speech that condemns the suitors’ behaviour in taking over his father’s home, and mourns the loss of his father. He speaks out against their rampant use of the palace’s food and wine and rebukes them for not simply going to Icarius, Penelope’s father, to ask for her hand. In response, Antinous places the blame at the feet of Penelope for seducing them all but not committing. He describes her use of the burial shroud for Laertes to extend her decision. She had declared that she would choose a husband after finishing, but every night she unravels the shroud so she never has to complete it. Antinous declares that she should be sent to Icarius so as he can choose a new husband for her. Telemachus responds violently, declaring he will never throw his mother out and that the Gods must punish those suitors who wish such a thing upon her. At that moment, a pair of eagles appears above and fight, a sign that the soothsayer reads as meaning Odysseus will soon return and massacre the suitors. However, they declare such a warning foolish and continue to rebuke Telemachus. Athene arrives once more while Telemachus is preparing to leave for Pylos and Sparta, and gives him encouragement for the ensuing journey. She helps him gather a crew for his ship and Telemachus departs without telling any of his servants, or his mother.
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Book 3 When Telemachus and Mentor arrive in Pylos, they witness a ritual sacrifice of twelve bulls to Poseidon and though he is unsure of himself, Mentor gives Telemachus encouragement to go forward and speak with Nestor about Odysseus. Nestor has no news to relay though and recounts the fates of Agamemnon and Menelaus after the fall of Troy. The two broke apart after an argument and went their separate ways, Nestor with Menelaus and Odysseus with Agamemnon. He speaks kind words for Telemachus but cannot offer any more information about Odysseus. He does, however, explain more about what happened to Agamemnon. After returning from Troy, Agamemnon found his cousin Aegisthus, who had remained in Greece while everyone else had gone to Troy, married to his wife, Clytemnestra. The two plot and carry out the murder of Agamemnon and attempt to take over the kingdom. Then Orestes returns from exile and takes revenge against both Aegisthus and Clytemnestra. Nestor compares Orestes’ situation to that of Telemachus and sends Pisistratus along with Telemachus to Sparta to beseech Menelaus for more information. Athene then reveals herself as a goddess and remains behind in Pylos to protect Telemachus’ crew and ship. Book 4 When Telemachus and Pisistratus arrive in Sparta, they find Menelaus and Helen celebrating the marriages of their son and daughter. The King and Queen hold a feast that night and recount for Telemachus the many instances of Odysseus’ cunning during the war. Helen recounts the time when Odysseus dressed as a beggar and infiltrated Troy and Menelaus describes the final victory of the Trojan Horse, masterminded by Odysseus himself. The next day, Menelaus describes how he returned from Troy. He was trapped in Egypt for a time and was forced to capture Proteus, the Old Man of the Sea who then gave him the directions back to Sparta as well as revealing the fates of Agamemnon and Ajax. Ajax’s own fate was similar to how Agamemnon finally returned home, only to be killed. Proteus also reveals to Menelaus that Odysseus is imprisoned on the island of Calypso and has been for years. Telemachus and Pisistratus take this information and return to Ithaca. Back in Ithaca, the suitors begin to plot the assassination of Telemachus. A herald overhears the plot and reports it back to Penelope who becomes distraught. However, Athene sends her own message to Penelope and relays that Telemachus has the goddess’ protection. Meanwhile, the suitors sail out to prepare a murderous ambush for Telemachus as he returns to Ithaca. Book 5 Back on Olympus, the gods convene without Poseidon to discuss what shall be done with Odysseus. Athene is able to convince Zeus to step in and so Hermes is dispatched to Calypso to inform her that Odysseus must be allowed to leave. She is unhappy, railing against the male gods of Olympus for their selfishness and hypocrisy. She does eventually relent though, as it is by the decree of Zeus. Odysseus is alone with his crew and ship both long since destroyed after leaving Troy. However, with Hermes’ interjection, he is finally permitted to build a new boat and prepare it for his final voyage home. After leaving, Odysseus spends only eighteen days at sea before spotting Scheria, the location pointed to him via Hermes by the gods. Poseidon has returned though from his trip to Ethiopia and sees that the other gods have helped Odysseus escape Calypso. In retaliation he sets a storm upon 5