On Wednesday, we discussed endings and closure. Some narratives draw to an end but do not provide closure (soap operas are a perfect example of this, as are the first episodes in a television series or movie trilogy). When a narrative does provide closure, it doesn't always 'look' the way we expect it will.
As readers, we want answers for our questions and fulfillment for our expectations. Many of us are engaged by narratives that keep us waiting for answers and fulfillment and then provide them in surprising and unexpected ways. True, we all love a predictable story now and then, a story that provides both closure and a satisfying ending. But we also love a story that keeps us guessing - that takes us down a path with twists and turns we didn't expect - that doesn't finish things off with a neatly tied bow. We love the thrill of a narrative that takes us on an interesting and exhilarating journey.
For those who have already read The Odyssey and know the ending, what is keeping you engaged in the narrative this time around? What new questions and expectations do you have? How is this re-reading different from your first reading?
For those who are reading The Odyssey for the first time, what kind of ending and/or closure are you expecting or hoping for? What moments have surprised you up to this point? What questions and expectations do you have?
And for both groups, how do these concepts of questions/expectations and ending/closure, as discussed in class, enhance, illuminate, explain, deepen, modify, or add to your experience and understanding of narrative and reading?
That's a lot to fit into a blog comment, so focus your answer on a specific element of the prompt (rather than trying to answer all the questions). As always, be sure to provide book.line references (required for credit) that explain or support your comments.
The type of ending/closure that I am expecting from The Odyssey is a fairy tale ending. What is a "fairy tale" ending? Since the book is leading with Odysseus returning to his home land and the death of all the suitors, that could be the start to its end. Moreover, Odysseus has already reveiled himself to his son but not yet to Penelope his wife. So when he walks back into Penelopes life I'm sure it is going to be splendid, for all three of them. Next will be the ridding of all the suitors from the palace, which will be monumental. So on, the celebration at Ithaca for the return of its king, the ridding of the suitors, and for its people the Achaeans. You can't for get the gods and Athena, sorting out the finer things that their plan had led them to in Olympus.
ReplyDeleteMoments that have surprised me up to this point, how Odysseus talks about Athena and Telemachus hasn't rushed in about how he knows her. The fact that when some words are shared by the immortals to the mortals, the mortals arn't always keen on listening, though very well knowing their are repercussions. That Odysseus can carry on with Telemachus and not even have feelings for his wife, Penelope.
Expecations that I have are, Odysseus will slaughter the suitors. Have a grand enterance when he finely is reunited with his queen Penelope. That the land of Ithaca sets into the sunset for eternity.
How these questions add to the experience and understanding of narrative and reading, is they sort of leave us on the edge of our seats, is this how things are going to work. I covered all the bases so now this is going to unfold. If it takes an unexpected turn it will be something to consider next time I go and express my thoughts and feelings. I normally don't go conjuring the end to books.
Since this is my first time reading The Odyssey my expectations for closer are simple; I want the characters I am invested in to overcome their difficulties and achieve happiness. With Odysseus’ return to Ithaca the possibility of Penelope and Telemachus leading a normal life is within their grasps. As I read I feel more relation toward these two, and I truly want them to succeed. In Penelope’s case I want to see her get some sort of love from Odysseus. She has been waiting for all these years “her life an endless hardship” (16.43), but will Odysseus be able to provide that? In book 16, line 217, it claims that Odysseus always “reined his emotions back” and to be a loving husband and father I feel he needs to learn to let go. For Telemachus I need the question of whether or not he is ready to become a man to be answered. Will he be able to help his father destroy the suitors? Will he be able to strike out and make his own name, create his own house? He is now referred to as a “godlike boy” (14.200), but he is still a boy sailing through the world with Athena yelling at him to return home with haste. I feel that any decent narrative needs to have at least one character you are invested in or else why finish the story. For my closure I need their lives to have closure as well.
ReplyDeleteI am expecting a happy ending to the Odyssey. Book 16 Line 243 shows Telemachus overjoyed and embrasing his father for the first time. I think that there will be a similar ending with Penelope at least. I am not seeing a closure reading on Athena and Odysseus's relationship. I believe that Homer is going to keep us guessing when it comes to those two. I also do not believe that Poseidon and Odysseus will make up officially. I am excited to finish up the book and find out to what degree there is closure. I usually am the kind of person who need closure but on this epic poem I will just be glad to be finished.
ReplyDeleteIn addition to the reunion between Odysseus and Penelope, the fate of the suitors, and the future relationship between Athena and Odysseus, I also hope to gain closure on the futures of Eumaeus and the Phaeacians. While Odysseus is disguised as a beggar, Eumaeus demonstrates the genuine care and loyalty he has for his king as well as the hospitality he offers to others. Of Odysseus he proclaims, “Never another master kind as he! I’ll never find one-no matter where I go,” (14, 161) and, “Worlds away as he is, I call him Master, Brother!” (14,172). Odysseus is impressed with the behavior of Eumaeus, professing, “If only, Eumaeus you were as dear to the Father Zeus as you are to me!” (15, 378). Because Odysseus discovers Eumaeus’s true character, I hope to receive closure on whether or not the swineherd will be rewarded for his behavior. Odysseus develops great respect and sympathy for Eumaeus, yet never mentions a desire to free him. This leads me to expect the swineherd’s behavior to be overlooked once Odysseus regains his throne.
ReplyDeleteAdditionally, I wish to learn of the fate of the Phaeacians. I felt they were unfairly punished by Poseidon and was surprised at Zeus’s support of the abuse, for he is commonly known as the protector of suppliants and wayfaring strangers. After observing their ship turn to stone, the Phaeacians immediately sacrifice 12 bulls to Poseidon in hopes that he doesn’t follow through with blocking their port. Alcinous states that Poseidon can do “whatever warms his heart” (8,641) and that “perhaps [Poseidon] will pity us, pile no looming mountain ridge around our port,” (13,207). I am curious as to whether Poseidon will accept the apology of the Phaeacians, although I am not expecting closure because of the minimal significance of the event. The concept of closure enhances my reading experience because I become compelled to learn if there is closure for various scenarios, and if so, how this compares to my personal expectations.
Having read The Odyssey before, I was certainly taking a more in-depth look this time around (if for no other purpose than to do well in the class). There were several differences between reading it in high school and now. The version I read was rather condensed and I do not recall the detail to such a degree that I do now. But also, I am much more mature than I was 3 years ago which I am sure makes a big difference.
ReplyDeleteMy question is this: I wonder how Athena will feel when Odysseus is finally home with Penelope and in peace. Will she be content with a job well done or will she continue to watch over him and Telemachus like she has from the beginning? At every step of the way since Calypso’s island, she has been watching over Odysseus’ journey and over Telemachus and having the “father” relationship with him. While I have no textual evidence for any claim, I believe she will go back to his life as it was before Odysseus’ long and hard journey home. As for expectations, I would like to see Eumaeus rewarded in some way for his loyalty to Odysseus and Telemachus. From the first time he is mentioned, he saves the disguised Odysseus from his dogs (14, 32) and he also leads Odysseus to the palace (17, 279) and does lots of other things for the two. I would like to see Eumaeus either have his freedom granted to him or at least be given some sort of payment for his services and allegiance. Another expectation I have is in a way childish and inane, but I really am looking forward to Book 22 “Slaughter in the Hall”. Perhaps it is just the way I am, but there is so much leading to this (in the espionage of Odysseus [17, 397]) that there has to be an epic depiction of the battle within the palace between Odysseus and Telemachus and the suitors. To me, this would be the ultimate sense of closure: the villains are gone and there is now peace in Ithaca with its hero and king returned.
In the Odyssey up to Book 19, there are a couple things I am really looking for, and looking forward to. First of all Telemachus and Odysseus fighting together, and how they will beat the 100+ suitors. This is a really interesting concept to me because way back in Book 1 Telemachus talks about the skepticism of his father and how he doesn't even believe in him "Mother always told me I'm his son, it's true, but I am not so certain. Who, on his own, has ever really known who has given him life?." (84,250) So of course I loved book 16 when they met. I also wonder for how long will Odysseus remain king, if he ever regains the title, and what will Telemachus do while Odysseus remains king? I am hoping for closure in the sense that all the suitors get put in their place, Odysseus and Penelope reunite, and Odysseus and Telemachus begin their hopefully lasting father and son relationship on a good note. I was surprised when Odysseus lands on the island and Athena rushes to tell him not to go straight to his palace, but to rest with Eumaeus and his swine. "But you, you make your way to the swineherd first... Wait there, sit with him, ask him all he knows." (299,461) This scene and situation really enhances what I am getting out of this novel, because I can relate to the age and maturity level of Telemachus. I'm sure that when Homer came up with the story of The Odyssey, his main focus wasn't going to be the story of a young adult maturing, growing up, and shifting into what society accepts as a responsible adult. But because of this theme I can personally relate to this situation, and it helps me get more out of the book.
ReplyDeleteMy expectations for closure in The Odyssey are fairly clear-cut. Though some have changed through our reading of this narrative, one has remained throughout; and that is that Odysseus and Telemachus can be reunited as father and son in the end. At first, I didn’t feel that Odysseus deserved to be reunited with his family. In book 16 we read, “And with those words Odysseus kissed his son and the tears streamed down his cheeks and wet the ground, though before he’d always reined his emotions back” (344. 215-217). We have not seen much of Odysseus’ emotional side, but this entire section where he tells Telemachus who he is made me believe that he is deserving of his son. I’m also hoping that for his own benefit, Odysseus can learn to express himself, and learn how to be the best father to his son.
ReplyDeleteI am also hoping to read of Athena’s fate and what her role will be now that Odysseus and his family have been brought back together. Since the first book when Athena says, “But my heart breaks for Odysseus, that seasoned veteran cursed by fate so long—…“ (79. 57-58) to when Athena “sets off to bring Telemachus home…” (300. 503-504), we have seen how much Athena really cares for these two men. We have talked about Athena’s role as a father figure to Telemachus, and now that Odysseus is home, I wonder how that role will change for her.
The questions and expectations I have for this narrative have made the reading much more enjoyable. Holding expectations has enhanced my experience and understanding, and made me want to read on and see what happens. Because I feel invested in both the plot and the fate of the characters, closure at the end of the narrative is something that I feel is very important.
Most of the questions and expectations I have relate to the personal relationships between the main characters throughout the poem. I expect to see Odysseus’ and Penelope and their heart-warming reunion somewhere in the next few books. Will Penelope learn about everything that Odysseus has done? If so, will it even matter in their relationship? I would like to see Telemachus continue maturing and being recognized as a “prince” instead of the “young boy” he was mentioned as earlier in the poem. Will he become as strong, successful, and as honored as his father? Finally, I expect the battle scene to be as great as it is being built up to be. How will Odysseus and Telemachus initiate their attack? Who is going to live and die in the end?
ReplyDeleteOne of the main things that surprised me throughout this book is Athena’s relationship with Odysseus. In the beginning of the story I viewed Athena as a goddess who was acting as a puppeteer in a few of the human’s lives. The more I learned about her, I got the idea that she is quite selective and seems to be focusing mostly on Odysseus and his family. Athena is seen helping Telemachus and Penelope, both times in aid to Odysseus. First in book 15, Athena tells Telemachus he must retreat home, and with this he tells Melenaus “the heart inside me longs for home at last” so that he can start on his journey towards Ithaca (15.72). This inspiration to suddenly get up and head home is a direct result of Athena’s actions. Then later with Penelope, Athena is described as “lavishing immortal gift on her to make her suitors lose themselves in wonder,” making her more attractive to the suitors which results in them flourishing her with gifts (18. 216). Why is Athena doing all of this? Is she hoping for Odysseus to find out and recognize these actions, or is she doing this because she wants to? How will the relationship between Odysseus and Athena end?
Another thing that I found interesting is the absence of Laertes in the poem. With all the characters we are introduced to in the poem, you tend to hear about their fathers and/or their sons. This father son relationship seems to be a strong theme and the fact that Laertes is alive but not involved with what is going on with his son often grabs my attention. In the scene where Odysseus sees his mothers ghost he asks her to “tell me of the father, tell of the son I left behind…tell me abut my wife…” placing his father before both is son and his wife (11. 197). It is odd to me that Laertes is back at home on a farm in Ithaca while all this is going on with his family. Why is Laertes so uninvolved in this poem?
With my interest in not only the characters, but also the countless relationships going on between them it is becoming a lot easier to read the poem then it was with the first few books. I am no longer just concerned in the basic plot but more distinctively what is going on between pairs of characters and how they relate to one another.
Having never read The Odyssey before, I want closure from the story lines of Odysseus, Telemachus, Penelope, as well as Athena. From Odysseus I want his perilous journey home to end in peace without any more obstacles in his way. I am interested to see how the plan he and Athena made to get rid of the suitor’s ends and how he defeats them all. I want him to get to know Telemachus and spend the rest of his life with his wife, Penelope. I would want closure from Telemachus by seeing him stand up as an adult and get rid of the suitors with this father. I hope that Penelope and Odysseus are reunited peacefully at last without the suitors ruining their home so she can stop grieving over Odysseus finally. I am interested to see how Penelope discovers Odysseus’s identity. Does he reveal himself, or is he discovered as he was by Eurycleia? (405.536) Athena’s story line might be interesting, as I want to see if she reveals why she has put so much into the happiness of Telemachus and Odysseus, although I doubt this will happen. I want to see her grow in the end and compare her interaction with the God’s in book 1 (pages 79-80) with a conversation with Zeus in the end, watching over Odysseus happily knowing that she doesn’t need to interfere any longer.
ReplyDeleteThis being my first time reading the Odyssey I am slightly nervous to have any expectations as to how the book will end. The Odyssey does not read like any other story I have read in the past. Although it had the typical slow start, the rest has been a whirlwind of new people, new adventures and storytelling by the characters. I would love for a happy ending; one where the bad guys, being the suitors, are defeated and Odysseus lives happily ever after with his wife and son. I feel that we have somewhat started to see that with the reuniting of father and son and soon to be husband and wife. I was surprised by how Odysseus’ character s is developing toward the end of the book. At first I felt that he was a rather conceded man who excelled at trickery and manipulation but now I have seen him emotional and weak. The vulnerability he shows in the scene where he is reunited with his dog Argos surprised me the most; “Odysseus glanced to the side and flicked away a tear.” (17.333). I am excited to see what happens with Telemachus, will he find love? Recently he has spoken with such stature, answering “firmly” (16.166) being explained as “clear-minded” (16.271). He has grown up so much in the first 18 books and I would like to see something momentous happen with his character before the end.
ReplyDeleteThis is the first time I have read the Odyssey, and I do expect some sort of epic ending. I expect the fight scene to be long and drawn out like all of the other stories that Odysseus tells. I do not expect any of the main characters to die, and I expect Odysseus, Penelope, and Telemachus to be reunited. So far I have been surprised by how my view of Odysseus's character changes the more that I read. I thought that Odysseus was great when Poseidon "raged on, seething against the great Odysseus till he reached his native land" (78. 23). I felt like he was a hero who was just trying to get home with all odds against him. The opening of the book describes his journey, "many pains he suffered, heartsick on the open sea, fighting to save his life and bring his comrades home. But he could not save them from disaster, hard as he strove-" (77. 5). When I met him for the first time in Book Five, I question his loyalty to his wife when him and Calypso withdrew "into the cavern's deep recesses, long in each other's arms they lost themselves in love" (159. 250). Was he really trying to get home? He always has to prove himself like when he has to throw the discus farther than anyone else (197. 215). He always has to have to last word and tell everyone of the hardships he had to go through, though many of the pains may have been self inflicted such as the incident with Polyphemus (227. 559). And in the recent books, my mind is changing again. Odysseus treated his swineherd Eumaeus well, which shows character. And 20 years later Eumaeus is still loyal to the family (305. 143). When Argos can finally find peace in knowing that his master made it home safely (364. 360) I could not help but like Odysseus again and feel that his character is indeed good.
ReplyDeleteI am now invested in the characters. I need to know that Odysseus is really the great man as described at the beginning. I need to know that Telemachus becomes a man. I will be very unsatisfied and disappointed if it is not clear that Odysseus's character is good. I would have no closure. I need to know that there is more good than anything else inside of Odysseus otherwise I will feel like the story was pointless.
This is my first genuine read of the Odyssey. I'm not hoping for any particular ending--just longing for it to end. I can predict with reasonable certainty that Odysseus will succeed, but this book just wouldn't feel right with a perfect ending. Unfortunately, I fear it may happen as Theban predicted "And at last your own death will steal upon you...a gentle, painless death...with all your people there in blessed peace around you" (253.153-156). It will probably end "And Odysseus sat 'round the hearth knitting sweaters for Argos until he died of boredom. Telemachus was pleased with his inheritance of 5,000 pigs and one odd servant that sleeps among them." Suspense does not really play a role in this book as everything is always predicted (accurately) by a seer, god, or nymph and the only real variable is how well Odysseus is going to behave under the circumstances. Taunting the cyclops and revealing his name to said cyclops was a very unexpected event.
ReplyDeleteFor the second, and final, part of the question. The narrative is brilliant (though I'm afraid my opinion matters little) in that it starts at the house of a man unknown to the reader. All of the hardships at his house are revealed and slowly the reader comes to know this man and and empathize with him. Fate conspires against him when everything could be solved "...if only he might drop from the clouds and drive these suitors all in a rout throughout the halls and regain his pride of place and rule his own domains" (81.135-137). I think it is interesting that the book takes the reader along for an epic journey just to drag him/her back to the beginning,especially when the reader was already told what was going to happen.
I’ve read parts of the Odyssey in school before, but never the whole thing. In fact, I only really read the tales of Odysseus when he was fighting the Cyclops and the multitude of other things he did while trying to return home. I’m expecting a sort of fairy tale ending from the Odyssey. To me a fairy tale ending is when everything works out the way it is “supposed” to. The main character gets everything they desire and the characters around that person get what they deserve, be it good or bad things. I think Odysseus will stay happily married to Penelope and his son will be happy to welcome him home and be able to build the kind of relationship he has always wanted to have with his father. I expect Odysseus to return home, because that’s the whole point of the book, from the beginning it talks about how long he’s been gone and then moves to his trials and tribulations that he has had to face along the way back to Ithica. (books 1-14)
ReplyDeleteI can’t really imagine the Odyssey ending any other way. I think that if it does not I’ll be disappointed and feel absolutely no sense of closure from the book. Feeling a lack of a sense of closure when ending any kind of reading leaves me feeling completely dissatisfied with the entire work no matter how connected I felt to the event or characters taking place in the reading. While I don’t really feel a large connection to any of the characters in the Odyssey, I feel a connection to the book itself for reason I haven’t quite identified. Maybe it’s because of the amount of time that has been invested reading it, or maybe it’s just because I’m so determined to like this book because it’s such a classic. All I know is that I really want it to end the way I think it does.
This is my first time reading the entire book and I've become quite invested in Odysseus, regardless of how rash and impulsive he might be. I am trying not to read ahead but I can't wait to read about the future battle scene of suitors vs Odysseus and Telemachus. I am also eager to see how Penelope greats Odysseus and if their relationship will be as good as it was. After 20 years, who knows how she will react. They both long after the other but who knows how they will react or even engage the other in the future. I am also curious about Telemachus and if he will be married off to someone with the help of Athena, since she is a father-like-figure to him and knows best.
ReplyDeleteIn the end of the story I am hoping for a perfect ending that should almost, when you read in between the lines, say “And they lived happily ever after.” I have predicted this because in the story you have heard multiple times that Penelope wants to see her husband again after his long adventure and is pushing off choosing a suitor to take her hand in marriage. In book 18 (18.289), Penelope expresses how much she longs to see her husband again and how much she remembers the last words he said before he left her to leave for Troy. Telemachus has met his father in book 16 line 215 and Argos has come in contact with Odysseus in book 17 line 319 after many years and tears have been shed. This leads me to believe that when Penelope sees her husband it will be a touching part in the Odyssey.
ReplyDeleteSome moments that have struck me as surprising in the book is some of the time when characters come in contact with each other and do not have the reactions that I felt they should have had. One example of this is in book 17 when Telemachus arrives home and sees Penelope. I felt that it was strange that after being gone and coming close to death that when they see each other he acts as if his journey was not anything amazing and says do not move me to tears and then she goes and tells him to pray. I thought he would have been like his father and boasted about his story and all of his adventures. (17.40)
My expectations for the story are basically to bring the story to a climax when Odysseus has a brutal battle with all of the suitors. I am also hoping that Poseidon does not try and take any more revenge out on Odysseus seeing he has already survived his other attempts at punishing him for blinding his son. After the battle, I hope that his marriage with Penelope picks up where it left off and that Ithaca celebrates Odysseus arrival home safely with a big celebration with lots of praise for the great and courageous man.
I’ve never read The Odyssey before now, so I’m not sure what to expect besides a lot of killings once Odysseus and Telemachus take care of their business and follow through with their plan for getting rid of the suitors. I expect the last few chapters to be one massive fight full of gore and death. Several times throughout the last few chapters it has mentioned how Odysseus is “plotting the slaughter of his suitors” (19.2) and he has a lot of rage (20.26). He, Telemachus, and Athena are going to take care of business I’m sure. I’m also hoping for Odysseus to reunite with Penelope and Telemachus actually revealing himself as Odysseus and to be how they used to be before he left on his journey. I’m always a fan of happy endings where there is love and restoration of relationships. I’m also hoping Odysseus to continue changing as he has been the past few chapters. He’s restrained himself, using some self-control in certain situations (20.19, 26), which has surprised me and is slowly changing my view of him. I would love for him to redeem himself as a noble man with good character in my eyes. That would bring closure for my experience reading this book.
ReplyDeleteHaving closure adds to my experience personally because it’s nice to know and have an ending for the characters. It gives me a better experience if there’s closure without lingering questions by the end. I don’t like still having questions about characters and their relationships because I feel the experience is incomplete and unfinished even though it’s technically done, so it’s a significant aspect for my reading.
I've read this poem before, but it has been years so I can say that reading it again has jolted a lot back into my memory. And what keeps me interested now is simply remembering all the little things that I forgot about the first time that I read it through. The small details, like forgetting how Penelope cannot bring herself to call the land by its name so she says 'Destroy, I call it- I hate to say its name!' (19. 673) or how creepy the scene with the suitors' last meal is, when Athena 'set off uncontrollable laughter in the suitors, crazed them out of their minds' (20. 386). I just forgot how good the book really is, and although I already know the fate of all the characters I'm actually still looking forward to learning them again this time around.
ReplyDeleteAs a first time Odyssey reader, I am expecting a very neat, cookie-cutter ending. This closure should include the inevitable battle scene where Odysseus and Comany massacre the deserving suitors. I also expect Odysseus to purge his home of the unfaithful servants as well. After the dust settles, Odysseus, Telemachus, and Penelope will have a joyful family reunion, with Eurycleia looking on fondly. Eumaeus and Philoetius will be rewarded as promised, and all will live happily ever after. I am hoping that Odysseus will set Telemachus up to marry Nausicaa, and the Phaeacians will become a part of the Ithaca people. However, I do wonder if the gods, Poseidon in particular, will allow Odysseus his peace. It seems to me that there was no final showdown between the two, and that Poseidon may still harbor anger towards the king. In addition, Athena seems to have developed a fondness for Odysseus, especially in a battle/strategic setting, which she may not lay to rest. The warrior goddess’s will, along with Odysseus’s obvious attraction for adventure, pose the question if he will remain in Ithaca for long. Page 393 Line 94 describes Telemachus as being just like Odysseus, which leads me to believe that he will soon long for exploration as well. It is these questions that I do not expect to get answered, leaving the closure lacking.
ReplyDeleteBecause I have never read The Odyssey before, I would like a happy ending with closure; but, I have a feeling that is not going to happen. I want Penelope to finally reunite with Odysseus, and I am waiting for Telemachus to step up and be a man and stand up to the suitors. Penelope deserves to be happy; “I yearn for Odysseus, always, my heart pines for him” (19, 151) Penelope has suffered much pain and I will not be pleased with the book if they do not have a happy reunion. There are many signs that Telemachus is becoming a man, his father and his mother take note of it. In book 19, Penelope says “He’s a grown man by now…” (19, 178) it is apparent that he is a grown man, and I am waiting for him to act like it. I am starting to see signs of maturity now, such as when the suitors are taunting his fathers. Instead of Telemachus verbally attacking them, he waits patiently for the correct time to attack (20, 239-31). I question whether or not Telemachus is going to help in the killing of the suitors or if he is going to watch. I also wonder when and how Odysseus is going to reveal himself to his wife. I realize that he wants to stay safe, but I feel as if I were his wife I would be upset with him for keeping it a secret when he knew I was in so much pain. I am curious to see how it all turns out. I also hope that at least one of my questions will be answered and there will be a reunion for Penelope and Odysseus.
ReplyDeleteThis is my third time reading the book, but I have never gone so in-depth when it comes to discussion in a classroom setting before. I find it interesting how my opinion has changed of the characters this time around. I have never been a true fan of Odysseus, but now I'm actually caring what eventually happens to him. I will admit I will always detest his character during his travels home, but when he actually reaches Ithaca my feelings drastically change. I used to picture Telemachus as a young boy, but realize now that he is really a strong, important character throughout the book. I still view Penelope the same; a heartbroken wife who is very faithful to Odysseus. It also helps having a teacher who is excited to read The Odyssey. My teachers in the past treated it like it was a hassle and they just wanted to get through it.
ReplyDeleteBecause I have this idea of closure, I am constantly guessing what is going to happen next. For example, when Penelope tells Odysseus about her contest for suitors with the shooting of the arrow through the axes (19. 647), I immediately make the assumption that Odysseus is going to participate in the contest and win.
It's obvious that at some point, Odysseus and Telemachus are going to fight the suitors. It's the conclusion I have drawn because Telemachus and Odysseus have talked about it constantly in the last few books we have discussed. But, there are two suitors I am sure are going to get the worst punishment. They are pointed out to be the "top" suitors and are constantly causing arguments and fights. Telemachus even directly uses their names together (18. 75) when he encourages Odysseus to fight Irus; "And two lords back me up, Antinous and Eurymachus." Because of the large amount of attention given to the two suitors, I have drawn the conclusion that during this battle that I know will eventually happen, they will find themselves dying a very gruesome death.
This is my first time reading The Odyssey. At first I didn't care about the book at all. I couldn't really get invested in to it and couldn't relate to any of the characters. To be honest, for the first like 10 books, I didn't really know what was going on. It was just so much to work through.
ReplyDeleteNow I am very in to this book. I feel emotion with so many characters and sometimes have a hard time putting the book down. I'm anxious yet nervous to see what the ending will be like.
Right now, I'm really hoping for a happy ending. I want Odyssues to show the readers how great of a guy he is like he seems to have shown all that talk about him. Even from the beginning, I feel like we get a picture of a mighty warrior and leader (1.1-12). I feel we're getting close and closer to him showing that he's a great planner (16.301-341) and fighter (18.102-114). I'm ready to see all that all put into action more. I want Odysseus and Penelope to have a romantic reunion and I want the them and Telemachus to be one big happy family again. I also want Argos to come back from the dead and be their dog but that may be pushing it.
This is the first time that I am reading the Odyssey, and I can honestly say that I like it a lot more than I thought I would. This is partially because it is keeping me on my toes every step of the way. I am attached to characters and story lines now that we are in the final books, and I am expecting answers to my lingering questions as this novel comes to a close. By the end of the novel I am expecting Odysseus to fight the suitors and win, in that time Athena will strip him of his disguise and give him back his original form so he and Penelope can have a dramatic reunion (probably involving mist since Athena likes a little flare and dramatics) and then the family can live happily ever after. I expect that Odysseus will fight and win against the suitors because Athena told him that she will help him and protect him during battle in book 20 lines 52-55. However, I have a lot of questions regarding Athena that I need closure on and I am expecting answers to those questions soon. Why has she chosen Odysseus, a mortal, to protect and stand by and basically keep him alive even when he should have died? Why does she have such an interest in protecting him? Throughout the novel she has countlessly been talked about in the book as controlling a situation so that it benefits Odysseus, such as when she asks Zeus to somehow convince Calypso to release Odysseus so he could travel home and be back with his family. I am not sure if Athena loves Odysseus and that is why she wants to protect him, or if she just knows that she can control him because she is dying to participate in a battle and she knows that she can use him as her pawn to engage in a battle. There are a lot of lingering questions I have and expectations I expect to be met and I am thrilled that the book is coming to a close soon, not because I dislike this book, but because I am on the edge of my seat while waiting to find out how everything will play out!
ReplyDeleteAs a first time reader of the Odyssey I have grown to become extremely attached to the characters. I have my idea of how I would like everything to go as I'm sure all of the other first readers do. My hope for the end of this book is not only to hear the reunion of Odysseus and Penelope but also to understand the characters more. For instance, throughout the whole tale I have seen Odysseus as a great man with many flaws. My main concern is the reason his journey back to Ithaca was extremely drawn out. In the tale, the narrator quotes, "But then, when the year was gone and the seasons wheeled by and the months wanted and the long days came round again[...] 'Captain this is madness! High time though thought of your home at last" showing that the intent of Odysseus had been to stay on the island of Circe. What strikes me most is that even his men had seen some oddness as to why Odysseus was in no particular hurry to return to Ithaca. This is a lose end that needs to be tied up for me. My understanding of Odysseus, as stated earlier is that is a great man with many flaws, and these flaws such as carelessness and egotistical are shown in the scenes when he stays with Circe, disregards her instructions, and stays the night with her again. While I hope this carelessness is not directed toward his wife Penelope or son Telemechus, one cannot be sure at this point because of his many character changes.
ReplyDeleteWhen this book concludes, I hope to still think of Odysseus as a great man, but with his flaws justified and his family together. (I'm also hoping it happens in a dramatic epic poem sort of way).
Because this is my first time reading, I want, so fiercely, to see the suitors struck down, Odysseus embraced by Penelope, and order restored to Ithaca. I would love to see the book tied up with one big happy insane "The End!" however unrealistic that may be. I have become emotionally invested to the point where I'm cheering the characters on in the margins versus noting themes. Looking forward to the end helps keep me active and engaged while reading the Odyssey. As more and more people discover the beggar's identity - first Telemachus (16.243) then Eurycleia (19.446) - I want more and more for Penelope to reunite with Odysseus.
ReplyDeleteThis is my first time reading The Odyssey and I am hoping for a happy ending. From the very start we know that Odysseus has been separated from his homeland and family for a very long time. Throughout the entire novel I have been expecting that each stop would be his last. I never thought that he would be killed on any of the stops/ adventures, but I also never expected him to face the hardships that he encountered or that his journey would last so long. I was most surprised when Circe told Odysseus that he could not go home yet and instead must travel to the land of the dead. “You think we are head home, our own dear land? Well, Circe sets us a rather different course…down to the House of Death and the awesome one, Persephone, there to consult the ghost of Tiresias, seer of Thebes” (10. 621). Being so close to the end of the novel I am hoping not only for a “happy ending” for Odysseus, but even more so for Penelope and Telemachus. While the majority of attention is placed on Odysseus, I do believe that these two characters have suffered through some unimaginable times. With the story’s end I hope that Odysseus and his family are able to get rid of all the suitors, convince Poseidon to forgive Odysseus for killing his son, and finally being able to live peacefully together in Ithaca.
ReplyDeleteSince this is the first time I have read The Odyssey I have to honestly tell you that this has been the hardest book I've ever read. I read a lot and can get thru many different kinds of reading but epic poems is not particular my kind of reading. I have to say that the further I read on the more I really want to know whats going to happen in the next chapter. I am really looking forward to the battle between the suitors and Telemachus and Odysseus. I know this is going to be a shock to all characters who do not know that Odysseus is back. The shock that is going to come by the suitors when they find out Odysseus is alive and have been watching them I think is going to be the best vision I'm going to have of the book. The romance between Penelope and Odysseus I feel is going to pick up as if it never stopped and the father/son relationship even though they do not know each other I feel like it's going to grow into a relationship as if they were never gone from each other that long. I am excited to see how Odysseus' dad reaction to his return home and how happy he will be finally. Well even though Penelope is not to know Odysseus is back I am surprised that Eurycleia or Telemachus have not told Penelope knowing how devoted she is to Odysseus so her pain would be gone but I also know if she was to know it would have changed her character and maybe her behavior would have set in motion the suitors knowing that something was going on just by watching her behavior. I know in today's world I just don't think a secret is a secret if two or more people know about it. So far I've hated the book and now I'm really starting to like it so my expectations have be filled and then some!!
ReplyDeleteAs an Odyssey rookie, I am hoping for the traditional, happy ending, everyone wins and lives happily ever after. However the realist in me is saying, "Are you crazy Brittany? Odysseus has been gone for 20 miserable years, there is no way this can end well." I doubt the happy ending mostly because I feel I have been duped by the Odyssey before! During the first few books of the Odyssey the reader has been bombarded with lines about how great Odysseus is. "Now, how on earth could I forget Odysseus? Great Odysseus who excels all men in wisdom, excels in offerings too.." (1.78) This contradicts with my opinion I developed of him over the course of the books. I am hoping that the ending will show Odysseus in a new light.
ReplyDeleteThis is the first time that I am reading the Odyssey. I am expecting an ending that contains a twist. A happy ending with Odysseus, Penelope, and Telemachus reuniting and living happy ever after would be an expected ending. However there are hints placed in the text that make me wonder if that expected, typical ending will occur. These hints occur whenever Athena is involved. I believe that her actions and the way in which she treats Odysseus raises questions. I believe that Athena may have something up her sleeve and that the ending is not going to be a happy ending. Some examples of Athena's odd behavior began once Odysseus arrived home to Ithica. Athena helped Odysseus hide his gifts for themselves (13.412-425), "stroked him with her hand" (13.327), fawns over him (13.329-339), she is described in an admired way by Odysseus (16.237-238), she refers to herself and Odysseus as an "us" (20.54), and she is constantly instigating the suitors and Odysseus (18.391-394, 20.385-389). These examples raise a question as to what Athena's end goal is. It also makes me think that the ending is going to contain a twist and that it will involve Athena and Odysseus.
ReplyDeleteThis is my first time reading The Odyssey and I honestly wasn’t excited about it. My first thought was how can I become interested in these characters but now that I have read through Book 20 I am invested in them. I want to see them to achieve their goals or have their dreams come true. We keep seeing all these characters find out that Odysseus is still alive and that he is in Ithaca but the one person that is I care about is Penelope. When is she going to know his identity? Is she ever going to know the truth? I think the first teaser we see between Penelope and Odysseus is in Book 17 when Penelope wants to speak with the beggar (aka Odysseus) but he puts it off until it is safe (line 626). This puts off the answers to my questions. I am interested to see what happens in this relationship.
ReplyDeleteThis is the first time I've read The Odyssey. I expect the story to end with Odysseus killing all of the suitors, sparing no one. He will play the game where he strings the bow and shoots through the axes, which will reveal his true identity; from there it's bloodshed. Then he'll have a lovely scene with Penelope and Telemachus will be able to peacefully move on and start his own story.
ReplyDeleteOne thing that I hope happens is that Odysseus will also strike down Melantho. It surprised me in the story to see one of Penelope's maids be so evil. "He'll box both sides of your skull with heavy fists/and cart you from the palace gushing blood" (18. 378-79). Here we see Melantho mistreating Penelope's and Telemachus' guest. This scene also revealed her to be, "Eurymachus' lover" (18. 368), which made me detest her character substantially more.
These expectations of closure add to my reading experience by making me more alert of certain textual passages that will (hopefully) culminate in a good ending. For example, because I am expecting a violent revenge on the suitors, anything they do wrong up until their deaths is just fuel to the fire, which makes the reading more enjoyable.
For this story, what I expect for the ending is a bit different from what I maybe hoped. I do believe that there will be a happy ending for Odysseus and his family because it’s his journey home that each chapter leads to. I don’t quite feel like Odysseus deserves HIS happy ending though. Throughout his journey he makes rash decisions that don’t seem to take others into account. He does what he needs to accomplish his owns wants and needs. The rest are just bystanders that inevitably lose their lives for him. Rather I wish the story would have taken a different turn to focus on Telemachus. Throughout the story it is portrayed how he is turning into a great man and leader and even how he himself feels he has grown up. “Soon enough, father,” his gallant son replied, “you’ll sense the courage inside me, that I know—I’m hardly a flighty, weak-willed boy these days.” (16, 342). Why tell us how much Telemachus is growing into a leader if it isn’t even him who we get to see take over and show what he has to offer? He is the one who has endured caring for his mother, their house, and dealing with the suitors for all these years and his reward is a father coming home that he only knows through other people’s accounts of him. Seems to me that he gets the short end of the stick.
ReplyDeleteThe first time I read the Odyssey, my expectations for the ending were to find closure in Ithaca with somewhat of a movie ending complete with Penelope forever in Odysseus' arms and Telemachus standing near the two in a state of bliss because of his fathers return. I was somewhat disappointed the first time I read the ending because it ends with Odysseus yet again leaving his wife Penelope, which bothered me. In this second reading, however, I found myself much more invested in Odysseus as a character and wanted him to have his happy ending. For this reason, I was quite pleased with the ending the second time through, because although Odysseus was probably happy to be back with his wife, in the end before Athena stops the battle, he is fighting happily along side his own aged father and his grown son.(Book 24) For a man, this seems to be the ultimate fulfilling ending to such a drawn out adventure. I will openly admit I don't love every aspect of Odysseus, but after being away from his family for so long and overcoming so many trials, I feel that he too deserves to have a reunion with his family. And this last scene in the book was really one of my favorite parts, with three generations of men fighting right along side each other.
ReplyDeleteSince I forgot to do this blog many weeks ago when it was due, I already know the ending to the book. However, I had read it before this class. Both times, I felt it hard to stay focused and interested in the book. However, our classroom discussions helped me think more in-depth. I started to actually care about Odysseus’s journeys and for him as a character. I also started to learn more of the characters, whereas the first time reading I was completely lost. I knew what ending was coming, but it is always comforting seeing the “right” ending fold out, no matter how many times you read something. I can say that last paragraph of the book tied up loose ends and gave the readers closure: “Once Athena spoke, Odysseus obeyed, joy in his heart. And then Pallas Athena, daughter of aegis-bearing Zeus, in shape and form looking just like Mentor, had both parties swear a solemn pact designed to last forever” (24.701).
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