The Odyssey is a fairly interesting book, although some parts are a bit too rambly. I thought it was strange how people had favorite children. I guess that parents probably favor one child a bit more, but going straight out and saying "...was his favorite son..." seems odd. I have decided that I would never want to become immortal. Living to be very old would probably be okay, but being immortal means you would have to watch everyone around you die, as well as watching the whole world change around you. Sometimes when other people are in disguise, or people don't yet know their name, it is confusing to understand what the people know and what they don't. Ulysses thought he might have to deal with savages on the cyclopes' island, so why did he go in the first place? It was really gross when the story described the Cyclopes eating the men and when Ulysses was gouging his eye out. Yuck! I was thinking that the bowl Ulysses filled with wine to give to the Cyclopes must have been really big, considering the size difference between them. When Circe turned the men into pigs it reminded me of the movie Spirited Away, when the parents turn into pigs and are going to be slaughtered. I thought it was very rude of Ulysses to not even care when Elpenor died. I would have been very offended when I came back to him as a ghost. THE BOOK FINALLY USED A DIFFERENT DESCRIPTION FOR THE MORNING! I only wish it happened more often. The Sirens remind me of the Veelas in Harry Potter, although the Sirens are more extreme.
I enjoy reading The Odyssey once I get into it, but sometimes it cannot hold my attention.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Monday, November 14, 2011
The Odyssey: Books 5-7
Now the Odyssey's story is finally beginning! It is going much faster than Telemachus' part of the story was. These are some questions that I have from books 5-7:
1. When Calypso gave Ulysses the heavy clothes, which later weighed him down when his raft was shipwrecked, did she do that on purpose? She knew that he would have struggles ahead, so did she give him the clothes in hopes to drown him?
2. "...he floated about for 2 nights and 2 days in the water...". Was he just floating on his back or did he have a piece of the raft?
3. What are shuttlecock and battledore? It sounds like some kind of game. ("...winds were all playing battledore and shuttlecock with it at once.")
I was confused at first when Minerva was talking to Nausicaa in the form of her friend. It made more sense when I found out it was a dream. I was surprised at the amount of boasting Nausicaa does when she is telling Ulysses which house was her father's. It seems like such hospitable people wouldn't brag so much. Overall, the book isn't really confusing anymore, and I don't have tons of questions about it.
1. When Calypso gave Ulysses the heavy clothes, which later weighed him down when his raft was shipwrecked, did she do that on purpose? She knew that he would have struggles ahead, so did she give him the clothes in hopes to drown him?
2. "...he floated about for 2 nights and 2 days in the water...". Was he just floating on his back or did he have a piece of the raft?
3. What are shuttlecock and battledore? It sounds like some kind of game. ("...winds were all playing battledore and shuttlecock with it at once.")
I was confused at first when Minerva was talking to Nausicaa in the form of her friend. It made more sense when I found out it was a dream. I was surprised at the amount of boasting Nausicaa does when she is telling Ulysses which house was her father's. It seems like such hospitable people wouldn't brag so much. Overall, the book isn't really confusing anymore, and I don't have tons of questions about it.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
The Odyssey Book 4
Here are some of my thoughts and questions about Book 4 of the Odyssey:
Helen's only daughter's name is Hermoine, which might be where JK Rowling got the name for her character! Although they seem like completely different people from the description I read; Hermoine from the Odyssey is said to be as fair as Venus, while Hermoine Granger is not the most beautiful girl ever (in the books at least).
I have noticed that almost everyone Telemachus meets is extremely hospitable and welcoming. They just give them food and drink before even asking their names!
I am still confused between some of the Roman and Greek names, and I got a Mythology book from the library with all of the Roman and Greek names and descriptions of characters and important items/places in mythology. It was very helpful.
Are talents a form of measurement? The word was used in this sentence: "...to which he had promised 2 talents of gold...".
These are some other words I wasn't sure about:
Barrow- "I raised a barrow to the memory of Agamemnon..."
Chalice- "...give you a beautiful chalice....you may think of me whenever you make a drink offering..."
Overall, the book is beginning to get exciting and interesting!
Helen's only daughter's name is Hermoine, which might be where JK Rowling got the name for her character! Although they seem like completely different people from the description I read; Hermoine from the Odyssey is said to be as fair as Venus, while Hermoine Granger is not the most beautiful girl ever (in the books at least).
I have noticed that almost everyone Telemachus meets is extremely hospitable and welcoming. They just give them food and drink before even asking their names!
I am still confused between some of the Roman and Greek names, and I got a Mythology book from the library with all of the Roman and Greek names and descriptions of characters and important items/places in mythology. It was very helpful.
Are talents a form of measurement? The word was used in this sentence: "...to which he had promised 2 talents of gold...".
These are some other words I wasn't sure about:
Barrow- "I raised a barrow to the memory of Agamemnon..."
Chalice- "...give you a beautiful chalice....you may think of me whenever you make a drink offering..."
Overall, the book is beginning to get exciting and interesting!
The Odyssey Book 2 and 3
I am liking The Odyssey more and more as I read further. It is becoming easier to understand, probably because I am getting used to the style of writing. For Books 2 and 3 I have a couple questions:
1.What is the difference between a god and an immortal god? Homer uses both terms multiple times, is it just for poetic reasons, or is there an actual difference?
2. Why does everyone assume Ulysses is dead? I mean, he has been gone for a long time, but wouldn't you still want to have hope that he is alive? I would keep hoping he will come back because it would be a sense of security for me.
3. I have noticed that some of the names end with the same suffix. For example, Telemachus and Eurymachus. Is there a specific meaning to the suffix?
4. Up until Minvera flys away as an eagle, does Telemachus know it is Minerva?
5. What is a tambour frame? I think it is a loom or something similar, but I'm not sure.
I have noticed that Homer uses the same phrases a lot. Some of these include: "Now when the child or morning, rosy-fingered Dawn" and "each had drunk as much as he was minded". I really like the first phrase, it is beautifully written. The last line in Book 3 sounds as if it should belong in Book 4, the paragraph before had already closed the book nicely, and this line hangs it off the edge too much.
1.What is the difference between a god and an immortal god? Homer uses both terms multiple times, is it just for poetic reasons, or is there an actual difference?
2. Why does everyone assume Ulysses is dead? I mean, he has been gone for a long time, but wouldn't you still want to have hope that he is alive? I would keep hoping he will come back because it would be a sense of security for me.
3. I have noticed that some of the names end with the same suffix. For example, Telemachus and Eurymachus. Is there a specific meaning to the suffix?
4. Up until Minvera flys away as an eagle, does Telemachus know it is Minerva?
5. What is a tambour frame? I think it is a loom or something similar, but I'm not sure.
I have noticed that Homer uses the same phrases a lot. Some of these include: "Now when the child or morning, rosy-fingered Dawn" and "each had drunk as much as he was minded". I really like the first phrase, it is beautifully written. The last line in Book 3 sounds as if it should belong in Book 4, the paragraph before had already closed the book nicely, and this line hangs it off the edge too much.
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