PART 2 ~ Illuminate the Text
Literary Devices
Imagery
"Reaching the spot where all the heirlooms lay, Menelaus chose a generous two-handled cup; he told his son Megapenthes to take a mixing-bowl, solid silver, while Helen lingered beside the chests, and there they were, brocaded, beautiful robes her own hands had woven. Queenly Helen, radiance of women, lifted one from the lot, the largest, loveliest robe, and richly worked and like a star it glistened, deep beneath the others," (15. 112-119).
In this passage, Homer paints a perfect picture of what is going on in the palace. Menelaus and Helen are preparing beautiful gifts and readers can even sense the magnificence of everything. Homer creates such detail whether it be about the silver mixing bowl, Helen's beauty, or the glistening robe.
Tone
"She found him there with Nestor's gallant son, bedded down in the porch of illustrious Menelaus-Pisistratus, at least, overcome with deep sound sleep, but not Telemachus. Welcome sleep could not hold him. All through the godsent night he lay awake...tossing with anxious thoughts about his father," (15. 4-9).
This demonstrates emotion very clearly. I can almost feel Telemachus's pain as he is constantly remembering Odysseus. We can see his true personality and the character developing as his feelings get the best of him.
Epic Machinery
Long, Formal Speeches By Important Characters
When Telemachus meets Theoclymenus, he listens to Theoclymenus's long story about how he has to leave his land because he killed someone of his own tribe. He says he is fleeing death and that he has been wandering across the world for a long time. Another example is when Eumaeus tells his entire life story and how he is still affected by the struggles and hardships he has faced. I feel that Homer adds all this information to make the story a lot more interesting and then readers can see who the characters truly are.
Histories and Descriptions of Significant Artifacts
"Of all the treasures lying heaped in my palace you shall have the finest, most esteemed. Look, I'll give you this mixing-bowl, forged to perfection-it's a solid silver finished off with a lip of gold. Hephaestus made it himself. And a royal friend, Phaedimus, king of Sidon, lavished it on me when his palace welcomed me on passage home. How pleased I'd be if you took it as a gift!" (15. 123-131).
Translator's Notes
"...in love with this hospitality; I fear he'll hold me, chafing in his palace-I must hurry home!" (15. 223-225).
"Welcome the coming, speed the parting guest!" (17. 74-81).
The translator's notes state that Telemachus and Odysseus have had to deal with hosts that have trouble letting them go. Especially in Book 15, "on his way back from Sparta to Pylos, he manages to evade what he fears will be an intolerable delay if he goes to Nestor's palace." This is showing that even though he appreciated Nestor and Pisistratus, he did not want to visit when they got to Pylos because he was wanting to both get revenge on the suitors and get back home to Penelope.
GUIDING QUESTION
1. Do you believe it was rude of Telemachus that he was not really a polite guest when it came to staying at Menelaus's palace? What about with refusing to stop to visit Nestor?
2. What would you have done if you were in his situation?
No, I don't think it was rude for Odysseus to stop and visit Menelaus and Nestor (again) on his way back home. This is mainly because Telemachus had a calling sent out to him in the form of a dream in which Athena had told him to come home in fear that the suitors will take over his standing at home and go after his mother. I don't think it was rude, I actually think it was brave to put everything aside in order to reach your goal: to put aside hunger and safety in order to get what you want was an incredible feat from Telemachus, especially because he has had trouble with retaliation and being a leader. One example is because Athena had to push him to go against his mother to find long lost Odysseus and she had to round up a ship crew for him. Telemachus has a history of being known as reliant on others. I guess the only way that he may be considered rude is if his potential hosts very deeply insist that he stays and receives a gift for his travels. But even gifts may backfire. Odysseus has troubles in book 13 when he reaches the shore and doesn't know what to do with the pile of glimmering gold junk on the shoreline of Ithaca. So it is possible that Telemachus was doing the right thing by skipping the stops.
ReplyDeleteI do not believe Telemachus was intending to be rude, even if it may have been interpreted that way. If I were in his situation and I was confronted by a god and she told me to do something, I would get that done without hesitation. I think Telemachus just had one thing on his mind and that was the only thing he cared about doing at that time. In my opinion, he was doing exactly what he should have done because the gods require a significant amount of more repect and loyalty than the immortals. If I were in his situation I would have done the same thing.
ReplyDeleteTelemachus was not really in the position to consider his courtesy if he was pressed on by the gods. It is clear that Telemachus realizes his duty and duty surpasses the need to stay and please the host. I agree with Michael's position regarding Telemachus' history. It clearly shows his maturation, to become an independent will rather than be a play mate to the hosts. If I were in his position, I would have done the same, because even if I had safety amongst my hosts, my own possessions would still be in danger.
ReplyDeleteI don't think Telemachus was trying to be rude at all. Maybe it seemed like that at first but it's only because he is so anxious to find out about Odysseus and it probably just got to him. But no, I think he handled the situation well and if I was in his place, I think I would do the same thing.
ReplyDeleteTelemachus was most certainly correct in his actions of leaving the palace ahead of time and refusing to visit Nestor because at times there are things that are more important than politeness. Athena, a god, came to Telemachus and told him what his next move needs to be. He cannot just disregard this and approach her advice as a mere suggestion. If a god asked something of me I would do my best to abide by that request, forgetting about prior obligations. He also must have realized that Athena was right in her advice because it was about his mother and the fact that he should find a way to get home as fast as he can, which should have prompted him to take action sooner. I would react in the same way if I were in Telemachus' shoes.
ReplyDeleteI think that a reason why it's alright for Telemachus to leave ahead of time is because, like the introduction says, hosts aren't supposed to distract the guest. I think this is especially true when they have to go on their way to fulfill advice given by a god. I would have reacted the same way as Telemachus, knowing that my mother is going to be courted by a bunch of pesky suitors.
ReplyDelete