Monday, January 31, 2011
Odyssey Book VII
How does Odysseus's introduction to the Queen and King differ from the way he introduces himself to Nausicaa? Why does he choose each way of introduction for each person? How does Athena assist Odysseus on his way to the palace and why does she feel it is necessary to help him reach the palace? How does the Athena, while she is disguised, give a small hint that she is a goddess?
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Well, when Odysseus was deciding whether to introduce himself to Nausicaa, he decides to plead her for help instead of grasping her knees and begging. However, when Odysseus is meeting the King and Queen, he uses a different approach and clasps the Queens knees begging for her help.
ReplyDeleteAthen is disguised as a little girl, takes pitty on Odysseus once again and puts this enchanted mist around him so no one can bother him, and she leads him to the palace.
When Odysseus introduces himself to Nausicaa, he contemplates two courses of action: either throw himself at Nausicaa to gain her pity, or remain at a distance, and win her with his words. He decides upon the latter, not wanting to alarm the young girl and intimidate her. The opposite is true when Odysseus meets the King and Queen. He throws himself on the Queen, knowing that the only way to gain the favor of the people is to gain her support. This tactic appears to be successful, as Odysseus is invited to stay for dinner, and given the seat next to the King.
ReplyDeleteHowever, before Odysseus meets the King and Queen he must find their palace. In this task he is assisted by Athena, who is disguised as a little girl. Athena wishes to help Odysseus because, as mentioned before, she has a great fondness for him. At one point in the journey Athena lets slip that "the king lives right beside my noble father". This hints at the fact that her father is Zeus, and that she is a goddess.
When Odysseus first introduces himself to Nausicaa, he remains at a distance to avoid alarming young, innocent Nausicaa. When he presents himself to the King and Queen, he is fully clothed, so he does not hesitate to embrace the Queen’s knees. Athena assists Odysseus to the palace by disguising herself as a little girl and surrounding Odysseus in a protective mist.
ReplyDeleteWhen Odysseus introduces himself to Nausicaa, he is reluctant in being getting to close to her because he is afraid that she will be afraid if she sees him coming so close. He is hesitant and thus slowly approaches her. However, once he is bathed and clothed, he is not afraid that the King and Queen will be afraid of him, and he therefore decides to beg. Athena assists Odysseus by covering him with a thick mist that makes him unseeable to anybody, while herself changing to a young girl.
ReplyDeleteWith Nausicaa, Odysseus questions whether to go and introduce himself or not because of the fact that he was naked and not in the best presentable manner. But, when he goes and meets the king and queen, he is clothed, bathed, and fed so there is no hesitation in fear of getting judged. Athena must shield Odysseus because of the curiosity of the townspeople of a stranger. They would completely bombard him with questions so that is what she must do. She covers him with a mist and this is how she slightly reveals that she is a goddess.
ReplyDeleteWhen Odysseus introduces himself to Nausicaa, he wins her over with words, but when he introduces himself to the King and Queen, he grasps the Queen's knees. He chooses these ways because Nausicaa is only a young girl, and he is nude when they met. If he grabbed her knees, it might scare her. Athena is disguised as a little girl and assists him to the palace by shielding him with mist. She accidentally says "the king lives next to my noble father" which hints that her father is Zeus.
ReplyDelete-Sorry this is late, I was coming to the blog to look for Peter's post and I realized then that this is where we should have responded yesterday, and decided to do it now.-
When Odysseus was introuduced or found by Nausicaa, it was definetely a very awkward time because he was naked and he did not know what to do. He decided to stay back and not grasp her knees. However when Odysseus was introduced to the King and Queen, he grasped the Queen's knees. He also knows that it is the King and Queen so he is not afraid therefore he will beg. He chose this way because as I said before, Nausicaa was probably scared when she saw Odysseus for the first time and she did not know what to do. And if Odysseus grasped Nausicaa knees, she would have been petrified.
ReplyDeleteWhen Athena set up the whole event for Odysseus to find Nausicaa, I'm surprised she didn't think it all over, given the fact she most likely knew he was naked. Honestly if I was Nausicaa i would have ran, because if I ever see a large unclothed man running at me and I'm unarmed, I will obviously run. When Odysseus walks to the queen, I liked how Athena covered him with a mist. I didn't, however, completely understand it. Did she make him invisible, or did she actually put mist around him? I don't know about everyone else, but if I saw mist just moving through my palace, i would be really confused and wonder what was happening.
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