Summary
Summary How do disguises contribute to the success of the Odyssey?
- Course
- Institution
A* Notes - includes direct quotes and explanations for essay writing on disguises as a theme in the Odyssey
[Show more]
Seller
Follow
chloeshao
Reviews received
Content preview
XeniaXenia is a reciprocal agreement between host and guest. This code behaviour was seen as a law sacred to
Zeus. To harm your host or guest was to harm Zeus himself, and the consequences of violating were dire.
Book I: good xenia from Telemachus towards Athene; awful xenia from the Suitors – they are taking
advantage
Book V: good xenia from Calypso towards Hermes; bad xenia towards Odysseus because she keeps
him longer than he wants
Book VI: good xenia from both Odysseus and Nausicaa
Book VII: good xenia from Alcinous (apart from having to be reminded by Echeneus)
Book IX: bad xenia from Odysseus and the Cyclops
Book X: good xenia from Aeolus the first time, then refusal so as not to offend Zeus; bad xenia from
Laestrygonians; bad xenia from Circe, then very good xenia
Book XIII: very good xenia from Eumaeus
Book XVII: very good xenia from Telemachus; Antinous throws a stool at Odysseus in a perversion
of xenia
XVIII-XXI: good xenia from Penelope, very bad from Suitors
XXII: revenge for bad xenia!
Critics:
Urban: ‘The suitors vying for Penelope’s hand form a pivotal point in the plot and make the largest
infraction against xenia and the responsibilities of the guest.’
Chris Emlyn-Hones: ‘Much of the dramatic suspense in the Odyssey arises from the postponement
of autobiography inherent in the conventions of xenia (the guest is not questioned until after the
supper).’
Reece: ‘Antinous takes a footstool, an implement associated in normal circumstances with proper
hospitality and peaceful banqueting, and casts it at the beggar. This perversion of proper hospitality
by Antinous with its symbolic transformation of peace into war, of banquet into battle, links this
circuit inextricably to the third, the Suitors’ slaughter.’
Clarke: ‘This Epic exploits the themes of the guest host relationship and eating and drinking.’
Richard Jenkyns: ‘The touchstone is above all the treatment of strangers and beggars, who are
especially under the protection of Zeus. The test here is not for aristocrats only, but one by which
people of all kinds can be judged. The formulaic method brings out the social range of this
morality.’
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller chloeshao. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $11.09. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
Can Stuvia be trusted?
4.6 stars on Google & Trustpilot (+1000 reviews)
56326 documents were sold in the last 30 days
Founded in 2010, the go-to place to buy study notes for 14 years now