Class Notes/Learning Log/Textbook Notes
If you read today, write me some
Notes on the book you read,
explaining Main Ideas,
Questions, and characters in or
about the book.
Name: Mrs. O’Brien
Class: Academic English I
Period/Block:
Date:
Topic: Homer’s Odyssey, Books v & ix
Book V: Calypso the
Sweet Nymph
Calypso
italics
Line 1 epithet
Lines 1-9
Lines 9-12
Sea Goddess
Kept Odysseus captive for seven years.
Zeus sent Hermes to tell her to let him go and
Help him build a raft
He must sail for 20 days before landing on Isle of
Scheria
“Hermes the Wayfinder”
Description of Hermes wearing “beautiful, golden,
ambrosial sandals” flying over the water and land using
his wand to charm men to sleep or wake.
Epic simile comparing Hermes to a sea gull
Lines 15-30 Calypso’s
Cave
Is it dark and scary?
Calypso described as divine in line 15
Does it tell us something
about Calypso herself?
Outside, “summer leaves of alder and black poplar,
pungent cypress” sensory details smell, sight
Many different types of birds “followers of the sea”
Why is it important that
The cave walls are
smooth not rough?
“great fire blazing” “scented farthest shore with cedar
smoke and smoke of thyme” sensory details, smell,
touch (heat)
She is singing and weaving. (hearing)
How do you feel when you read these lines?
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© 2004 AVID Center. All rights reserved.
27-3
Who is this?
“The strong glittering god”
references to Odysseus as
1. Ll39-42 “But he saw nothing of the great
crying and staring
Odysseus,
seaward…why is this
Who sat apart, as a thousand times before,
important
And racked his own heart groaning, with eyes wet
Scanning the bare horizon of the sea…”
2. LL45-48 “…went to find Odysseus
In his stone seat to seaward—tear on tear
Brimming in his eyes. The sweet days of his life time
Were running out in anguish over his exile.”
3. Ll52-54 “But when day came he sat on the rocky
shore
And broke his own heart groaning, with eyes wet
Scanning the bare horizon of the sea.”
LL 43-54
What qualities of
Odysseus’ loyalty and determination. Although a
Odysseus are emphasized captive of beautiful Calypso, he still longs for home
here?
and looks to the horizon.
LL 69-74
Calypso tells Odysseus that if he knew what he would
face at sea he would stay and become immortal.
LL 75 “…Though you wanted her forever,
That bride for whom you pine each day.
Can I be less desirable than she is?
Less interesting? Less beautiful? Can mortals
Compare with goddesses in grace and form?”
L80 “the strategist Odysseus” example of epithet because Odysseus is shrewd , diplomatic and
cleverly flatters Calypso to allay her jealousy and anger while he remains loyal to Penelope.
Italics Summary: Calypso helps Odysseus build a raft .
he sails for 17 days
3 more days he fights storms
swims to shore on the 20th day
crawls onto shore.
rests under some bushes.
Goddess intervention: Athena helps him sleep so “that his distress should end, and soon, son.
Ll91-93
In quiet sleep she sealed his cherished eyes.”
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© 2004 AVID Center. All rights reserved.
Latin roots: versare means to turn often. What do you think versatile means in line 69?
Summary, Analysis, Reflection
Odysseus has been held captive by the enchanting sea goddess Calypso for 7 seven
years until Zeus sends Hermes to order her to let him go. He has pined for
Penelope the entire time even though he has been sharing Calypso’s bed.
He finally arrives on the Island of Scheria and hides in the bushes where Athena
“showered sleep” over him.
Odysseus battles with the basic human emotions of love and longing.
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© 2004 AVID Center. All rights reserved.