MOVIE: ULYSSES (1954) – REVIEW
The movie is inspired in the epic poem “Odyssey” by Homer. Its structure and style is similar to
“Iliad” so it is the other key to compose the Western narrative and literature.
The story starts with Ulysses trapped in the island of the nymph Calypso (this is not included in
the movie). After that, he goes to the island of the Phaeacians, where Nausicaa lives. After that,
the poem and the movie are very similar although we can’t see the scenes where conversations
among the gods are described.
(Notice that the legend of the Trojan Horse doesn’t appear in none of the Homeric poems, but
it’s so essential that appears in any movie about these topics).
Answer the following questions about the movie:
1. How did Ulysses contributed to the Greek victory in the Trojan War?
2. What is “the veil/tapestry of Penelope”? What does it symbolize?
3. Who was Nausicaa? What happened to Ulysses in her island?
4. How did Ulysses scape from Polyphemus’ cave?
5. How was Ulysses able to listen to the sirens chant and survive? What kind of voices did
he hear?
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6. Describe some tricks Circe used to keep Ulysses in her island?
7. What did Ulysses think about mortality and immortality? (Those ideas appear in a
conversation with Circe).
8. In the movie Circe shows Ulysses some dead people (notice that in the poem Ulysses
travelled to the Underworld to ask a magician for advice). Who did he meet there? Who
did convince him to go back to Ithaca?
9. Describe the final scene that involves Ulysses and the suitors.
UNIVERSAL TOPICS IN ‘THE ODYSSEY’
HOMECOMING:
The concept of the Return is explored in ancient Greek literature. In the Iliad it affects most of
the Greek and it is particularly strong in Odysseus. His main objective after the end of the war is
to return home.
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CLEVERNESS / INTELLINGENCE:
It appears as the main characteristic of the hero Odysseus. Mention three examples of that:
a)
b)
c)
TEMPTATION:
The topic of temptation as a psychological peril is portrayed by the sirens who lure sailors to
their deaths by seduction. They represent the ideal audience: the sirens sing about the most
glorious moment of your life, tempting you to stay with them. Your own weakness makes you
vulnerable; your greatest weakness comes from inside you.
Where else can we find that Odysseus is tempted? Explain it.
DISGUISE:
Another significant topic is Disguise. In the case of the gods, they disguise themselves so that
they can interact with mortals. Athena in particular assumes many disguises including a
shepherd, a girl or Telemachus.
Odysseus is also able to disguise his identity when he returns to Ithaca. Explain it.
HOSPITALITY:
It was essential in Greek culture. During that time, beggars or travellers often knocked on a
stranger's door searching for a place to stay. There are specific steps to offer hospitality
beginning with the feeding of the guest, which is of utmost importance since food is rare at that
time and beggars beg for food, not money. Before the food is given, a bath is offered to the
stranger, done by a woman or a servant—often different depending on the status of the visitor.
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After the food is given, the beggar is asked who he is and where he is from and stories are
exchanged. Next, they are offered a bed to sleep on and it is understood that they can stay
overnight and at the most another night. When the beggar is leaving, there is an exchange of
gifts, if the beggar does not have a gift to give, he receives one anyway.
Does Penelope show a hospitable behaviour? How?
Do the suitors follow the rules of hospitality? Why?
MARITAL FIDELITY
What character represents it?
THE JOURNEY (the main topic in the Odyssey)
The journey becomes a metaphor for human life, a search for the meaning of existence.
It can be an external trip (physical, terrestrial and extraterrestrial) or an inner journey (mythical,
into hell and into dreams).
The mythic journey born with classical epic and the best example is the Odyssey. The hero has
a mission (to conquer Troy), on the road he faces a series of adventures and dangers with the
help of supernatural beings and ends with the homecoming.
Another important example of journey in classical Greek culture is ‘Jason and the Argonauts’
(but I won’t spoil the plot since we are to watch another movie about it).
The legacy of the Iliad and the Odyssey in the Roman culture is Virgil's ‘Aeneid’. Investigate
what this story tells, and summarize it here:
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The Journey in the Middle Ages appeared in the myths related to King Arthur.
Find out what the Knights of the Round Table searched. Choose one of the characters who
undertook that journey and summarize his adventures here:
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This is a poem (translated into Spanish) by the Greek poet CONSTANTINO CAVAFIS (1863 –
1933). It’s a tribute to Odysseus and to the idea of the Journey.
ÍTACA
Cuando emprendas el regreso a Ítaca,
ruega que el camino sea largo,
lleno de aventuras, de conocimiento.
A los Lestrigones y los Cíclopes,
al irritado Poseidón, no les temas;
no hallarás tales cosas en tu camino
si tu pensamiento es elevado, si una sublime
emoción embarga tu espíritu y tu cuerpo.
A los Lestrigones y los Cíclopes,
al feroz Poseidón, no los encontrarás
si no los llevas en tu alma,
si tu alma no los pone ante ti.
Ruega que el camino sea largo.
Que sean muchas las mañanas estivales
en que lleno de placer y alegría
entres a puertos vistos por primera vez;
detente en los mercados fenicios
y adquiere hermosas mercancías,
nácar y coral, ámbar y ébano,
y toda clase de perfumes voluptuosos,
todos los perfumes voluptuosos que puedas;
visita muchas ciudades egipcias
para aprender más y más de los sabios.
Ten siempre en tu mente a Ítaca.
Tu meta es llegar allí.
Pero no apresures de ninguna manera el viaje.
Mejor que dure muchos años,
y viejo ya ancles en la isla,
rico con cuanto ganaste en el camino,
sin esperar que Ítaca te dé riquezas.
Ítaca te dio el hermoso viaje.
Sin ella no hubieras salido al camino.
Pero ya no tiene nada para darte.
Y si la encuentras pobre, Ítaca no te ha engañado.
Tan sabio como has llegado a ser, con tanta experiencia,
ya habrás comprendido qué significan las Ítacas.
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