LITERATURE CIRCLES

Discussion Director
Name: Javier Gamboa
Text: The Odyssey
Date: August 15, 2010
Books: 9-12

Discussion Director: Reading Homer's epics alone can pose a challenge as one
tries to untangle all the details and allusions of the lines. Even in a group setting, one
needs a guide to facilitate the discussion. Your task is to develop a list of questions for
your group to discuss about the assigned text. Asking each member for his input based
on his current role. Your task is to help people talk about the "big ideas" in the reading
and share their reactions. Usually, the best discussion questions come from your own
thoughts, feelings and concerns as you read, which you can list below, during or after
your reading. Think of THICK questions (as opposed to THIN ones) because they
generate deeper thought and discussion and do not have quick answers that can be
found in the text. Some words that can be used to start a “puzzler” or “open” questions
are: “Why…? How…? Have you wondered…? In what ways…? Can you think of an
example of…? What if…? Could/should/would…? If this story happened…? Does s/he
mean that…?”

Possible Discussion Questions:

1.
How powerful are names in Greek mythology? How was Odysseus able to
use false identity to his advantage? And why would he later admit that it
was he who stabbed Polyphemos' eye?

2. It is shown how Odysseus used trickery in several of his most heroic

feats, such as crafting the Trojan horse and fooling Polyphemos into
thinking that he was named “Nobody”. Why do you think he is still
considered a very noble hero? Is intellect and guile considered far greater
than truthfulness and integrity in Greek mythology?

3.
Can we still consider Odysseus a wise and admirable hero despite the fact
that his pride and brash actions caused so much grief and suffering for
 LITERATURE CIRCLES
himself and his companions, such as when he sacked the Kikonians' city and
led to the deaths of several men, and when he taunted Polyphemos, which
led to the curse of all his followers to die and himself to have a very difficult
time to return home? Why?

4.
Do you think that it is just that Odysseus, one favored by the gods and
famous to all, gains all the treasures while his companions, who have
endured all the trials he has faced, come out empty-handed and unblessed?
Why?

5.
It is shown here that Aiolos was deeply angered and refused to entertain
Odysseus when he returned to their house after they had already given him
conveyance. Does this imply that Greek tradition of hospitality only applies
once, and if they had already treated a guest, they can no longer treat
him/her or they will anger the gods?

6.
Because everyone's lives are bound to prophecies and fates spun by the
gods, do the Greeks truly have freedom? Are the great achievements of
heroes truly their own or manipulations of the gods? And what is the point
of Odysseus learning his own prophecy from the dead?