Cool Connector

Name: Quirby Alberto

Text: Books 9 to 12
Date: August 16, 2010
Books: The Odyssey of Homer

Cool Connector: Homer's The Odyssey has helped set the blueprint for modern
literature and archetypal characters. Your challenge is to connect the text to current
or past real world events (WORLD), your personal experiences (SELF), or to other
forms of literature, music, art and/or media (TEXT) (Indicate the Book # ). Once
you have shared your connection to the text, each member of your group will also
relate their own connection to the book, although they may refer to a different
passage.

Real World Connections (WORLD): Relate text to real situations.

The text can be connected to the real world with regards to the
beginning of feminist existentialism that began during the early
1960s. This wave came as a response to the notion of men defining
themselves as authentic and active beings, while they define women
as inessential others, thereby degrading females as the inferior sex. In
connection, the Greeks' patriarchal society and myths admired strong
and active women, but they were also an object of fear and may be
subjected to punishment as a transgressor. In relation to the list of
royal wives and daughters, Agamemnon's narration of Clytemnestra's
treachery in book 11 line 431 and following represents such a threat.

http://ajdrake-240-spr-07.blogspot.com/2007/02/week-04-homer-
pindar.html

Personal Experiences (SELF): Relate text to real experiences

you’ve had.
The text can be linked to my life as well since there are times when I,
too, become pompous and boastful. For example, while my friend RJ
and I were playing pingpong during PE, I had won 7 games out of 11.
As a result of my arrogance, there may very well have been tension
between us, brought upon by my provoking and dishonorable actions.
This is rather similar to what happened to Odysseus in book 9 after all
his gloating about making others aware of the act he has achieved. In
addition and contrary to how Odysseus was described to be cunning,
it was quite stupid of him to reveal his true identity, thereby
eventually paying the price of Poseidon's vengeance.

Literature and Media (TEXT): Relate text to other books, movies,

art, and media.
The text can be associated to The Third Voyage of Sinbad the Sailor,
when by ill chance he and his companions were cast upon an island
where they were captured by an ogre like cyclops, with fierce red eyes
and long fangs. This monster began eating the crew, beginning with
the fattest. Then, Sinbad hatched a plan to blind the giant, with the
red hot iron spits. Now blinded, the one parallel to Polyphemus in book
9 line 118 and following was unable to catch them and fumbled his
way to the door and stumbled out, screaming horribly. As they made a
raft out of pieces of driftwood and rode it, the giant that is distinctly
Polyphemus started to hurl great rocks at them.

http://www.ebookmall.com/downloads/Seven-Voyages-Sinbad-
AD38.pdf

The text can also be affiliated to the Epic of Gilgamesh since both
Odysseus and Gilgamesh are known for traveling to the ends of the
earth, and on their journeys go to the land of the dead. On their
voyage to the underworld, Odysseus followed specific instructions
given to him by Circe as seen in book 10 line 553 and following, while
Gilgamesh got directions from a divine helper, the goddess Siduri,
who like Circe dwells by the sea near the edges of the earth that
seems to have close connections with the sun.

http://www.answers.com/topic/odyssey#Near_Eastern_influences

LITERATURE CIRCLES