1.

On the basis of a close reading of the proems to both the Odyssey and the Iliad, consider ways in which the concerns of the two poems may be the same and different.

2.

Keep close track of references to Odysseus himself in the first 4 books of the Odyssey. What effect is his absence having on the people of his home, particularly his family? What are they particularly concerned about? What about his effect on others, for instance those who had been with him at Troy? What are some responses we see to the absence of Odysseus, on Ithaka and elsewhere, including in the divine sphere?

3.

Scenes of hospitality, of receiving and entertaining guests, are very common in the early books of the poem. What are some shared aspects of these scenes? What defines the etiquette of entertaining strangers? If there are rules, where and how are they broken? How do scenes of inhospitability interact with instances of proper behavior between hosts and guests?

4.

Consider representations of singers, story-tellers, and other performers in the Odyssey, including Odysseus himself. What are the effects that songs in particular have on their audiences? How might scenes of poetic performance within the poem be analogous to, or otherwise reflect on, the poem itself? Consider not only the settings in which songs and tales appear, but also their content. What types of activities get turned into song?

5.

The Odyssey connects itself to events of the Iliad and of other familiar mythological events in a number of ways. Where and how do other heroes of epic, such as characters from the Iliad, enter the story of the Odyssey? How are their experiences similar and different to those of Odysseus?

6.

Throughout the Odyssey we see Odysseus in the company of women. Consider some of the prominent female figures (human and divine) to associate with Odysseus in the first 12 books of the poem. How are they similar and different to women in the Iliad, for instance? What makes Penelope, Odysseus’ wife, special? Pay particularly close attention to her.