Demodocus in the odyssey

Demodocus, verily above all mortal men do i praise thee, whether it was the muse, the daughter of zeus, that taught thee, or apollo. Start this article has been rated as startclass on the projects quality scale. Because demodocus sings about the trojan war and remembering the long war makes oddyseus all sad. Demodocus second song is one of a betrayed husband, hephaestus. His melancholy at the phaeacian games prompts an insult from broadsea, which in turn provokes an intense series of challenges between odysseus and the phaeacian youths. On this occasion he sings of the illicit love affair of ares and aphrodite in. Everyone listens with pleasure except odysseus, who. In homers odyssey, we encounter two different examples of poets, one hailing from the halls of ithaca, and the other from the land of the. He urges odysseus to finally reveal his identity and to explain his tears. Now when the child of morning, rosyfingered dawn, appeared, alcinous and ulysses both rose, and alcinous led the way to the phaeacian place of assembly, which was near the ships. The scenes with demodocus give a glimpse into the role of the bard in ancient greek society. Odysseus states this explicitly to demodocus odyssey 8. It is the first of three songs which meditate on the relative merits of stratagem and. Nov 27, 2016 demodocus songs not only propel the narrative but comment on the overarching themes of the odyssey, which becomes a commentary on the role of narrative outside of texts.

Demodocus, whose name means beloved of the people, has several important functions in book 8, not the least of which is that demodocus gives us a clear picture of the importance of the bard in. What are the themes of the three songs which demodocus sings. His mother, a goddess, had made him invulnerable, either by holding him in a fire as an infant or dipping him in the river styx. Demodocus odyssey character in the odyssey by homer, demodocus greek. This guy is the phaiakians blind bard, and hes traditionally been thought without any real basis to be a representation of homer himself. Only alcinous notices his tears, and he asks the bard to stop singing. What is odysseus reaction whenever demodocus sings about. Demodocus song of the quarrel of odysseus and achilles anticipates the quarrel between odysseus and euryalus at the phaeacian games, and looks forward to odysseus dealings with the suitors in ithaca. There, a blind bard named demodocus sings of the quarrel between odysseus and achilles at troy.

Demodocus deemahduhcus blindness legend has it, of course, that homer himself was blind. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of the odyssey and what it means. His tears at demodocus s song attract alcinous s attention and ultimately force him to reveal his identity and relate the history of his anguishfilled journey. The odyssey by homer, the blind poet demodocus essay bartleby. Invoked by the muse, demodocus obeys and brings odysseus to tears. The odyssey, an epic poem by homer, tells the tale of war hero odysseus and his long journey home to ithaca after the trojan war. Demodocus playing the harp in an illustration of homer s odyssey by john. Asked in the odyssey why does odysseus cry when demodocus sings.

To entertain the banqueters, alcinous summoned his minstrel, demodocus. The more complicated a character is, the more he or she engages these major themes. A servant presently led in the famous bard demodocus, whom the muse had dearly loved, but to whom she had given both good and evil, for though she had endowed him with a divine gift of song, she had robbed him of his eyesight. The only difference is that odysseus allows demodocus to finish his song because he understands what telemachus scolded penelope for. The major themes in the odyssey are especially significant because they serve to form the moral and ethical constitution of most of the characters. Demodocus, odysseus, and the trojan war in odyssey 8 jstor.

Additionally, though he makes no mention of it again after book 8, homer has already hinted that odysseus has aroused the affection of princess nausicaajust a short while after escaping the demanding attentions of the divine calypso. The odyssey by homer, the blind poet demodocus essay. This in itself is the main requirement one must meet to be a bard. What is the meaning of this song at this particular place and time in the narrative. Two bards considered 24 may 2015 15 jan 2020 great books guy in homers odyssey, we encounter two different examples of poets, one hailing from the halls of ithaca, and the other from the land of the phaeacians. Everyone listens with pleasure except odysseus, who weeps at the painful memories that the story recalls. In response odysseus plays the role of poet, or maker in book ix by detailing the odyssey, proper. Like phemius, homer does not allow us to hear him speak, only about his songs. When demodocus, the blind bard, sings of the exploits of those at troy, odysseus weeps, causing king alcinous to suspect that a hero of the trojan war is among them. In odyssey 8 in odyssey 8 the phaeacian bard sings two songs on the trojan war, the ve6ko. Sep 04, 2017 the odyssey of homer is a greek epic poem that tells of the return journey of odysseus to the island of ithaca from the war at troy, which homer addressed in the iliad. He sang songs about troy in the feast that made odysseus cry because they reminded him of the war. Jun 27, 2019 finally, i retell demodocus aphrodite and ares story, and discuss homers purpose in including the story in the odyssey.

What effect does the song sung by the harper demodocus have. Demodacus sings about the trojan war that happened some years ago, and he talks about achilles. Achilles uhkilleez achilles was the greatest fighter of the greeks besieging troy. Demodokos article about demodokos by the free dictionary. In odyssey 8 the phaeacian bard sings two songs on the trojan. This bard could sing of all life had to offer, having himself been favored with the gift of song but cursed with blindness. The quotes that follow contain some of the most important examples of odysseus cunning, as well as the importance of other key characters and the. The death of achilles and a festival at delphi part ii. Phemius, the court singer in the palace of odysseus in ithaca, and demodocus, who lived in the town of the semimythical phaeacians and sang both for the nobles in alcinous palace and for the assembled public at the games held for odysseus. Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans.

Odysseus is known for his wit, craft, and cunning, traits he uses to escape danger and eventually return to ithaca. In book 8 of the odyssey, what does the blind poet. The odyssey describes two such poets in some detail. If you would like to join the wikiproject or learn how to contribute, please see our project page. But when they had put from them the desire of food and drink, then to demodocus said odysseus of many wiles. And summon, demodocus, the divine bard, for a god has given him supreme powers of song, to give delight, in whatever form his spirit prompts him to sing.

What song does demodocus play while everyone dances for odysseus. The famous bard of the odyssey, who delighted the guests of alcinous by. And the chosen fiftytwo went, as ordered, to the shore of the barren sea. During odysseus stay on scherie, demodocus performs three narrative songs.

At this point in the odyssey, odysseus is the guest of the phaeacians, his true identity unknown. After each of demodocus performances, homer emphasizes odysseus desire to hide his tears. In book 8 of the odyssey, what does the blind poet demodocus. If you need assistance from a classicist, please see our talk page. This article is within the scope of wikiproject classical greece and rome, a group of contributors interested in wikipedia s articles on classics. Demodocus song of the quarrel of odysseus and achilles anticipates the quarrel between odysseus and euryalus at the phaeacian games, and looks forward. Homer as an oral poet of odysseus in ithaca, and demodocus, who lived in the town of the semimythical phaeacians and sang both for the nobles in alcinous palace and for the assembled public at the games held for odysseus.

Banquet in the house of alcinousthe games the odyssey. At this little meeting, alcinous orders that a ship and crew be prepared for later that day. In odyssey, book 8, just after the athletic contests, the bard demodocus plays on his lyre the song, the love of ares and aphrodite crowned with flowers page 200, lines 300ff. And demodocus answers his call, picks up the, the, the, his musical instrument, and goes ahead and tells the story of the trojan horse, in which odysseys figures prominently, provokes the, the great hero to tears, and sets off the course of events that leads unknown to try to call him out and figure out ways to try to identify this man. The king then invites everyone to the banquet and calls in his blind. The reader learns about the characters through the themes. The first song of demodocus the first song of demodocus finkelberg, m. Demodocus has left his lyre at my house, so run some one or other of you and fetch it for him. Demodocus article about demodocus by the free dictionary. Oct 23, 2012 the song of the love triangle between hephaestus, ares and aphrodite from odyssey 8 sung in greek. Odysseus finally identifies himself and agrees to recount the story of his wanderings. In homers the odyssey, demodocus is a blind poet or storyteller who often visits the court of alcinous, king of the phaeacians on the island of scherie. Hes a major reason that we think of homer as blind. Demodocus, the blind but everwise bard of the phaeacians, sings of troy and the achaeans just as phemius did, and his words cause odysseus to cry just as penelope did.

Be there demodocus the bard of fame, taught by the gods to please, when high he sings. The kleos of the achaeans sung by the bards is, especially, the tale of their painful trials. Finally, i retell demodocus aphrodite and ares story, and discuss homers purpose in including the story in the odyssey. On this a servant hurried off to bring the lyre from the kings house, and the nine men who had been chosen as stewards stood forward. The iliad and demodokos first song in odyssey 8 show agamemnon as an almost perfectly bad leaderwith one important exception, that he was personally brave and shared the lethal risks of combat with the rest of his forces. Demodocus, odysseus, and the trojan war in odyssey 8. The song of the love triangle between hephaestus, ares and aphrodite from odyssey 8 sung in greek. How are his reactions to the songs important for the narrative. A comparison of this work with the lay of demodocus odyssey viii, 266 ff. As the poet of the phaeacians, demodocus sings three songs the first and the third of which bring odysseus to tears, though they are concealed beneath his blur cape, noticed only by king alcinous. As the text describes him, he is, the great teller of tales 9. The main elements are the situation in ithaca, where penelope, odysseus wife, and their young son, telemachus, are powerless before her arrogant suitors as they despair of odysseus.

Demodocus sings again later in the book with what effect on odysseus. The bard demodocus describes how the wooden horse full of achaean soldiers secretly entered troy, and how the achaeans burst from the horse and defeated the trojans. In the odyssey by homer, demodocus is a poet who often visits the court of alcinous, king of the phaeacians on the island of scherie. Even in his sorrow, odysseus practices dissimulation, as if the act of hidingliterally behind a mantle or figuratively behind lies and ruseswere a defining characteristic of his nature. At other moments in the narrative, the need to refrain from crying and to hold back tears is emphasized. With this he led the way, and the sceptered princes followed, while a herald went to bring the divine bard. What is the significance of the blind bard demodocus who. The odyssey book 8 the phaeacian games context summary at dawn, athene goes around the city in towncrier disguise, shouting the news of the strangers coming and the upcoming feast. He began by singing of achilles and odysseus, and this brought tears to that heros eyes. What relationship does it bear to the games that have just preceded it. Mar 11, 2014 demodocus, the blind but everwise bard of the phaeacians, sings of troy and the achaeans just as phemius did, and his words cause odysseus to cry just as penelope did. The author of the homeric hymn to aphrodite, indeed, goes one step further, since he makes. A servant hung demodocus s lyre on its peg for him, led him out of the cloister, and set him on the same way as that along which all the chief men of the phaeacians were going to see the sports. I agree with your differences between odysseus and bards like demodocus, whose job it is is to entertain.

Homer, odyssey book 8 theoi classical texts library. He then moved into the midst, and around him stood boys in the first bloom of youth, well skilled in the dance, and they smote the goodly dancing floor with their feet. Demodocus the minstrel according to homers the odyssey, while odysseus was staying in the court of king alcinous, demodocus began playing a song about the heroes of greece and the trojan war. Theme and relevance to odyssey 8 the story of ares adultery with aphrodite, told in the song of the phaeacian court poet demodocus at odyssey 8.

A conflict between odysseus and achilles in the iliad 4. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. The first song, selected by demodocus, has been the subject of much debate which has concentrated on its mythological authenticity and function within odyssey 8, while the. Demodocus first song is the only overt reference we have to a vewico.

This attention has been largely concentrated on the content with the earliest criticism taking the form of moral objections. Demodocus songs not only propel the narrative but comment on the overarching themes of the odyssey, which becomes a commentary on the role of narrative outside of texts. When they got there they sat down side by side on a seat of polished stone, while minerva took the form of one of alcinous servants, and w. His mother, a goddess, had made him invulnerable, either by holding him in a. One story makes odysseus recite demodocus song about the. Since achilles was odysseuss comrade, odysseus started to weep about his pains. What effect does the song sung by the harper demodocus. Again, alcinous notices and commands odysseus to reveal his name and his story. So saying, he led the way, and the sceptred kings followed him, while a herald went for the divine minstrel. The episode concludes with odysseus big reveal, and with the olympian gods reward to the phaeacians, for being such devout practitioners of xenia. Eumaios is ithakan swineherd who takes odysseus in when he returns home in the guise of a beggar, and he shows us that its not just kings who can be hospitableeven swineherds know how to treat a guest right. Banquet in the house of alcinous the games the odyssey. It is assumed that homer fictionlized himself, the blind bard, as the character demodocus, a bard also blind who entertained odysseus while in alcinous court. However, odysseus does not necessarily need a great voice to be a bard.

The odyssey what are the two songs that demodocus the bard sings in book 8 about and how do they affectrelate to odysseus own situation. Banquet in the house of alcinousthe games now when the child of morning, rosyfingered dawn, appeared, alcinous and ulysses both rose, and alcinous led the way to the phaeacian. He began by singing of achillesand odysseus, and this brought tears to that heros eyes. During odysseus visit on scherie, he sings three narrative songs, two of which make odysseus remember his sorrow and cry. Get an answer for what effect does the song sung by the harper demodocus have upon odysseus. The king notices odysseus s grief and ends the feast so that the games can begin. The odyssey tends to be blander in expression and sometimes more diffuse in the progress of its action, but it presents an even more complex and harmonious structure than the iliad. What handicap did demodocus the minstrel suffer from. Demodocuss first song, the one concerning odysseus and achilless disagreement at troy, serves a useful function in the poem, namely to provide information about odysseuss character and background. How does the bard aoidos demodocus on scheria compare and contrast with the bard phemius on ithaca book 1. Explain why the figure of the bard, demodocus, is important. The internet classics archive the odyssey by homer. These storytellers related the adventures of the gods and heroes, passing on greek valuesas well as providing considerable entertainment.