Question

english 2
block: _____
name:
date:
the adventures of ulysses
study guide part three
nausicaa
vocabulary:
oracle - people?
supplicant-person who ask for help
perchance-by chance or accident?
cudgel-a short stick or club
bard-ancient poet or singer
invincible-unconquerable
identify:
actaeon
alcinous
ares
arete
diomedes
euryalus
nausicaa
questions:

1. what dilemma/problem were nausicaa, alcinous, and arete facing?
2. what advice did athena offer nausicaa?
3. how did ulysses and nausicaa meet?
4. for whom does ulysses mistake nausicaa?
5. what does the oracle tell the king?
6. in what way did the kings men want to defend him from ulysses (what did they plan to do to ulysses)?
7. why did ulysses refuse to say his name?
8. how did nausicaa learn ulysses true identity? how did the king react to the news?
9. what favor does ulysses ask of the king?
10. how did poseidon react when he discovered ulysses ship?
11. what happened to nausicaa?

Explanation:

All answers are based on Homer's The Odyssey (Ulysses is the Roman name for Odysseus):

1. They faced the dilemma of hosting a strange, shipwrecked man (Ulysses) while upholding Xenia (Greek guest-friendship laws) without endangering their kingdom or Nausicaa's reputation.
2. Athena, disguised as Nausicaa's friend, advised her to go to the river to wash clothes, where she would meet Ulysses.
3. Ulysses, shipwrecked and naked, emerged from the woods near the river where Nausicaa and her maidens were washing clothes.
4. Ulysses mistakes Nausicaa for a goddess at first glance.
5. The oracle told King Alcinous that a man (Ulysses) would come to his kingdom, and if he helped the man return home, Poseidon would punish the Phaeacians.
6. The king's men planned to ambush and kill Ulysses to prevent the oracle's prophecy from coming true.
7. Ulysses refused to say his name to protect himself from potential harm, as he did not know if the Phaeacians were friendly or hostile.
8. Nausicaa learned Ulysses' true identity when he revealed himself at the palace. King Alcinous was shocked but chose to honor Xenia and help Ulysses return home.
9. Ulysses asks King Alcinous for a ship and crew to carry him back to his homeland, Ithaca.
10. Poseidon was enraged. He summoned a storm to destroy Ulysses' Phaeacian ship, turning it to stone, and punished the Phaeacians by surrounding their island with a mountain range.
11. Nausicaa marries a prince from a neighboring kingdom, as she had hoped, and remains a respected figure in Scheria.

For the "Identify" section:

• Actaeon: A hunter who was turned into a stag and killed by his own hounds after seeing Artemis bathing.
• Alcinous: King of the Phaeacians, ruler of Scheria, father of Nausicaa.
• Ares: Greek god of war, lover of Aphrodite.
• Arete: Queen of the Phaeacians, wife of Alcinous, known for her wisdom and authority.
• Diomedes: A Greek hero of the Trojan War, who fought alongside Ulysses.
• Euryalus: A Phaeacian nobleman who mocked Ulysses, leading Ulysses to challenge him to a contest.
• Nausicaa: Princess of the Phaeacians, who found and helped Ulysses after his shipwreck.

Answer:

1. They faced the dilemma of hosting a shipwrecked Ulysses while upholding guest-friendship without endangering their kingdom/Nausicaa's reputation.
2. Athena advised her to wash clothes at the river to meet Ulysses.
3. Ulysses emerged from the woods near the river where Nausicaa was washing clothes.
4. Ulysses mistakes Nausicaa for a goddess.
5. The oracle warned that helping Ulysses return home would bring Poseidon's punishment.
6. They planned to ambush and kill Ulysses.
7. To protect himself from potential harm from unknown hosts.
8. Ulysses revealed his identity at the palace; Alcinous honored guest-friendship and agreed to help him.
9. Ulysses asks for a ship and crew to return to Ithaca.
10. Poseidon destroyed Ulysses' ship with a storm and punished the Phaeacians.
11. Nausicaa married a neighboring prince and remained respected in Scheria.

Identify section answers:

• Actaeon: Hunter killed by his hounds after seeing Artemis bathing.
• Alcinous: King of the Phaeacians, Nausicaa's father.
• Ares: Greek god of war.
• Arete: Queen of the Phaeacians, Alcinous' wise wife.
• Diomedes: Greek Trojan War hero who fought with Ulysses.
• Euryalus: Phaeacian nobleman who mocked Ulysses.
• Nausicaa: Phaeacian princess who helped shipwrecked Ulysses.