BOOK 14 Stuff

Characters: Odysseus (Disguised by Athena as an old vagabond.)
                   Swinehearder (Odysseus's servant.)

What Happens?!? - Odysseus, now looking like a greasy old hobo, walks to his faithful servant's dwelling. The swineherder doesn't recognize him of course, but nonetheless, invites him in and they enjoy a fresh-slaughtered pig-feast. Odysseus listens to the swineherder talk about his fond memories of his master. (Whom he presumes is dead.) Odysseus reassures him that he will return one day, but the swineherder doesn't really believe him due to all the suitors that come in and promise good news of Odysseus just to get close to Penelopeia. However, after talking with him, The swinehearder takes a liking to Odysseus and feels that he is different, and gives him a bed for the night. He even gives him a cloak to keep warm in the night.

List + Explaination of THEMES:

Hospitality - The swine herder invites him in and gives him bread and wine. Then odysseus told him where he came form and what his trouble are. 

Loyalty - The herder kept his cloak nice and in good condition. He is also distressed about Penelopeia's worsening emotional conditions and refuses to let Odysseus stay for fear that he may just be another one of the suiters that eat away Odysseus's wealth.
Motif - Storytelling - How does this appear? Why?
Odysseus tells stories to the swineherder to reassure him throughout the chapter, despite the swinerherder's skepticism, that his master will return soon. He twists a story of his war experiences in the point of view of another soldier that gets taken to Egypt and somehow winds up on Phaiacia where he sees Odysseus. This renews the swineherder's hope and helps him take a liking to 'Odysseus' which leads to him getting a bed and cloak for the night.


RETELL THIS BOOK! -~-~- Jake is Rapping/Singing!@#!@#!@#!@#!@#!

Odyssey ~~~ Books 5-8

Book 5: The Gods agree that Odysseus has endured enough on Ogygia and send Hermes/Argeïphontes to fly down and deliver their message to Calypso so that Odysseus can go home.

Book 6: Nausicaä and her maids find Odysseus while washing their clothing. Nausicaä invites Odysseus back to her palace to meet her father so that he may return home safely.

Book 7: Odysseus enters the Palace of Alcinoös who welcomes Odysseus into his house. He speaks with Odysseus and sees that he must be granted a safe voyage home with whatever he desires and his citizens will cater to him.

Book 8: Before Odysseus leaves, events, games, and art activities are happening around the island. Odysseus cries at the tale of a minstrel which causes Alcinoös to divert his attention towards the sports. Odysseus is challenge and upon his delcine, insulted. Once offended, Odysseus proves himself and throws a stone farther than anyone had ever done so on the island.

THEME: ~-~-~-~-~-~ Hospitality: Hospitality is seen in each chapter as Alcinoös/Nausicaä both happily invite Odysseus to stay in the their palace. They treat him with great respect and try to cater to his needs and give him as much entertainment as possible.

1) Odysseus encounters the Ciconians after leaving Troy. How did his men not listen to him? What is the result of this?
     His men stayed in the city after all the men were killed. This gave the survivors time to seek help from neighbouring lands who were fierce warriors and easily outnumbered Odysseus's crew. Due to this, they were ambushed the next day while his men sat drinking wine and eating the livestock. Six men-at-arms from each vessel were killed but they managed to escape on their ships.

2) Who were the Lotus Eaters? What happens to Odysseus’ men after they ate some of the lotus?
     Natives of an island that Odysseus and his crew end up being blown by the wind to. They offer some of his men some of the lotus 'flowers' which causes their memories and determination to get home to fade away. Because of this, Odysseus has to drag them back to the ship and lock them up to continue their voyage.

3) How did Odysseus and his men get trapped in the Cyclops’ lair? Why couldn’t they get out after the Cyclops went to sleep?
     They went into the cave and helped themselves to all of the Cyclops's goodies. But he came back in and scared the men into a corner and placed a huge stone over the entrance that none of them could move, thus trapping them.

4) What is the “Stranger’s Gift” that the Cyclops gives to Odysseus? How does this break the “law” of hospitality? How many men does the Cyclops eat?
     There was food and livestock everywhere in the cave that the men thought they would be able to be given by the Cyclops. However, the Cyclopians feel that they are stronger than the gods (according to this one in particular.) and instead of being hospitable to these strangers, he takes two of the men and kills them, smashes them up, cuts them open, and eats them for dinner.

5) How does Odysseus trick the Cyclops?
     Tells the drunken Cyclops that his name is 'Nobody' so that when he stabs it in the eye with the staff, the Cyclops shouts 'Nobody's killing me!' causing the neighbours to not worry about him.

6) Where does Odysseus’ pride work against him?
     He feels so proud that he had outwitted the Cyclops and he wants him to know exactly who he for he lacks the knowledge that Polyphemos is the son of Poseidon. His specific information that he gives the Cyclops is then translated to Poseidon by Polyphemos's prayer. Due to this, Odysseus and his men are to never return home.

7) Why was the gift of Aiolos ruined? What theme does this back up?
     Because the men didn't know what was in the bag and had assumed it to be treasure. They felt left out because they had followed Odysseus around this whole journey and had come back without any spoils of war. They get curious when Odysseus finally falls asleep and open the bag, blowing the ship back to Aiolia.

8) What happened with the Laistrygonians?
     They were big giants and when they sought after the king, a giant horde of the Laistrygonians started throwing rocks and slaughtering Odysseus's men.

9) Who lived on the island of AIAIA?
     Circé, goddess and daughter of Helios.

10) What did Circe turn Odysseus’ men into?
     Men with Pig Heads!!! :(

11) How did Odysseus overcome Circe? With who’s help?
     He takes a drug that protects him from Circé's spell and with Hermés's instructions, he overcomes her when he charges at her with his sword.

12) How long did Odysseus stay with Circe?
     A Year

Act 5 Questions

Scene 1
1.) What do the nurse (gentlewoman) and the doctor see?
          Lady Macbeth come into the room holding a candle, sleepwalking. After a while she begins to shout about the damned spot. (The blood/guilt on her hands.)

2.) What does Lady Macbeth mean when she says, "Out, damned spot! Out I say!...will these hands never be clean?"?
          It is a reference to the blood on her hands, and the guilt it all symbolizes. The washing of her hands can be done an infinite amount of times and the blood will never go away because her husband and her took the life of such a great king in their own house. (Multitudinous seas incarnadine)
           
3.) What is wrong with Lady Macbeth at this point of the play?
          She's going down the same road her husband is, she may have been cursed too, but she is definitely going crazy. The doctor thinks this is just a strange supernatural occurance and feels that a priest is needed because her mind is infected and plagued and she is spewing forth vile rumors and horrible truths.


Scene 2
1.) What happens in this scene? What new characters are introduced? Why?
          People in the army are meeting about the whereabouts of people and when they should all meet up with them. They all seem to meet at Birnam Wood.
          New people = Menteith and Caithness

2.) What is significant of the scene?
          It shows the people not putting up with Macbeth anymore. They've all had it and they know he is a tyrant and will not stand for him killing everybody all the time! They are all meeting and hoping to overthrow him. It also sets up the men hiding themselves as trees, causing Birnam Wood to rise to the fronts of Dunsinane hill where the witch prophecy will be fulfilled and Macbeth will be slain!!!

3.) What is meant when Caithness says, "Some say he'd mad; others that lesser hate him do call it valiant fury."?
          Some say he's crazy, others who don't hate him as much as we do, say he's being bravely mad in fortifying his castle. Either way, he is bent out of control and has been having nonsensical fits of rage and must be stopped.

Scene 3
1.) How would you describe Macbeth's attitude and mood in this scene?
          He is arrogant, pretty sure about what the witches said about Birnam Wood reaching Dunsinane. However his cockyness becomes his downfall and did not realize the witches equivocative speakings. He feels invincible, but when news comes about the English forces near his castle, he appears a little confused or dismayed. Nevertheless, he seeks comfort from Seyton whom he wishes to get his armor and weapons for him. He feels he must be prepared to take this battle but will slowly lose hope...

2.) Why isn't Macbeth afraid? Do his soldier's seem afraid? Why or why not?
          He feels that he isn't going to lose because of the witches' prophecy, but his soldiers are to be hanged if they should fear battle, so they are probably afraid for their lives due to his cruel ways of treating them.

Scene 4
1.) What does Malcolm order the soldiers to do?
          Each soldier should take a branch from Birnam Wood and hold it over their heads as they make their way to approach Dunsinane. This way, when the scouts of Macbeth look, they will not be able to tell how many men are advancing on the castle.


Scene 5
1.) What is meant when Macbeth says, "She should have died here-after"?
             She should've died after the war so that there would be more time for him to think about her death and mourn.

2.) What is significant of the following quote, "Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player, that struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is heard no more. It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury. Signifying nothing."?
          Life is meaningless. Macbeth has given up hope. Human existence really means nothing and his passing is no more/no less significant than any other human beings in all of history. It's just a game to be played where no one wins or loses. Just nothing.

Scene 6
1.) What is important about this scene?
           The scene shows that Malcolm's army had reached the front of the castle. It is also fulfills the prophecy that Macbeth would not be defeated until Birnam Wood had reached Dunsinane.


Scene 7
1.) Who does Macbeth kill in this scene? What is significant about this death?
          Siward's son. Siward is English and it signifies that there must be English sacrifice to vanquish the tyrannical Macbeth. Young Siward is also born of a woman.


Scene 8
1.) What happens in this scene?
           Macbeth is encountered by Macduff.
2.) Why does Macbeth lose heart in the fight against Macduff?
           Because he has lost everything and doesn't have much else to gain after murdering everyone and losing his wife, losing all respect from everyone else that's alive and important, as well as having no chance to becoming a brave, respectable warrior again after his tyrannical reign as king.
3.) Who is named king at the end of the play?
          Malcolm.

Act 4 ~~~ Study Questions~!

Scene 1
1.) What are the four visions that Macbeth sees?
          A knight's helmet, a bloody child, A crowned child with a tree in his hand, and 8 kings followed by the ghost of Banquo.

2.) Which visions does he misread or misunderstand and why?
          The 3rd. He will be defeated when the Birnam Woods move. Since forests don't just up and move from their position in the soil, Macbeth feels he will be king for the rest of his life! However, it's the final trick from the witches and you know that they can't be telling the truth through these visions.

3.) What news does Lennox bring Macbeth?
          He tells Macbeth that Macduff has fled to England.

4.) What does Macbeth decide from Lennox's news?
          He decides to act on his decisions and plans to raid Macduff's castle, conquer Fife, and kill everyone in his family!!

5.) How might this scene be a possible climax for the play?
          Macbeth takes his final meeting with the witches which begins his fall due to their trickery.

Scene 2
1.) Why does Shakespeare include a scene with Lady Macduff and her son?
          To transition from Macbeth taking action from his decisions to the people who will feel his latest decision of murdering all in the bloodline of Macduff.

2.) What is important about this scene?
               To reinforce the people who are going to be slain by Macbeth mentioned in the previous scene.

3.) List one motif or symbol from this scene.
          When Lady Macduff asks her son how he will live, and they strike up a conversation involving birds.

Scene 3
1.) Why has Macduff Come to England?
          He came to prepare an army to take down the tyrannical Macbeth.

2.) What is Malcolm's fear in lines 10-19?
          He's scared that since Macbeth has already killed his father yet hasn't done anything to Macduff because he's been away. Because of this, Malcolm feels that Macduff could be using him as a sacrifice to get on Macbeth's good side by letting Macbeth kill him to ensure the bloodline being destroyed further.

3.) Who does the lamb represent in these lines?
          Malcolm and the Angry God is Macbeth.

4.) What is significant in the lines, "Angels are bright still, though the brightest fell. Though all things foul would wear the brows of grace, yet grace must still look so."?
          Angels are still bright, even though the brightest angel (Lucifer) fell from God's gace. Though this is true, even the evilest still wish to be pure and hold good intentions, even the greatest and most graceful must do the same.
               Malcolm is comparign Macbeth to Lucifer. Once a brave warrior, worthy to receive the title of Thane of both Glamis and Cawdor. However, he has taken a great fall in his journey to becoming King and going crazy and freaking out at everyone then killing them.

5.) What is significant in the line, "Bleed, bleed, poor country!"?
          The country is Scotland and it is bleeding under the oppression and corruption of Macbeth.
          
6.) What does Malcolm call Macbeth? What list of adjectives does he use?
          A big, tyrannical sinner. A bloody, luxurious, avaricious, (VOCAB WORD!) false, deceitful, sudden, malicious, and smacking of every sin that has a name.

7.) How has Malcolm changed since act II?
          He has developed a strong hate for Macbeth. He didn't really feel any hate towards him in act II because the only thing on his mind back then was fleeing the country for fear of being death-ed. (Killed!)

8.) What is the atmosphere of this scene? Why is this important?
          Secretive, troublesome, and filled with hate. Macbeth's image as a brave warrior (eagle) and good guy is gone. Now everyone finds him to be a tyrannical, corrupt murderer and Malcolm and Macduff are plotting behind his back secretively to rebel against his army and take him down for the good of Scotland.

9.) What news does the doctor bring? How is this symbolic to the scene, especially to Malcolm?
          News of many sick people waiting for the King's touch to heal them from their horrible disease. The king can be symbolic to Jesus/God contrasted with Macbeth (King of Scotland) being compared to Satan/Lucifer. Since all previous spoken hate of Macbeth that happened earlier in the scene, King Edward is used to support the Good vs. Evil/Dark vs. Light theme.

10.) How many men did England lend Macduff?
          Ten Thousand

11.) What does Macduff mean when he says, "But I must also feel it as a man."?
          Malcolm tells Macduff to dispute the slaughtering of his family like a man by getting revenge on Macbeth in the most malicious way possible, but Macduff must feel it as a man. The current situation with Macduff holds so much grief that he can't act back upon Macbeth due to his lack of having any children. The first step Macduff takes in feeling his predicament as a man is blaming himself for their deaths, calling him self a dreaded sinner for being away while he should've been protecting them.

Vocabulary Part 2 (Macbeth's Going Crazy!)

          "Avaunt! Leave my house you treacherous vision! Torment my mind and soul no longer!" Macbeth would call out to the thin air of his castle at night. He'd be cloistered in his chambers at night while the rest of castle tried to sleep. Not even Lady Macbeth would join him for she was very angry with him. She felt as if she lost a husband ever since his coronation. Lady Macbeth felt that his eminence had made him very lonely and the only companionship apart from her were his little imaginary friends that he would yell at in the dark hours. She made a vow that if he continued this for one more night...she would get a divorce!

          Macbeth went and talked to the witches again because he was almost positive that they were feeding the strange apparitions to his mind for him to go crazy off of. He strolled to the meadow where they first met and sure enough, a big, smoky mist rolled in and three mystical silhouettes appeared to greet him. He yelled at them, he accused them, he pointed his fingers at them, but Macbeth received a reply consisting of the three hideous women simultaneously putting their finger to their lips; silencing him as they raised a crystal ball from the grassy earth. Macbeth was intruiged as he saw his wife in the magical orb. The first witch put a hand on his shoulder for comfort as they all watched her file for divorce. A pair of tears darted down Macbeth's cheek because he knew of the verities they told him when they promised him king.

           When Macbeth returned, he kept very quiet so that his wife couldn't hear him. He figured he could just kill her as he did Banquo and Duncan. It was the only way to counteract the witches' predictions. Macbeth began to tip-toe through the corridors to find some knives in which he would stab her. He anticipated a large stack to be in the guard house outside, however it was locked and Macbeth didn't feel like breaking down the door. So he furtively dashed back inside and hoped to find promising results in the royal kitchen. Sadly, there were only knives designed for jam and butter; yet there was more in the kitchen that was worth noticing. Duncan was standing on a large, mahogany table staring Macbeth down. Macbeth shrieked too loud, causing Duncan to float towards him. Macbeth could only react with harsh screams. He then started to plead "Oh Duncan, I will avouch for your murder, I never meant it to be this way! Just don't haunt me pleeeeaaassseee!!!!!!!!!!" Lady Macbeth was in the dining room during the commotion. She was startled, but quickly rose from her chair, hurried out the door to make a run for the divorce office.

           Lady Macbeth returned to the castle shortly after to find a pair of servants taking away Macbeth's throne. She had filed for divorce in such a way to feed her own avarice. Macbeth would no longer be king, he would be kicked out of the castle, all of his belongings were now hers, all of his kingly powers were now held by her, and his throne was to be burned in a bonfire in the town square. Now that Lady Macbeth was the ruling monarch in Scotland, her faced showed impeccable mirth. She had the power to do almost anything now without her wimpy husband getting in the way of things.

            Macbeth on the other hand, fell into a deep depression. He ran across the countryside to escape Duncan. (Who had been floating towards him in chase ever since the kitchen incident.) He never stopped running until he reached the sea, in which he swam with all his might with the hovering ghost in hot pursuit. We can infer that he probably drowned or got scooped up by a whale in a feeding frenzy. Other skeptics believe he made it all the way to Iceland and somehow became a thrall to spend an eternity working the fields with the ghostly Duncan mocking him.

Vocabulary Wooooooooooords... (Jan. 17th - Jan. 22nd)

Avaunt - (adv.) away, hence, go away, leave, depart.
          "Avaunt, you foul creature, begone from my sight!"

Thralls - (n.) A slave, someone in thralldom. (Slavery)
          "The woman shrieked in horror as she passed her tyrannical husband whipping the thralls."

Posterity - (n.) All descendants of one person.
          "The dog was buried next to his posterity in the Huntington Family Pet Cemetary."
 
Homage - (n.) Respect or reverence
          "The man wore a single white glove when he performed onstage as an homage to Michael Jackson."

Cloistered - (adj.) secluded from the world.
          "Boo Radley led a very cloistered life until Scout and Jem started putting things in the knothole."

Equivocator - (n.) someone who uses vague word choice/language in order to refrain form speaking the truth.
          "When Pedro interrogated with Joseph, it was hard to get a straight answer from him due to Joseph being an expert equivocator."

Avarice (n.) an insatiable greed, addiction to wealth and richness.
          "The Queen's avarice grew to great extremes as she murdered all of her subjects who didn't cough up enough money for taxes."

Parricide - (n.) Act of killing one's father, or a father-killer.
          "Cyrsius challenged Archius for committing parricide and wished to battle him to the death in the coliseum."

Verity - (n.) A true factual idea, belief, or subject.
          "Elderly man Hank was convinced at the verities of unicorns, orks, and goblins."

Malevolence - (n.) The feeling of malice, being bad, not good.
          "There was so much malevolence in the castle, everyone began to turn on each other and all trust was broken; pretty soon, all the guests either had a knife in their back or poison in their drink."

Eminence - (n.) A high rank or title.
          "The lieutenant dreamed that one day he could hold an eminence such as general or commander."

Liege - (n.) A feudal subject, servant, or vassal
           "It never ceases to amaze me how every time I walk into a room, someone always bows before saying 'O, my liege, it is an honor!'" boasted the snobby king.

Mirth - (n.) Extreme happiness, amusement, usually coupled with laughter
           "When Samuel found out that he inherited $400,000,000,000 dollars from his great great great grandfather, he trembled with mirth because he couldn't contain his positive emotions."

Avouch - (v.) to admit, confess, or take responsibility
           "Tommy said that he would never avouch for stealing the Robinsons' cat, but I knew he didn't and I was tell my mom on him!!!"

VOCABULARY ~~~ PART 2 (Why Witches Hate Macbeth)

           It was that time of the day when I normally get my exercise by walking through the forest. I prefer to do this at night rather than in the day because I meet much more interesting characters and beings that way. This night was no exception, for it was this night I would meet three of the most peculiar creatures I have yet to see on my midnight strolls. Witches!!!!!

          As you know, I was walking in the middle of the dark, spooky forest. I am quite the dauntless man and am not afraid of the dark, or supernatural beings, or being ripped to shreds by a passing wolf. None of that scares me. Because of this, I went sauntering my way through the forest and caught myself whistling merry show tunes. It was quiet at first, but as my pace increased, so did the volume of my music. Due to this, I had unsurprisingly gained myself quite the attention. Little squirells were poking their heads out of their tree holes to investigate, foxes came scurying by, and three witches appeared before my in a ghastly puff of smoky magic. I was sent down to the ground due to the force of their abrupt arrival.
          I immediately looked up at their hideous figures and asked them their business in the forest and why they ever so rudely interupted my whistling. They said that they were waiting for Macbeth to show. I had heard of a brave warrior named Macbeth that lead Scotland to victory against the Norwegians days earlier, and the witches confirmed that this was the same man as they were talking of. They surmised that he would become King of Scotland and they wished to tell him this. It was all a big huge plan that they had to tell him of his future. All I heard was the one witch prate on and on about it until she came to the point of his kingship leading to his death. I cocked my head to the side when I heard this and demanded more info. The witch to the left (the ugliest one) laughed and asked, "Have you not heard? Macbeth is a bounteous man, and those who are nice, loyal, and generous deserve a slow, painful, and humiliating death!"

         That was awfully cruel I thought, and those witches shouldn't really have any control over the destinies of the good-willed and generous. I continued to question them just why they hated 'good' people. The answer given was that it was the command and wish of the almight Graymalkin and Paddock and some other name I don't seem to remember. Perhaps they are witch gods, or maybe high ranking witches that tell other witches to do their bidding. I had not the slightest clue, but they began to chant a surfeit of names of people who were on their mystical list to be tricked into their death.

         By this point, I was tired of their pointless blabbering about killing good people so I got up from my position on the rocky earth, dusted myself off and continued walking. The witches looked at me awkwardly as I strode away from them, but I didn't care, they were boring me. I wanted to get back to my cottage before the sun rose so I could make myself some tea.

         I eventually got home and heard the news about the new Thane of Cawdor, Macbeth! It appeared that the witches had carryed out their plan sooner than I thought. Although I knew of the witches intentions, I knew it was beyond me to intervene and possibly save Macbeth, so I sipped some tea from my silver chalice, ate a piece of bread, sat on my bed and took a nap...