THE ODYSSEY

Gender
- wary and reserved characterising Penelope
- Artemis and Golden Aphrodite divine comparison
- so, mother, go back to your quarters. Tend to your own tasksas for giving
orders, men will see to that, but I most of all: I hold the reins of power in this
house
- [spread] fleeces over the carved, inlaid chairs before [rushing] straight to the
prince[hugging] him warmly, [kissing] his head and shoulders objectification
- that radiant womanpaused now where a column propped the sturdy roof,
with one of her loyal handmaids stationed either side syntax
Violence
- stake, stabbing, Straight sibilance
- Strong is good, weak is bad
Deception
- Here, Cyclops, try this wine to top off the banquet of human flesh youve
bolted down! reported speech
Justice
- You sluts the suitors whores! diction
- They showered abuse on my [Telemachus] and [his] mothers too! social
class
- Cry of triumph- support for Odysseus actions. d
Characterisation
- Fool, barbarian, cunning diction
THE PENELOPIAD
Gender
- each of these sacks is full of words hers a reasonable size extended
metaphor giving voice to women
- They were very angry, not the east because theyd been fooled by a woman
- The suitors helped themselves the same way they helped themselves to the
sheep and pigs and goats and cows simile, anthropomorphism
Religion
- It was Pallas Athene, goddess of weaving, whod given me this idea, and
perhaps it was true, for all I know direct intertextuality
Deception/manipulation
- Motif of weaving shroud
- If a man takes pride in his disguising skills, it would be a foolish wife who would
claim to recognise him: its always an imprudence to step between a man and
the reflection of his own cleverness manipulating maids.
o Penelope the Prissy Chorus
Justice
- We had no anaphora voicelessness lack of capitalisation
- Owls [that] sprout feathers, and fly away symbolism knowledge about
injustice
- Envoi eerie/haunting tone unequal treatment of women
Characterisation
- You wouldnt want to wake up in the morning and find yourself in bed with your
husband and a herd of Apollos cows allusion
- Marriages were for having childrenchildren were for passing things along...
sarcastic tone.
- Were no more real than money real girls, real flesh and blood, real pain,
real injustice irony loveliest, most beguiling - diction