Krumwiede Odyssey Comic Assessment
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- Comic By Lucy Krumwiede
- "The Land of the Dead"
- From Homer's The Odyssey:
- Odysseus and his crew come upon the land of Laestrygonians, who are a "race of cannibals" (Homer Prologue). The Laestrygonians eradicate all but one of Odysseus' ships,--and the crews inside them. A lucky crew and Odysseus narrowly escape the appalling land and arrive in Aeaea where Circe, the "sorceress-goddess" turns much of the crew into pigs (Homer Prologue). After a long while, the men are returned to human form and Circe apprises Odysseus that he must travel through the land of the dead in order to return home. The reason is, he must discuss with Tiresias to find his way back home to Ithaca and be reunited with his family.
- I understand you desire to travel home, however, this will not be easy for you. You must travel to the land of the dead and "consult" Tiresias, the "blind prophet" (Homer Prologue)
- After traveling from Aeaea, Odysseus and his crew finally arrive in the land of the dead. Two men from the crew shackle down "the sacred beasts" as Odysseus spreads milk, honey, wine, and water around them as offerings in hopes to allure the dead (Homer 550). Odysseus vows to kill his "best heifer" as a sacrifice to the dead, and as a special sacrifice to Tiresias, he promises to sacrifice a black sheep (Homer 556). Odysseus slices both beasts and the dead's souls begin pouring out of every side leaving Odysseus "sick with fear" (Homer 570). However, Odysseus waits, he waits for the great God of Tiresias to arrive.
- Men, you must serve the peckish souls. Make them “burnt offerings of flesh” to hold them off (Homer 573). They mustn’t drink the blood before Tiresias, or else our mission will be in jeopardy. We must keep the “surging phantoms” away, it is our only chance of going home (Homer 576).
- The dead continue pouring in, including two who were important to Odysseus in the real world. The first soul Odysseus interacts with is Elpenor, one of his crew members who had died. Elpenor describes his unfortunate death to Odysseus and proceeds to ask that Odysseus "not abandon" him "unwept and unburied" (Homer 602) on the island of Aeaea. Pitifully, Odysseus agrees to return to the island to give Elpenor a proper burial. Then, the soul of Odysseus' mother appears, but Odysseus will not allow her to get near him or the sacrifice. This causes him to feel animus, but he must do it, even "through the pang on pang of tears" (Homer 618). At last...the great God Tiresias emerges.
- Oh Odysseus! You won’t believe my drastic death, I can’t even comprehend! I had been drinking, and I lay upon Circe’s roof. The stars were so beautiful that night. At some point I must’ve fallen asleep, waking to the sound of our rowdy crew. I was unaware of the “long steep backward ladder”, and I fell for what felt like a lifetime, landing with my neck underneath me (Homer 591). Oh Odysseus! You must return to the island, give me the proper burial I deserve!
- Almighty Tiresias depicts that the God Poseidon is greatly exasperated with Odysseus as he blinded one of his sons (the Cyclops). This will cause many troubles for Odysseus and his men on the remainder of their journey. Despite these circumstances, Tiresias explains that the men will make it home safely as long as they are careful. The key part in making it home safe is not touching Helios' cattle, for if they do--death is inevitable. Continuing, Tiresias warns Odysseus he might arrive home without any crew, and to find "home filled with trouble" (Homer 649). Tiresias predicts Odysseus will kill the men he finds in his home, and then must leave his home once again, arriving to a land where men have "never known the sea" (Homer 656).
- Odysseus, your past actions will leave you sore consequences. “Anguish lies ahead”, you have blinded the son of great Poseidon (Homer 633). Your key focus shall be to let Helios’ herds alone, if you follow these instructions, “hard seafaring brings you all to Ithaca” (Homer 644).
- The possibilities seem grim, but Tiresias is not done yet. He illustrates the opportunity for Odysseus to improve his situation, saying that once Odysseus arrives on the horrendous island, he must make specific sacrifices to Poseidon. If all instructions are followed, then he will be allowed to die a peaceful death, "soft as this hand of a mist" with people surrounding him (Homer 668). There are so many possibilities with horrid outcomes, but the possibility of being reunited with his son might overrule all the negative thoughts in Odysseus' mind.
- Shall you disobey orders and “raid the beeves” I see death for everyone, but you--you will suffer the most (Homer 645). On the dreadful island you will arrive upon, you must provide an excellent sacrifice to Poseidon. The beasts will be a “ram, a bull, a great buck boar”, sacrifice them to Poseidon, and live a peaceful long life (Homer 664).
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