Unit 7

  English 201: 
  Masterpieces of Western Literature
.Unit 7 Reading Course Reading Entry Page
Introduction Background .Explication Questions Review
Review:

You met characters at OD's palace, including:

Piety: You should be familiar with Greek folk piety illustrated by Eumaios' hospitality to OD (the beggar).  Remember that Athens is not a secular society.  It is devoted to Athena as much as Jerusalem was devoted to Yahweh.  Consequently, there is little difference between religious piety & civic piety.  Life in the city is somewhat comparable to monastic life in early Christianity.  The idea in both cases is that one's manner of life is offered as adoration.

Civic Power: The major theme in this section is civic hospitality & the negative illustration of how not to foster a city.  Antinoos & the suitors usurp power in OD's palace expressing contempt for the people that they should feel paternal care for.

Humility. There is an associated theme of humility.  OD must not simply respect those without overt power (symbolized by girls such as Ino & Nausikaa), he must feel what it is like to suffer injustice & be powerless to do anything about it other than to invite the perpetrator to be ashamed.  OD must have this experience in order to know what is required to foster civic dedication & loyalty among all citizens, even the poor & dependent. Sarpedon's definition of a leader as a military champion (12.362: "the main thing is their fighting power, when they lead in combat!") is redefined by the example of OD into a public servant.
 

This is the end of unit 7.  Next week you will finish The Odyssey by working through unit 8.   See you then.