Gruntled History Teacher Podcast

After a hiatus during the start of the school year, my literature teacher sister and I return to our discussion of the Odyssey. Books 10-12 include:

* The winds of Aeolus and how the Greeks are their own worst enemy.

* The Laestrygonians and the gradual stripping away of civilization, gods, and humanity from Odysseus.

* Pigs and human appetites, Hermes makes another appearance, and why Odysseus and Circe go to bed together.

* The underworld, Tiresias, and Odysseus’ meeting with his Mother.

* The parade of female and male heroic cameos. And why Achilles goes away happy rather than sad.

* Odysseus doesn’t tell his crew everything about the Sirens and Scylla.

* What the Sirens really offer Odysseus.

* Why the Gods put Odysseus to sleep on the island of Helios.

* Odysseus is saved from Charybdis by hanging on to a fig tree.

And more.Cover image: Odysseus and the Sirens, from an ancient Greek vase at the British Museum (Wikimedia Commons).

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(Update: fixed audio playback speed)We spent so much time on Book 9 that it deserved an entire episode. Topics covered include:

* The sacking of the Cicones and why Odysseus can’t control his men.

* The Lotus Eaters and memory.

* The Cyclops’ community as an anti-polis.

* How Odyssues knew to bring the wine.

* Zeus, Xenia, and the Cyclops asking “who are you.”

* Nobody.

* Homer’s incredibly evocative and gruesome depictions of violence.

* Why Odysseus had to reveal himself to Polyphemus.

* Polyphemus’ name.

* And more.

Cover image: Odysseus and the Sirens, from an ancient Greek vase at the British Museum (Wikimedia Commons).

Thanks for reading! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gruntledhistoryteacher.substack.com

Continuing our discussion of the Odyssey, my literature-teacher sister and I cover books 6-8. Although not the most famous part of the poem, Odysseus’ time in Phaeacia adds a huge amount of color and depth to the Homeric world, and to our protagonist. Topics covered include:

* The otherworldly wealth and status of Phaeacia.

* How Odysseus can navigate female spaces, and is often recognized by women sooner than men.

* The meaning of Odysseus weeping as he hears himself being sung about.

* The Phaeacian’s athletic contests, and why Odysseus is insulted at the idea of being a merchant.

* The meaning of the story of Hephaestus chaining Aphrodite and Ares, and why it foreshadows Odysseus’ homecoming.

* Why the role of Poseidon is even more important to the whole poem than we realized.

* How Odysseus plays the room perfectly, and primes his audience for the reveal of his identity.

And more besides. Don’t forget to tip your bard.

Cover image: Odysseus and the Sirens, from an ancient Greek vase at the British Museum (Wikimedia Commons).

Thanks for reading! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gruntledhistoryteacher.substack.com

Last fall I re-read The Odyssey for the first time since college. I enjoyed it so much I read it again in the spring, and after a few faculty discussions at school, my sister and I decided to record ourselves. My sister is a literature teacher, and has taught The Odyssey for many years. Our discussion covers books One through Five. It’s our first time recording, but we think the quality of the conversation will make up for a couple rough edges in audio quality. The discussion really settles in as we find our footing around the twenty-minute mark, but there’s little wasted time or off-topic discussion throughout.We’ll be recording more very soon, and hope to cover the entire book. Cover image: Odysseus and the Sirens, from an ancient Greek vase at the British Museum (Wikimedia Commons).

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gruntledhistoryteacher.substack.com