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Cunning and disguise in the Odyssey - Coggle Diagram
Cunning and disguise in the Odyssey
Odysseus the beggar
Is somehow able to trick Penelope
Still has glory from Athene with the fight of Irus
"Bared his fine massive thighs"
"Athene herself stood by and filled out the limbs of this shepheard of the people"
Creates dramatic irony with how the suitors don't know it's Odysseys
Ties in with cunning with how he can make a whole backstory on the spot in books 14 and 19
Athenes disguise
Usually to help Odyssue
Banterish at one part when Odysseus sees through Athenes disguise 9appreciates Odysseus' cunning
Disguises herself as farmer girl in Book 6
Penelopes cunning
"These three whole years she deceived us blind, seduced us with her scheme"
Tells the suitors that she will marry them after she is done with a tapestry but unravels it to kee
Own mental disguise with wanting to marry the suitors and not weeping for odysseus
What prevails in the Odyssey rather than physical strength
Book 9: blinding and drugging Polyphemus and disguises himself as "Nobody"
greek term "metis"
Even overpowers Athenes craftiness in book 13 with his own cunning
Makes it clear that Odysseus has to be cunning to survive (especially in worlds of monsters and men)
Final cunning; tells the true story of the bed when Penelope questions him, revealing his identity in the process
Does have to use physical strength in some cases
Book 8: throws the discus the farthest in the Phaecian games
Threatens CIrce in book 10 with his sword
Practical skill in book 5 with building the raft
Seems to impress both mortal women and goddesses with his cunning
Cunning and disguise bring Odysseys glory (as they show off his mind strength, which not many heroes would have)
Odysseus has self-restraint, unlike his men who over-indulge (eg. the Cicones and sun cattle)
Asks men to tie him up to the sirens and to block their ears with wax (cunning and self-restraint)
Modern scholarship
Recognition "represents a place in the world determined by glorious action, family heritage, control of property" (Murnaghan)
"Reveal that identity is far more than the connection between a particular body and a particular name" (Murnaghan)
"Recognition is really the lifeblood of the plot" (Hauser)
"Inversion of lies and truth telling where Odysseus us revealing his identity" (Hauser)