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Journey Through the Underworld: Memory, Storytelling, and Heroic Transformation

This course, led by Dr. Perdigão, delves into the rich storytelling traditions of ancient epics, focusing on the narrative of Agamemnon as recounted by Menelaus and Odysseus's struggle to return home. We explore themes of memory, the role of women in these narratives, and the profound journey to the underworld. Significant characters such as Circe, Tiresias, and Odysseus's crew illustrate the highs and lows of the hero's journey, from descent into chaos to ultimate rebirth. You’ll engage with prominent literary themes, including the monomyth and stages of heroism.

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Journey Through the Underworld: Memory, Storytelling, and Heroic Transformation

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Presentation Transcript

  1. Into the Underworld HUM 2051: Civilization I Fall 2014 Dr. Perdigao September 8-12, 2014

  2. Storylines • Storytellers • Book IV: Agamemnon’s story told by Menelaus, Odysseus’s own story retold—models of memory, storytelling within the epic • Demodocus • Odysseus: “It goes against my grain to repeat a tale told once, and told so clearly” (355). At the end of Book XII, it returns to bard’s story—from Odysseus as storyteller from bard’s accounts, back to Calypso and homecoming • Weavers • Penelope, Calypso, Circe • Circe weaving at loom—enchanting web (like web of deceit in Agamemnon) (320)

  3. Centering the Journey • Circe (Book X) • Aeaea • Hermes’ guidance • Aeolus • Bag of Wind • Laestrygoians, Antiphates • Eurylochus tries to report what happens to crew (320-321), then cautious about staying; Odysseus impervious to Circe’s charms, her response: “You have a mind in you no magic can enchant!” (322, 365) • Guides to/in the underworld • Circe, Tiresias • Circe tells him what he’ll undergo next, descent into the underworld (326) • Elpenor (329-330) • Burial—sign of courtesy and propriety (Clytaemnestra does not show Agamamenon); “remember me” (330, 78)

  4. Deconstructing the Descent • From Elpenor’s death to the underworld • Book XI: Descent into underworld—hero tires in task and is at moment of exhaustion • Figurative death in descent • Consults wisdom figures, Tiresias, family members • As a result of confrontation with wisdom figures, goes through rebirth in return with new strength, to go back to the quest • Pattern of whole poem in The Divine Comedy

  5. Cast of Characters in the Underworld • Tiresias • Odysseus’s mother Anticleia • Women: wives of heroes • Agamemnon (338-340) • Achilles (340-342) • Ajax (342) • Tityus • Tantalus • Sisyphus • Heracles, as ghost • Desires to see first golden age—Theseus, Jason and the Argonauts

  6. Framing the Hero • Joseph Campbell’s The Hero with One Thousand Faces as story of ritual death, rebirth: separation: initiation: return • Rites of passage— “monomyth” • “A hero ventures forth from the world of common day into a region of supernatural wonder: fabulous forces are there encountered and a decisive victory is won. The hero comes back from this mysterious adventure with the power to bestow boons on his fellow man.” (30)

  7. Stages of Descent • I. Departure: call to adventure, refusal of the call, supernatural aid • II. Initiation: round of trials, meeting with the goddess, woman as temptress • III. Return: refusal of the return, the magic flight, crossing of return threshold, master of two worlds, freedom to live

  8. Framing the Narrative • Sirens • Version of Pandora story, excess, control , like Sirens—desire to hear (curiosity) but control applied—also in Book X with the sack of wind, then story of flood with six nights, seventh day of rest • As bards themselves, enchanting with story (349) • Narrating The Iliad? • Clashing Rocks, Scylla and Charybdis • Six-headed monster, whirlpool • “between a rock and a hard place” (354) • Helios • Sun cattle—hospitality, respect (reverses Sirens episode with his control)

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