Book 6 - Nausicaa

• How is Odysseus described at the beginning of the book?

  Much-enduring patient Odysseus
• Athene made her way, intent 


  on her plans for the great-hearted Odysseus’ return
• Alcinous had a young daughter


  called Nausicaa, tall and beautiful as a goddess
• Who did Athene take the form of in Nausicaa’s dream?

  Dymas, a close friend of Nausicaa’s
• In the form of this girl, bright-eyed


  Athene said: ‘Nausicaa, how did your mother come to have such a lazy daughter as you?’
• ‘I will go with you and help, so that


  You can get it done as soon as possible, because you certainly won’t remain unmarried long’ [ Athene ]
• Her mother was sitting at the hearth


  with her ladies, spinning yarn dyed with a sea-purple
• She spoke in this way because she was too

  shy to mention to her father the subject of marriage and all it promises. But he understood completely.
• How is Nausicaa described?

  Nausicaa of the white arms
• She is a head taller than any of them and even


  though all are beautiful there is no question which is she.
• So did this young girl


  stand out among her maids
• Athene had other ideas and arranged


  for Odysseus to wake up and see this lovely girl who was to serve as his escort to the Phaeacian city
• Odysseus N epithet?

  Noble Odysseus
• ‘What country have I 


  come to this time?’ he said with a groan
• Then he advanced on


  them like a mountain lion
• Athene put courage in her heart and 


  took the fear from her limbs, and she stood her ground and faced him
• Odysseus considered whether he should throw


  his arms round the beautiful girl’s knees and beg for help, or just keep distance and beg her with all courtesy
• His address was both

  courteous and full of subtlety
• ‘Are you some

  goddess or a mortal woman?’ [ Odysseus ]
• ‘It is of Artemis, the Daughter of


  almighty Zeus, that your beauty, grace and stature most remind me’ [ Odysseus ]
• ‘With a fine

  army at my back’ [ Odysseus ]
• ‘Though the expedition was


  doomed to end so fatally for me’ [ Odysseus ]
• ‘Only yesterday, after nineteen


  days, I made my escape from the wine-dark sea’ [ Odysseus ]
• ‘Pity me,

  princess’ [ Odysseus ]
• ‘And may the gods grant you


  your hearts desire; may they give you a husband and a home’ [ Odysseus ]
• ‘I will show you the

  way to the town and tell you who we are’ [ Nausicaa ]
• ‘Stop girls. Where are you flying to at the


  sight of a man? Don’t tell me you take him for an enemy’ [ Nausicaa ]
• ’The gods are


  too fond of us’ [ Nausicaa ]
• ‘We must look after him,


  Since all strangers and beggars come under the protection of Zeus’ [ Nausicaa ]
• ‘I am not going to take my bath with


  you looking on. I should be ashamed to stand naked in the presence of elegant ladies’ [ Odysseus ]
• ‘When we first met I thought

  him repulsive, but now he looks like the gods who live in heaven‘ [ Nausicaa ]
• Odysseus S epithet?

  Stalwart Odysseus
• ‘For the Phaeacians have no use for the


  Bow and quiver, but only for masts and oars on the graceful craft they take pride in sailing across the grey seas’ [ Nausicaa ]
• ‘Now it is their

  unpleasant gossip I wish to avoid’ [ Nausicaa ]
• Pallas Athene heard this prayer but still refrained


  from appearing before him, out of deference to her Father’s brother Poseidon, who persisted in his rancour against the noble Odysseus until he reached his own land
• ‘Slip past him and clasp


  My mother knee’s if you wish to see the day of your homecoming’ [ Nausicaa ]