All Ch. Charts 1-14 are due tomorrow--in color!
Ch. 11:
In "Scylla and
Charybdis," Ulysses knows from his venture into Tartarus that he must pass
through the strait of Scylla and Charybdis on his way to Thrinacia. Charybdis
was once a beautiful naiad and the daughter of Poseidon. She angered Zeus by
claiming much land for her father, and Zeus changes her into a monster in the
form of a whirlpool. Scylla was also once a beautiful naiad, but when Poseidon
fell in love with her, Amphitrite's jealousy led her to turn Scylla into a
monster resembling a large spider which uses its tentacles to capture and eat
sailors within her reach. Ulysses prepares to pass through the strait, knowing
that the ship cannot swerve a foot away from its exact course. He turns the
helm over to Eurylochus and arms himself at the starboard rail. He knows that
the ship has no chance against Charybdis and must veer toward Scylla if
necessary. The Hellenes row carefully, but Charybdis seizes two of their oars
and drags the ship toward her nearly causing Ulysses to fall overboard.
Correcting their course, the Hellenes cause the ship to veer toward Scylla who
quickly grabs six sailors. Ulysses assists the crew in rowing as he sees six
members of his crew being eaten and hears their screams; there is no time to
weep as they pass through the strait and approach Thrinacia.
Ch. 12
In "Cattle of the Sun," Ulysses drops anchor near
Thrinacia before calling a counsel with Eurylochus and Perimedes to remind them
of Teiresias' warning about the sun-cattle. Ulysses proposes seeking another
island, but Eurylochus and Perimedes persuade him to land since both the crew
and their provisions are exhausted. Ulysses agrees but holds Eurylochus and
Perimedes responsible for the safety of the sun-cattle. After landing, the crew
hunts but can only find a few wild pigs though there is plenty of water.
Ulysses decides to leave because the scarcity of game could prove too great a
temptation to eat the sun-cattle. Unfortunately, a storm prevents the Hellenes'
departure for thirty days, stranding them on Thrinacia. While Ulysses sleeps,
Eurylochus gathers the men and suggests eating the sun-cattle, claiming that it
is better to incur the gods' wrath than to starve. The men kill and cook
several of the sun-cattle after offering a sacrifice. Ulysses awakes to the
smell of food and pleads with the gods as he realizes what has happened.
Unfortunately, at the same
time, Hyperion requesst vengeance from Zeus which Zeus grants. Ulysses draws his
sword against Eurylochus, but Eurylochus claims that they hunted stags so
Ulysses eats until the carcasses begin to low and resemble the sun-cattle.
Again Ulysses draws his sword against Eurylochus who points out that the winds
have changed and claims that it is a sign that the gods are no longer angry.
The Hellenes sail, but then the sky darkens. The west wind destroys the ship
and all of the Hellenes except Ulysses who clings to a raft. The raft drifts
toward the strait where Scylla and Charybdis reside just as Charybdis takes her
morning drink. When the raft veers toward Charybdis, Ulysses jumps from the
raft and clings to the rocks until Charybdis spits the raft back into the sea.
Ulysses climbs aboard the raft and keeps to Charybdis' side of the strait, far
away from Scylla. Ulysses tries in vain to fish. Then he lies on his raft as
though he is dead until gulls venture near to pick out his eyes upon which he
kills and eats the gulls. On the tenth day of this situation, Ulysses
approaches land and a fog covers the weak hero.
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