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How does Eurylochus convince Odysseus' men to kill Helios's cattle?
3a. What value do you think Eurylochus is appealing to in his argument?
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Step 1:I'll solve this problem focusing on the literary analysis of Eurylochus' persuasion in Homer's "The Odyssey".
Step 2:: Context of the Situation
In Book 12 of "The Odyssey", Odysseus and his crew are stranded on the island of Helios (the sun god), and they are running out of food. Odysseus has explicitly warned his men not to harm Helios's sacred cattle.
Step 3:: Eurylochus's Persuasive Strategy
Eurylochus appeals primarily to the value of survival. His argument centers on the immediate physical need of the crew, emphasizing that starving to death is a worse fate than potentially angering a god.
Step 4:: Key Rhetorical Tactics
Eurylochus likely argues that: - Immediate survival is more important than abstract divine prohibition - The crew's collective suffering outweighs potential divine punishment - Death by starvation is certain, while divine retribution is uncertain
Step 5:: Psychological Manipulation
He exploits the crew's: - Fear of imminent death - Desperation - Sense of collective decision-making - Resentment toward Odysseus's leadership
Final Answer
Eurylochus primarily appeals to the value of immediate survival, using a pragmatic argument that sacrificing the cattle is necessary to prevent certain death, thus overriding divine prohibition.
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