Ascend - The Great Books Podcast

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The Odyssey Book 5 with Dr. Glenn Arbery and Dr. Frank Grabowski

May 12, 2026

Guest

Frank Grabowski

Guest

Glenn C. Arbery

Dr. Frank Grabowski, a classical curriculum teacher and dean, and Dr. Glenn Arbery, a humanities professor and Great Books scholar, explore Book 5 of the Odyssey. They probe Odysseus’s refusal of immortal pleasure, the contrast between Calypso’s island and Ithaca, divine agency versus fate, and how suffering, identity, and place shape human flourishing.

01:48:18

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ANECDOTE

Glenn Arbery's Scholarly Journey Into Homer

Glenn C. Arbery recounts his academic path: mentor Louise Cowan and edited volumes on genre shaped his Homeric focus.
He mentions publishing novels and Why Literature Matters, showing his long engagement with Homer and literature.

question_answer

ANECDOTE

Host's Admission That Revisiting Homer Is Refreshing

Deacon Harrison Garlick confesses rereading Homer is refreshing and notes the podcast's slow, attentive approach for first-time readers.
He frames Ascend as aimed at newcomers with guides and resources like the 115-question Iliad guide.

insights

INSIGHT

Epic Epithets Show Why Immortality Would Erase Identity

Odysseus' epithets (polutropos, polutalas) define identity; immortality would erase those defining sufferings and cunning.
Frank Grabowski argues becoming immortal would dissolve the heroic self Homer prizes.

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Guests Introduced and Backgrounds

04:43 • 5min

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Opening of Book 5: Athena's Plea

09:18 • 2min

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Mentor and Athena's Identity

11:07 • 6min

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Zeus, Fate, and Divine Agency

17:13 • 4min

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Is Odysseus Culpable on Calypso's Island?

21:31 • 3min

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Calypso's Island: Pleasure vs. Sorrow

24:01 • 7min

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Calypso's Defense and Tithonus Warning

30:51 • 4min

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Why Odysseus Refuses Immortality

34:47 • 5min

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Epithets and Identity: Polutropos and Polutalos

39:40 • 3min

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Odysseus and Fidelity to Penelope

42:17 • 12min

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Platonic Soul Antecedents

53:57 • 6min

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Place, Oikos, and Human Flourishing

59:59 • 7min

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Clothing Motif: Gifts and Consequences

01:07:04 • 3min

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Poseidon's Return and Odysseus' Inner Debate

01:09:49 • 13min

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Raft Broken: Divine Aid and Human Agency

01:23:05 • 11min

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Landing, Olive Grove, and Rebirth Imagery

The Terrain of Comedy

Louise Cowan (editor/mentor referenced)

The Terrain of Comedy is a scholarly work examining the genre of comedy, its thematic elements, and its role within literary tradition. Published as part of a series on genre, it gathers essays that interpret comedic forms across historical contexts and authors. The volume situates comedy alongside other major literary genres, tracing its conventions, purposes, and transformations. It serves as a resource for students and scholars interested in genre theory and the critical study of comedic texts. The book was referenced by Glenn C. Arbery as part of his earlier scholarly work on Homer and genre.

The Prospect of Literature

Glenn C. Arbery (contributor/editor)

The Epic Cosmos

Glenn C. Arbery (contributor/author)

The Tragic Abyss

Glenn C. Arbery (editor/contributor)

#5608

• Mentioned in 9 episodes

Why Literature Still Matters

Jason M. Baxter

#701

• Mentioned in 51 episodes

Why Liberalism Failed

Patrick J. Deneen

In 'Why Liberalism Failed,' Patrick J. Deneen critiques both classical liberalism (often called libertarianism) and progressive/modern liberalism. He argues that liberalism has created contradictions such as fostering material inequality despite advocating for equal rights, discouraging civic commitments in favor of privatism, and giving rise to a comprehensive state system while pursuing individual autonomy. Deneen contends that liberalism's success is generating its own failure, leading to issues like income inequality, cultural decline, atomization, and the erosion of freedoms. The book examines the outcomes of the growth of the state, the construction of the free market, and the effects of technology on freedoms and culture.

Odysseus rejects becoming a god... why?

Today on Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, Dcn. Harrison Garlick is joined by Dr. Glenn Arbery of Wyoming Catholic College and Dr. Frank Grabowski of Holy Family Classical School to discuss BOOK FIVE of the Odyssey--arguably one of the important passages in the entire Odyssey and in the Western canon.

Check out Ascend on X, Facebook, Instagram, and Patreon.

Check out our written study guide to the Odyssey!

Odysseus is offered everything a man could desire: immortality, endless pleasure, and the love of the goddess Calypso on her enchanted island. Yet he refuses, choosing instead the path of suffering, homecoming, and humanity. The conversation unpacks why Odysseus weeps on the shore despite his Edenic surroundings, the deeper meaning of his refusal, and the timeless question Homer poses to every listener: Would you say no to immortal pleasure?

The scholars dive into rich themes—Odysseus’s interior dialogue with his own thumos (spirit), the contrast between Calypso’s cave and rocky Ithaca, the subtle work of the gods and fate, and striking antecedents to Platonic psychology.

With insightful close readings, connections to the Iliad, and reflections on identity, place, and human flourishing, this discussion transforms a single book into a meditation on what truly makes life worth living. Whether you’re new to Homer or revisiting the epic, this episode will leave you eager for more. Highly recommended for anyone who loves great books, philosophy, or wrestling with life’s biggest questions.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Ascend and the Great Books

04:13 Exploring the Odyssey: Book Five

09:41 Athena's Plea and Zeus's Response

23:53 Odysseus on Calypso's Island: A Study of Contrast

34:43 The Choice of Immortality: Odysseus's Dilemma

39:32 The Identity of Odysseus: Suffering and Immortality

41:02 The Nature of Human Desire and Fulfillment

42:56 The Dilemma of Odysseus: Choices and Consequences

45:14 The Complexity of Fidelity: Odysseus and the Goddesses

48:09 Homer's Moral Landscape: Understanding Odysseus

51:14 The Role of Place in Identity and Homecoming

54:05 The Symbolism of Clothing: Calypso vs. Nausicaa

01:09:40 The Wrath of Poseidon: Odysseus's Struggles at Sea

01:13:35 The Inner Dialogue of Odysseus: Heart and Mind

01:17:23 The Weight of Time and Suffering

01:20:04 The Complexity of Divine Intervention

01:22:21 Agency and Internal Dialogue

01:25:20 Mortality and Immortality: The Role of Women

01:29:10 Navigating Divine Guidance

01:31:20 The Human Experience and Divine Learning

01:33:56 The Journey to the Shore: A Symbol of Rebirth

01:40:05 The Significance of the Olive Tree

01:43:41 The Transformation of Odysseus

Keywords: Odyssey Book 5, Book Five of the Odyssey, Odysseus Calypso, Odysseus refuses immortality, Homer Odyssey Book 5, Calypso's island, why does Odysseus refuse immortality, Odysseus choice Calypso, Homer Odyssey analysis, Ascend the Great Books, Odysseus thumos, Platonic soul Homer, Odysseus homecoming, fate Zeus Odyssey, Odysseus rebirth, Calypso pleasure island, great books podcast Odyssey

Be sure to check out our Odyssey episodes from 2024 too!

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