T explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Mortality and Immortality

  The punishment of Tantalus in Hades and the imprisonment of the Titans and Typhon under Mt. Aetna reflect themes of mortality and divine retribution.

• Heroism and the Quest

  Theseus is described as a great hero of many adventures, and Tristram is noted as one of Arthur's knights, embodying the questing hero.

Characters to notice

• Tristram

  Mentioned as one of Arthur's knights, husband of Isoude of the White Hands, lover of Isoude the Fair.

• Theseus

  Described as son of Aegeus and Aethra, King of Athens, a great hero of many adventures.

• Thor

  Identified as the thunderer of Norse mythology, most popular of the gods.

• Turnus

  Noted as chief of the Rutulianes in Italy, unsuccessful rival of Aeneas for Lavinia.

• Sir Launcelot

  Referenced as the slayer of Sir Turquine, a great knight and foe of Arthur.

• King Mark

  Mentioned as the King of Cornwall, whose residence was the castle of Tintadel.

• Ulysses

  Referenced in the entry on Thrinakia, where his men killed Hyperion's cattle and their ship was wrecked.

• Perseus

  Mentioned in the entry on Thescelus, a foe turned to stone by the sight of the Gorgon's head.

Key passages

• “Tantalus (Tanˈta-lus), wicked king, punished in Hades by standing in water that retired when he would drink, under fruit-trees that withdrew when he would eat.”

  Tantalus, a wicked king, was condemned in Hades to stand in water that receded when he tried to drink, beneath fruit trees that pulled away when he reached for food.

  Describes the eternal punishment of Tantalus.

• “Thrinakia (Thri-naˈki-a), island pasturing Hyperion’s cattle, where Ulysses landed, but, his men killing some cattle for food, their ship was wrecked by lightning.”

  Thrinakia is the island where Hyperion's cattle grazed; Ulysses landed there, but after his men killed some cattle for food, their ship was destroyed by lightning.

  Recounts the episode of Ulysses' crew slaying the cattle of the sun.