Name:___________________
Date:____________
Homer’s Odyssey: Terms and Conventions
Epic
The Odyssey is an epic, a long narrative poem about the deeds of gods or heroes who embody the
values of the culture of which they are they are a part. The oldest epics were transmitted orally and
the Odyssey has traits (see the epithet) that suggest that it has roots in this tradition.
Epic Hero
The central hero of an epic, the epic hero has larger-than-life powers. Achilles fulfills this role in the
Iliad; Odysseus in the Odyssey. Epic heroes are not perfect. Achilles is stubbornly proud over a long
period of time; Odysseus has lapses in judgment. Nevertheless, epic heroes always seem to have an
abundance of courage, a fighting spirit that endears them both to the reader (listener) and the gods.
Epithets
Homer repeatedly describes many of his characters or objects in his story with the same phrase. This
phrase is called an epithet. Epithets are common epic elements which allow the reader to easily
identify the character or object. Epithets stress a quality of what they are describing. The same
character often is given several different epithets. The epithet was used as by oral poets to help them
"catch their breath" whenever they mention a major figure or describe something familiar and
recurring. The epithets were not used to illustrate a specific aspect of the figure at the moment he
(she) is being spoken of, but were chosen to fit the meter of the line. Many translators, however, like
to fit the epithet to an aspect of the character that is relevant to the moment.
Examples of epithets used in the Odyssey are:
"The great tactician" - This term creates the image of Odysseus as being intelligent, and probably
comes his being the initiator of the idea for the "Trojan horse."
"The clear eyed goddess" - This helps the reader imagine that Athena is alert, and wise - farseeing.
Here are some more epithets:
"The man of twists and turns" ( Odysseus)
"wine-dark sea "
"The bewitching nymph" (Calypso)
"Son of Cronos" (Zeus)
"Who marshals the thunderheads" (Zeus)
"Cool headed" (Telemachus)
"Lord of the war cry" (Menelaus)
Narrative drift
Homer is constantly interrupting the narration to elaborate on an aspect of what he is talking about; if
he mentions a gift of wine, he will explain not only the history of the gift but the history of the giver. He
rarely introduces a character without alluding to that character's genealogy and often follows this with
an aside in the form of a story that is told with the same vividness as the main story. The most
celebrated of these asides is the story of how Odysseus received the scar that Eurycleia recognizes
in book 19.
Name:___________________
Book 1: ATHENA INSPIRES THE PRINCE
Date:____________
SCENE: Calypso's island (briefly), Olympus (briefly), Ithaca, (mainly)
IMPORTANT CHARACTERS:
Gods: Poseidon, Hermes, Athena/Mentes, Zeus
Mortals: Telemachus, Mentes (Athena): King of the Taphians, friend of Odysseus,
Penelope,Eurycleia (nurse) Phemias (the singer), the "suitors," especially Antinous and Eurymachus.
The Book begins with the invocation to the Muse followed by Athena's plea to Zeus to allow her
favorite mortal Odysseus to travel home from Ogygia, where he has been held captive for seven
years by the nymph Calypso. Zeus agrees but not without insisting the trip be arduous. He does not
want to enrage the absent Poseidon, who is angry at Odysseus for having blinded his son, the
Cyclops Polyphemus. Athena goes to Ithaca to spur Telemachus, Odysseus' son, into action and
start him toward manhood. There we met the suitors of Odysseus wife, Penelope, who are abusing
the rules of hospitality. We also learn that Penelope has done whatever she could to keep them from
taking her hand in marriage. Almost everyone on Ithaca believes Odysseus to be dead.
PAY ATTENTION TO:
 Invocation

Story of Orestes (including Zeus' attitude toward of Aegisthus).

The Gods' discussion of Odysseus. Who is on his side? Who is not? Why?

What Zeus "rules."

Problems of Odysseus: Where is he? Why? How long has he been away?

Athena's disguise.

Youth of Telemachus.

The violation of hospitality

Penelope's situation.

Penelope's actions.
EPITHETS: Who is...
 "The bewitching nymph"

"Son of Cronos"

"Who marshals the thunderheads"

"The clear eyed goddess"

"Cool headed"
QUESTIONS:
1. What do you see as the attitude of the Gods' towards men?
2. What do you see as the attitude of the Greeks towards hospitality?
3. How would you characterize Telemachus at this point? What are his strengths?
4. What are his weaknesses?
5. How does Athena plan to affect Telemachus?
6. What tragic homecoming story do we hear of? How does it relate to the situation in Ithaca?
7. Who is Phemius?
8. How does Telemachus show strength with Penelope?
9. How does this relate to the visit of Athena?
QUOTES TO REMEMBER:
Quote
Sing to me of the man, Muse, the man of twists
and turns
driven time and again off course, once he had
plundered
the hallowed heights of Troy.
Line #
(1)
Significance
But one man alone...
his heart set on his wife and his return – Calypso
the bewitching nymph, the lustrous goddess, held
him back.
(15)
Recalling Aegisthus, Zeus harangued the
immortal powers:
"Ah how shameless – the way these mortals
blame the gods.
From us alone, they say, come all their
miseries..."
(36)
"Why, Zeus, why so dead set against Odysseus?
"My child, what nonsense you let slip through
your teeth. Now,
how on earth could I forget Odysseus? Great
Odysseus
who excels all men in wisdom, excels in
offerings, too..."
(76)
First by far to see her was Prince Telemachus,
sitting among the suitors, heart obsessed with
grief.
(132)
And young Telemachus cautiously replied,
"...Mother has always told me I'm his son, it's
true,
But I am not so certain."
(249)
"If only that Odysseus sported with these suitors,
a blood wedding, a quick death, would take the
lot."
(307)
"So Mother,
go back to your quarters, tend to your own tasks,
the distaff and the loom, and keep the women
working hard as well. As for the bow now,
men will see to that, but i most of all,
I hold the reign of power in this house"
Astonished,
she took to her own room. She took to heart
the clear good sense of what her son had said.
Climbing up to the lofty chamber with her women
she fell to weeping for Odysseus, her beloved
husband
till watchful Athena sealed her eyes with
welcome sleep.
(see Book 21, 389-399)
(409)
Now the suitors turned to dance and song,
In the lovely beat and sway, waiting for dusk to
come upon them there...
and the dark night came upon them lost in
pleasure.
Name:___________________
Date:____________
Homer’s Odyssey: Study Guide
Book 2: TELEMACHUS SETS SAIL
SCENE: Ithaca
CHARACTERS: Eurycleia, Mentes/Mentor/Athena, Telemachus, Antinous, Halitherses, Eurymachus.
In Book 2, Athena, disguised as Mentor, arranges for Telemachus to take a trip to find out from
Nestor, one of the Greek Captains in the Trojan War, ostensibly to find out if Odysseus is still alive. In
the Book Telemachus surprises both Penelope and the suitors by his newly decisive behavior. He
does not, however, tell his mother of his plans, knowing she would try to stop him.
PAY ATTENTION TO:
Athena, goddess of the household who looks over the family.
The economic importance of the household.
The bird omen and the reactions to it.
Assembly and debate.
The "new" Telemachus.
The abuse of and departure of Telemachus.
EPITHETS: Who is...
"self possessed?"
"Daughter of Zeus?"
What has "rose red fingers?"
QUESTIONS:
1. What is the suitor's attitude towards Penelope's reluctance to choose one of them?
2. Why do they think it is their right to "demand" that she choose?
3. What are the two different interpretations of the omen?
4. How does Telemachus respond to the position put forward by Antinous?
QUOTES TO REMEMBER:
Quote
Line #
"You should be ashamed yourselves,
mortified in the face of neighbors living round about!
Fear the god's wrath – before they wheel in outrage
make these crimes of yours recoil on your heads."
(69)
"So by day she'd weave at her great and growing web –
by night, by the light of torches placed beside her,
she would unravel all she's done. Three whole years
she deceived us, seduced us with this scheme."
(114)
"Not one could equal Penelope for intrigue
but in this case she intrigues beyond all limits."
(134)
Significance
And to seal his prayer, farseeing Zeus sent down a sign.
He launched two eagles soaring high from a mountain
ridge
and down they glided, borne on the wings draft a
moment,
wing to wingtip, pinions straining taut till just
above the assembly's throbbing hum they whirled,
suddenly, wings thrashing, wild onslaught of wings
and banking down at the crowd's heads - a glaring, fatal
sign –
talons slashing each other, tearing cheeks and throats
they swooped away on the right through homes and city.
(164)
"Telemachus,
you'll lack neither courage nor sense from this day on,
not if your father's spirit courses through your veins. "
(302)
"But now that I'm full grown
and can hear the truth from others, absorb it, too –
now, yes, that anger seethes inside me...
I'll stop at nothing to hurl destruction at your heads,
whether I go to Pylos or sit right here at home."
(348)
A wail of grief,
and his fond old nurse (Eurykleia) burst out in sobbing.
(399)
Name:___________________
Date:____________
Homer’s Odyssey: Study Guide
Book 3: KING NESTOR REMEMBERS
SCENE: Pylos
IMPORTANT CHARACTERS: Telemachus, Athena, Nestor, Pisistratus.
This Book begins and ends with sacrifices to the vying gods (Poseidon and Athena) of the Odyssey.
In it Telemachus learns from both Nestor and Pisistratus the importance of hospitality and of respect
for the gods. Athena seems especially impressed by "old fashioned" ways of Nestor. Telemachus is
treated with great respect and he begins to learn what it means to be his father's son. At the end of
the Book Telemachus is sent inland to Sparta to meet Menelaus who might know of Odysseus'
whereabouts.
PAY ATTENTION TO:
 The sacrifice to Poseidon at the beginning of the book.
 Athena's "prayer to Poseidon.
 Respect paid to Odysseus.
 Athena's role at the end of the war. Her wrath.
 Nestor's hospitality.
 The Orestes story again.
 The sacrifice to Athena at the end of the book
EPITHETS:
 Who is "the noble charioteer?"
 What is "wine dark?"
QUESTIONS:
1. How does Athena help Telemachus prepare for Nestor?
2. Why is it important for Telemachus to meet Nestor in particular? What does he seem to
represent?
3. Why is it important for Telemachus to meet Pisistratus?
4. What does Telemachus learn about himself? about the meaning of being a son? about the
treatment of guests? about sacrifices to the gods?
QUOTES TO REMEMBER:
Quote
Line #
Pylos... where the people lined the beaches,
sacrificing sleek black bulls to Poseidon,
god of the sea blue mane who shakes the earth.
(5)
"Some of the words you'll find within yourself,
the rest some power will inspire you to say."
(29)
"All men need the gods,
but the man is younger, just about my age
that's why I give this gold cup first to you."
With that
Pisistratus placed in her hand the cup of mellow wine
and Pallas rejoiced at the prince's sense of tact.
(54)
Poised Telemachus answered,
filled with heart, the heart Athena herself had inspired
to ask about his father, gone so long
and make his name throughout the mortal world.
(84)
". . . it meant no joy to Agamemnon, not at all,
he meant to detain us there and offer victims,
anything to appease Athena's dreadful wrath –
poor fool, he never dreamed Athena would not comply.
(159)
The minds of everlasting gods don't change so quickly.""And you,
my friend –
how tall and handsome I see you now – be brave, you, too, (like
Orestes)
so men to come will sing your praises down the years."
(225)
"Now, O Queen, be gracious! Give us high renown,
myself, my children, my loyal wife and queen.
And I will make you a sacrifice, a yearling heifer
broad in the brow, unbroken, never yoked by men."
(425)
The women shrilled their cry . . . then hoisting up
the victim's head from the trampled earth, they held her fast
as the captain of men Pisistratus slashed her throat.
Dark blood gushed forth, life ebbed from her limbs –
(506)
Significance
Homer’s Odyssey: Poetics 1
Meter
The Odyssey was written in a dactylic hexameter. Each line of the epic has 6 metrical feet, or small
groups of sound. The first five feet are dactyls which are composed of a long sound and 2 short
sounds. The last foot of each line is always a spondee which is made up of 2 long sounds. The Greek
version of The Iliad follows these rules exactly, but only a few English translations have tried to follow
it. English has stresses rather than long and short sounds. Fagels commented, "Once you get that
Greek hexameter in your ear, it becomes the most gorgeous line of poetry ever conceived . . . .And
the more it lodges, the more you realize there's nothing like it in English and you mustn't try to
reproduce it." The Fagles translation employs a six beat line, but he varies this to achieve a "range in
rhythm, pace, and tone."
Formal Speech
In the Odyssey the characters tend to make speeches rather than have conversations. (An exception
to this is some of the dialogue between the suitors and between the suitors and Telemachus in Book
20.) Many of these speeches can be long and at times formulaic, and some parts can be repeated
word for word at another point in the poem. The most startling example occurs when Odysseus
repeats Agamemnon's plea for Achilles to get back to fight for the Achaeans in the Iliad.
Homer’s Odyssey: Structure
The Odyssey is not structured chronologically. Although it is clearly a poem about Odysseus, we do
not meet the hero until book five (Note that the division of the Odyssey into 24 books is believed to
have taken place long after Homer, perhaps as a result of transcribing the poem onto papyrus rolls
which could only hold a limited amount of text). The books can be divided as follows:
Books 1-4: Athena has received "permission" from Zeus to enable Odysseus to return to Ithaca, his
home. She inspires his son Telemachus to stand up to the suitors who have been courting his
mother Penelope, whom she has been deceiving in order to forestall a marriage to them. Odysseus
has been away for almost twenty years and no one, including Telemachus, believes he will return.
During the 3rd and 4th book, Telemachus visits two of the Captains who fought beside Odysseus at
Troy. He learns from Menelaus, who surprisingly still seems "happily" married to Helen, that
Odysseus is probably still alive, stranded on an island with the immortal nymph Calypso.
Name:___________________
Date:____________
Book 4: THE KING AND QUEEN OF SPARTA
SCENE: Sparta, Ithaca
IMPORTANT CHARACTERS: Telemachus, Menelaus, Helen, Pisistratus, Antinous, Eurycleia,
Penelope, Athena, Proteus, Aegisthus, Orestes, & Medon
When Pisistratus and Telemachus arrive, a wedding party is taking place but there is no hesitation on
the part of the King, Menelaus, to make the strangers feel completely welcome. His wife, Helen – yes,
the Helen – is equally hospitable and quickly sees that Telemachus must be Odysseus' son. The
palace is sumptuous, the entertainment lavish, and the stories, especially Helen's, embellished. She
plays the part she has been given – daughter of Zeus – without shame, and to the consternation but
not displeasure of her still smitten husband. Menelaus tells the story of his return, the most important
part of which is the evidence from Proteus that Odysseus is still alive. At the end of the book we
return to Ithaca where Penelope has learned of her son's disappearance. Athena, in disguise as
Penelope's sister, gives her courage.
PAY ATTENTION TO:
 More Greek hospitality and feasting.
 Helen’s contribution to the "meal.”
 Menelaus' return from Troy.
 What Telemachus learns from Menelaus about Odysseus.
 The stories of Troy told by Helen.
 Menelaus’ reaction to Helen’s story.
 The story of Proteus

The plot to kill Telemachus
EPITHETS: Who is . . .
 "red haired?”
 "son of Atreus?”
 "the pearl of women?"
 "The Old man of the Sea?"
QUESTIONS:
1. How do Menelaus and Helen compare with Nestor as hosts?
2. How do they contrast with the suitors the suitors as guests?
3. Do Menelaus and Helen know who Telemachus is at the beginning of the book?
4. What do you make of the relationship between Menelaus and Helen?
5. What is impressive about their palace?
6. Who is Proteus? How does Menelaus catch him? With whose help?
7. What does Menelaus tell Telemachus about Odysseus' whereabouts?
8. Why does Telemachus need to go to two homes, and visit two of the Captains destroyed
Troy?
9. Why is information withheld so frequently (Proteus at first balks, and Penelope's sister, in a
dream, is also reluctant. Why is other information (Helen’s) suspect?
QUOTES TO REMEMBER:
Quote
Line #
Helen emerged from her scented, lofty chambers
striking as Artemis with her golden shafts...
(135)
"Do we know, my Lord, who our visitors
claim to be, our welcome new arrivals?
...To the life he’s like the son of great Odysseus,
surely he’s Telemachus. The boy that hero left
a babe in arms at home when all you Achaeans
fought at Troy, launching your headlong battles,
just for me, shameless whore that I was.”
(153)
"Wonderful!” the red haired king cried out.
(185)
Significance
"The son of my dearest friend, here in my own house.”
So Menelaus mused
and stirred in them a deep desire to grieve.
(204)
Then Zeus' daughter Helen thought of something else.
Into the mixing bowl from which they drank their wine, she
slipped a drug, heart's ease, dissolving anger,
magic to make us all forget our pains.
(243)
". . .and no one knew him at all
I alone, I spotted him for the man he was."
(280)
"There was a tale, my lady. So well told...
Three times you sauntered round our hollow ambush
feeling, stroking its flanks,
challenging our fighters, calling each by name –
yours was the voice of all our long lost wives!
. . . but Odysseus clamped his great hands on the man's mouth
and shut it brutally – yes he saved us all."
(298)
" Weak as the doe that beds down her fawns
in a mighty lions den - her newborn sucklings then trails off to the mountain spurs and grassy bends
to graze her fill, but back the lion comes to his own lair
and the master deals both fawns a ghastly, bloody death
just what Odysseus will deal that mob - ghastly death."
(374)
"Up from the shore he led the king, he ushered him in suspecting nothing of all his doom – he feasted him well
then cut him down as a man cuts down an ox at the trough!"
(Proteus telling Menelaus of Agamemnon's death at the hands of
Aegisthus.)
(600)
"I saw him once on an island, weeping live warm tears
in the nymph Calypso's house – she holds him there by force."
(Proteus telling Menelaus of Odysseus' plight.)
(626)
Telemachus,
summoning up his newfound tact . . .
(667)
Medon, the soul of thoughtfulness, replied,
"I don't know if a god inspired your son
or the boy's own impulse led him down to Pylos,
but he went to learn his father's journey home,
or whatever fate he's met."
(801)
Penelope. . .would her fine son escape his death
or go down at her overweening suitors' hands?
Her mind in torment, wheeling
like some lion at bay, dreading the gangs of hunters
closing their cunning ring around him for the finish.
(896)
"He travels with such an escort, one that others
would pray to stand beside them. She has power
Pallas Athena. She pities your tears…"
(930)
Figurative Language: Homeric or Extended Simile
Homer loves similes (a comparison between two seemingly unlike things using "like" or "as"). They
can be found everywhere in the Odyssey. Homer often expands upon a simile, putting it into motion
so to speak; and these expanded similes are called Homeric or epic similes.
Weak as the doe that beds down her fawns
in a mighty lion's den - her newborn sucklings then trails off to the mountain spurs and grassy bends
to graze her fill, but back the lion comes to his own lair
and the master deals both fawns a ghastly, bloody death,
just what Odysseus will deal that mob - ghastly death.
As a man will bury his glowing brand in black ashes,
off on a lonely farmstead, no neighbors near,
to keep a spark alive, so great Odysseus buried
himself in leaves and Athena showered sleep
upon his eyes.
I drove my weight on it from above and bored it home
like a shipwright bores his beam with a shipwright's drill
that men below, whipping the strap back and forth, whirl
and the drill keeps twisting, never stopping So we seized our stake with it fiery tip
and bored it round and round in the giant's eye...
its crackling roots blazed
and hissed as a blacksmith plunges a glowing ax or adze
in an ice-cold bath and the metal screeches steam
and its temper hardens - that's the iron's strength so the eye of Cyclops sizzled round that stake.
So they mocked, but Odysseus, mastermind in action,
once he'd handled the great bow and scanned every inch,
then, like an expert singer skilled at lyre and song-who strains a string to a new peg with ease,
making the pliant sheep-gut fast at either end-so with his virtuoso ease Odysseus strung his mighty bow.
Quickly his right hand plucked the string to test its pitch
and under his touch it sang out clear and sharp as a swallow's cry.
Joy, warm as the joy that shipwrecked sailors feel
when they catch sight of land - Poseidon has struck
their well-rigged ship on the open sea with gale winds,
and crushing walls of waves, and only a few escape, swimming,
struggling out of the frothing surf to reach the shore,
their bodies crusted with salt, but buoyed up with joy
as they plant their feet on solid ground again,
spared a deadly fate. So joyous now to her
the sight of her husband vivid in her gaze.
Her mind in torment, wheeling like some lion at bay,
dreading the gangs of hunters closing their cunning ring
around him for the finish. (This is Penelope being hounded by the suitors.)
Name:___________________
Date:____________
Book 5: ODYSSEUS - NYMPH AND SHIPWRECK
SCENE: Ogygia
IMPORTANT CHARACTERS:
Odysseus, Calypso, Athena, Zeus, Poseidon, A sea nymph. Ino/Leucothoe: A goddess of the sea
who saves Odysseus.
When we first meet Odysseus he is longing for home. Hermes arrives and after admiring the glorious
gardens, he informs Calypso that Zeus has commanded her to release her captive. She complains
about the double standard of male gods but knows she has no choice. Odysseus can hardly believe
his change of fortune, but he is careful not to offend his companions. She in turn help him equip for
his sea journey. The voyage is fought with hardship thanks to Poseidon. Odysseus is careful to be
appreciative of anything a god can do to help him.
PAY ATTENTION TO:
 Odysseus weeping, his longing for home.
 The council of the Gods. (Note that it seems to introduce this section in a similar way to how
the assembly in the Book 1 introduces the “Telemachy.”)
 The lushness of the island, the beauty of Calypso.
 Hermes' appreciation of the lushness, his tact, his businesslike manner.
 Calypso reluctant acceptance of the ruling of Zeus.
 Her agreeing to help Odysseus with tools and other gifts.
 Odysseus' tact when he explains to Calypso why he so wants to go home.
 The sexual nature of their relationship.
 Odysseus' purposefulness in building the raft.
 The wrath of Poseidon.
 Ino's gift and Odysseus' mistrust of it.



Athena's aid and Odysseus' survival skills.
Odysseus' prayer to the unnamed river god.
What Odysseus does to make sure he survives his first night back on land.
EPITHETS: Who is . . .
 "lustrous goddess, queenly nymph?"
 "the guide and giant killer?"
 "long enduring?"
 "god of the earthquake?"
QUESTIONS:
1. How long does Odysseus stay on Calypso's island?
2. What is the source of Calypso's power over Odysseus?
3. What do we learn of Calypso's feelings for Odysseus?
4. What will Calypso give Odysseus if he stays with her?
5. Calypso asks Odysseus to compare her with Penelope; does Odysseus respond
satisfactorily?
6. How would you characterize the making of the raft, and the departure of Odysseus?
7. For how many days does Odysseus swim?
8. Why does Zeus, despite his liking of Odysseus, allow Poseidon to make this journey such an
ordeal?
9. Ino-Leucothea, in the guise of a seabird, gives him her veil. Why veil?
10. Why does Odysseus return Ino's veil to the sea?
11. After two days of swimming, note several phases of decision-making. Does Odysseus
accomplish his rescue on his own?
QUOTES TO REMEMBER:
Quote
Line #
A great fire
(64)
blazed on the hearth and the smell of cedar
cleanly split and sweetwood burning bright
wafted a cloud of fragrance down the island.
Deep inside she sang, the goddess Calypso, lifting
her breathtaking voice as she glided back and forth
before her loom, her golden shuttle weaving.
Thick, luxuriant woods grew round the cave,
alders and black poplars, pungent cypress, too,
and there birds roosted, folding their long wings,
owls and hawks and the spread beaked ravens of the
sea,
black skimmers who make their living off the waves.
And round the mouth of the cavern trailed a vine
laden with clusters, bursting with ripe grapes.
Four springs in a row, bubbling clear and cold,
running side by side, took channels left and right.
Soft meadows spreading round were starred with
violets,
lush with beds of parsley. Why even a deathless god
who came upon this place would gaze in wonder.
But lustrous Calypso shuddered at those words
(129)
and burst into a flight of indignation. "Hard hearted
you are you gods! You unrivaled lord of jealousy scandalized when goddesses sleep with mortals. . ."
"But since there is no way for another god to thwart
(153)
the will of storming Zeus and make it come to nothing,
let the man go -"
[Calypso] found him there on the headland, sitting still,
weeping, his eyes never dry, his sweet life flowing
away
with the tears he wept for his foiled journey home,
(167)
Significance
since the nymph no longer pleased. In the nights, true,
he'd sleep with her in the arching cave - he had no
choice unwilling lover beside a lover all to willing. . .
"Ah, great goddess,"
worldly Odysseus answered, "don't be angry with me.
All that you say is true, how well I know,
Look at my wise Penelope. She falls far short of you,
your beauty, stature.
(236)
Even as he spoke,
(228)
the sun set . . .
long in each others arms, they lost themselves to love.
He set to cutting trunks - the work was done in no time.
(268)
But now Poseidon, god of the earthquake, saw him (
. . . he spied Odysseus sailing down the sea
and made his fury boil even more. . .
"Outrageous! Look how the gods have changed their
minds
about Odysseus!"
310)
But half drowned as he was, he'd not forget his craft -
(356)
he lunged after her through the breakers, laying hold
and huddling amidships fled the stroke of death.
then and there
unlucky Odysseus would have met his death against the will of fate but the bright eyed one inspired him yet again.
Fighting out from the breakers, pounding toward the
coast,
out of danger he swam on, scanning the land. . .
(479)
"I throw myself on your mercy, on your current now.
I have suffered greatly. Pity me lord,
your suppliant cries for help."
(495)
Long -enduring great Odysseus, overjoyed at the sight
bedded down in the midst and heaped up the leaves
around him.
As a man will bury his glowing brand in black ashes,
off on a lonely farmstead, no neighbors near,
to keep a spark alive, so great Odysseus buried
himself in leaves and Athena showered sleep
upon his eyes. . . sleep in a swift wave
delivering him from all his pains and labors,
blessed sleep that sealed his eyes at last.
(538)
Name:___________________
Date:____________
Book 6: THE PRINCESS AND THE STRANGER
SCENE: The island of Scheria, land of the Phaeacians.
IMPORTANT CHARACTERS: Odysseus, Athena, Nausicaa, Alcinous.
Athena come to Nausicaa, the daughter of the King of the Phaeacians, in a dream which leads her to
ask her father to let her go with her friends to wash clothes by the river. There the games they play
awaken Odysseus who greets the brave young princess with great diplomacy. She can tell he is a
worthy strange and greets him with great hospitality. When he is bathed, Odysseus emerges thanks
to Athena "taller . . . his build more massive . . . his curls like hyacinth clusters full of bloom." At the
end of the book, Nausicaa leads Odysseus toward town and gives him directions to the palace.
PAY ATTENTION TO:
 How the Phaeacians are protected by the gods.
 The idealized household of the Royal Family.
 How Athena visits Nausicaa in her dreams.
 How the king cannot say no to his daughter.
 How beautiful, wise, and young Nausicaa is.
 The references to her being "marriageable."
 The innocent scene of washing the clothes.
 How the playful girls awake Odysseus.
 The differing reaction of the girls and Nausicaa to Odysseus' appearance.
 Odysseus' tact and Nausicaa's hospitality.
 The importance of bathing and anointing with oil.
 Odysseus' changed appearance.
 Nausicaa's hospitality and her caution at leading Odysseus to the palace.
 The presence of Athena.
EPITHET: Who is "the white armed princess?"
QUESTIONS:
1. Why does Nausicaa go to the river to wash clothes?
2. What is the explanation she offers her father?
3. What does Odysseus choose not to do when he sees Nausicaa?
4. What does he choose to do instead?
5. What do you think Odysseus' speech to Nausicaa tells us about him?
6. Why does Nausicaa not want to escort Odysseus to the palace?
QUOTES TO REMEMBER:
Quote
Line #
But the goddess drifted through like a breath of fresh air,
rushed to the girl's bed and hovering close she spoke,
in face and form like the shipman Dymas' daughter,
a girl the princess' age, and dearest to her heart.
(23)
"I won't deny you the mules,
my darling girl . . . I won't deny you anything.
Off you go, and the men will harness a wagon,
the tall one with the good smooth wheels,
fitted out with a cradle on the top."
(76)
The ball the princess suddenly tossed it to a maid
but it missed the girl, splashed in a deep swirling pool
and they all shouted out –
and that woke great Odysseus.
(126)
So Odysseus moved out . . .
about to mingle with all those lovely girls,
naked now as he was, for the need drove him on,
a terrible sight, all crusted, caked with brinethey scattered in panic down the jutting beaches.
Only Alcinous' daughter held fast, for Athena planted
courage within her heart, dissolved the trembling in her limbs,
and she firmly stood her ground and faced Odysseus, torn now Should he fling his arms around her knees, the young beauty,
plead for help, or stand back, plead with a winning word,
beg her to lead him to the town and lend him clothing?
(148)
Significance
This was the better way, he thought. Plead now
with a subtle, winning word and stand well back,
don't clasp her knees, the girl might bridle, yes.
He launched in at once, endearing, sly and suave:
"Here I am at your mercy, princessare you a goddess or a mortal? If one of the gods
who rule the skies up there, you're Artemis to the life,
the daughter of mighty Zeus--I see her now--just look
at your build, your bearing, your lithe flowing grace . . .
But if you're one of the mortals living here on earth,
three times blest are your father, your queenly mother,
three times over your brothers too. How often their hearts
must warm with joy to see you striding into the dancessuch a bloom of beauty. True, but he is the one
more blest than all other men alive, that man
who sways you with gifts and leads you home, his bride!
I have never laid eyes on anyone like you,
neither man nor woman . . .
I look at you and a sense of wonder takes me.
Wait,
once I saw the like--in Delos, beside Apollo's altarthe young slip of a palm tree springing into the light.
There I'd sailed, you see, with a great army in my wake,
out on the long campaign that doomed my life to hardship.
That vision! Just as I stood there gazing, rapt, for hours . . .
no shaft like that had ever risen up from the earthso now I marvel at you, my lady: rapt, enthralled,
too struck with awe to grasp you by the knees
though pain has ground me down.
(180)
Then thoughtful Odysseus reassured the handmaids,
"Stand where you are, dear girls, a good way off, "
so I can rinse the brine from my shoulders now
and rub myself with oil . . .
how long it's been since oil touched my skim
But I won't bathe in front of you. I would be embarrassedstark naked before young girls with lovely braids."
(240)
Zeus's daughter Athena made him taller to all eyes,
his build more massive now, and down from his brow
she ran his curls like thick hyacinth clusters
As a master craftsman washes
gold over beaten silver--a man the god of fire
and Queen Athena trained in every fine techniqueand finishes off his latest effort, handsome work,
so she lavished splendor over his head and shoulders now.
(254)
But I shrink from all our sea dogs' nasty gossip.
Some old salt might mock us behind our backswe have our share of insolent types in town
and one of the coarser sort, spying us, might say,
'Now who's that tall, handsome stranger Nausicaa has in tow?
Where'd she light on him? Her husband to be, just wait!'
(299)
Homer’s Odyssey: Other devices
Personification occurs in almost every book when "Dawn" arises with her "rose-red fingers". As the
gods have distinctly human characteristics, they display a non-linguistic personification even amongst
themselves. They also appear disguised as people, and the Mentor we know is always the
"personification of Athena. Other things are frequently personified: "Sleep" looses "Odysseus' limbs,
slipping the toils of anguish from his mind"; "East and South Winds clashed, and the raging West and
North/sprung from the heavens, roiled heaving breakers up."
Metaphors are less striking in the Odyssey than similes. They are frequently embedded in verbs:
"Nine years we wove a web of disaster"; "that made the rage of the monster boil over"; "his mind
churning with thoughts of bloody work"; "Terror blanched their faces" (note the personification of
terror). Odysseus is "fated to escape his noose of pain," and when he finds himself near the land of
the Laestrygonians, he places his ship "well clear of the harbors jaws."
Symbols are also associated with the gods. Eagles, usually swooping down, are often seen as
manifestation of Zeus, but they are also portents that foreshadow Odysseus' return. As such they
need interpreters gifted at reading signs (Halitherses, Theoclymenus, Helen, and even Odysseus,
himself, when he interprets a dream of Penelope's). Many gods are associated with specific symbols:
Zeus, the thunderbolt; Poseidon, the scepter; Apollo and Artemis, arrows; Athena the loom. The loom
itself is associated with all the major female characters, Calypso, Circe, Helen and, most memorably,
Penelope.
Name:___________________
Date:____________
Book 7: PHAEACIA’S HALLS AND GARDENS
SCENE: The island of Scheria, land of the Phaeacians.
IMPORTANT CHARACTERS: Odysseus, Athena, Alcinous, Arête
A mist enshrouded Odysseus is escorted to the palace by Athena disguised as a young girl. After
admiring the beautiful gardens Odysseus enters the palace. He greets the Queen humbly and is soon
made to feel welcome. Once again, hospitality is emphasized and although Odysseus (whose keeps
his identity to himself) indicates his desire to return home, the Phaeacian king Alcinous, see him as a
potential husband for his daughter.
PAY ATTENTION TO:
 How the Book begins with Odysseus praying.
 The way Odysseus enters the palace.
 Note parallels to the way Hermes acts when he reaches Ogygia and greets Calypso.
 The description of the palace and its gardens and the god-favoued status of the Phaeacians.
 How Odysseus greets Arête (as recommended by Nausicaa).
 How the nobleman (Echeneus) chides Alcinous for not being more hospitable.
 How the Phaeacians are familiar with visits from the Gods.
 How Odysseus avoids identifying himself.
 How Alcinous suggest Nausicaa should have brought him directly to the Palace?
EPITHETS: Who is the "man of craft?"
QUESTIONS:
1. How does the palace and the way it is run compare to other palaces we have seen?
2. How might the impression Odysseus and we receive of Phaeacia be significant for Odysseus'
subsequent return to Ithaca?
3. What is the difference between the way Odysseus greets Nausicaa and the way he greets
Arête?
4. What does this tell us about Odysseus’ perception of the two women?
5. Why does Odysseus sit in the ashes?
6. What does Odysseus say when asked asks to identify who he is?
7. What is Arête’s role in helping Odysseus on his journey?
8. How does Odysseus explain why Nausicaa did not bring him directly to the palace?
QUOTES TO REMEMBER:
Quote
Pallas Athena, harboring kindness for the hero,
drifted a heavy mist around him, shielding him
Line #
(16)
Significance
from any swaggering islander who'd cross his path,
provoke him with taunts and search out who he was.
Instead, as he was about to enter the welcome city,
the bright eyed goddess herself came up to greet him there,
for all the world like a young girl, holding a pitcher,
standing face to face with the visitor.
A radiance strong as the moon or rising sun came flooding
through the high roofed halls of generous King Alcinous.
Walls plated in bronze, crowned with a circling frieze
glazed as blue as lapis, ran to left and right
from outer gates to the deepest court recess.
Solid golden doors enclosed the palace.
(98)
Outside the courtyard, fronting the high gates,
a magnificent orchard stretches four acres deep
with a strong
fence running round it side to side.
Here luxuriant trees are always in their prime,
pomegranates and pears, and apples glowing red,
succulent figs and olives swelling sleek and dark.
And the yield of all these trees will never flag or die,
(129)
(154)
Such
the gifts, the glories showered down by the gods
on King Alcinous' realm. And then,
the moment he flung his arms around Arete's knees,
the godsent mist rolled back to reveal the great man.
And silence seized the feasters all along the hall"This is no way, Alcinous. How indecent, look,
our guest on the ground, in the ashes by the fire!
Your people are holding back, waiting for your signal.
Come, raise him up and seat the stranger now,
in a silver studded chair,
and tell the heralds to mix more wine for all
so we can pour out cups to Zeus who loves the lightning,
champion of suppliants-suppliants' rights are sacred.
(189)
"Alcinous!"
wary Odysseus countered, "cross that thought from your mind.
I'm nothing like the immortal gods who rule the skies,
either in build or breeding. I'm just a mortal man.”
(242)
"How much I have suffered . . . Oh just let me see
my lands, my serving men and the grand high roofed housethen I can die in peace."
(259)
"Your majesty," diplomatic Odysseus answered,
"don't find fault with a flawless daughter now,
not for my sake, please. "
She urged me herself to follow with her maids.
I chose not to, fearing embarrassment in fact -
(346)
Odysseus
by Robert Graves (1895-1985)
His wiles were witty and his fame far known,
Every king's daughter sought him for her own,
Yet he was nothing to be won or lost.
All lands to him were Ithaca: love-tossed
He loathed the fraud, yet would not bed alone.
Name:___________________
Date:____________
Book 8: A DAY FOR SONGS AND CONTESTS
SCENE: The island of Scheria, land of the Phaeacians.
IMPORTANT CHARACTERS: Athena, Alcinous, Demodocus, Odysseus, Laodamas, and Broadsea
and the gods of Demodocus' tale, especially Hephaestus, Aphrodite, Ares, Apollo, Hermes.
Alcinous responds quickly to Odysseus' desire for passage home and then invites the stranger to a
dual entertainment: songs by the bard Demodocus and a kind of Phaeacian mini-Olympics. Odysseus
is distraught whenever he hears of Troy. He and we are distracted from his grief by the games where
Odysseus is challenged to show his mettle and goaded, he responds with a moment of prowess.
Later, Demodocus distracts us with story of gods misbehaving but eventually he returns to another
story of Troy. This time King Alcinous, who has noticed Odysseus reactions, asks his guest to tell his
story.
NOTE: this is a summary of the "story" that Demodocus sings after the games:
The bard sings of Aphrodite's infidelity with Ares. It's a somewhat "bawdy" story, a kind of comic tale.
Aphrodite's husband, the crippled blacksmith god Hephaestus, creates a net that catches Aphrodite
and Ares in the act of making love. Hephaestus has the other gods come to witness and to laugh.
PAY ATTENTION TO:
 Alcinous' response to Odysseus' request for help on the way home.
 The speed with which the black ship is prepared.
 The different elements of the gathering: the song/storytelling of the bard; the athletic games;
feasting; dance.
 The arrival of and respect paid to the bard Demodocus.






The effect the song sung by the Demodocus has upon Odysseus.
The games.
The challenge of Broadsea
Odysseus' response to the challenge.
The dancing (420).
The gifts presented Odysseus by the Lords of Phaeacia after the dancing.
EPITHETS: Who is . . .
 "the faithful bard the Muse adored, the famous harper?"
 "the long suffering hero?"
 "Crowned with Flowers?"
 "the Master Craftsman, the famous crippled smith?"
 "the Archer?"
QUESTIONS:
1. Why might Demodocus' blindness be significant?
2. With whom is Odysseus quarreling in the first song by Demoducus? Expain why they
quarrel.
3. What does Alcinous do when he sees how Odysseus reacts?
4. What does Odysseus do to win the respect of the young Phaeacians? Why ?
5. What does Alcinous ask Odysseus at the end of Book 8?
QUOTES TO REMEMBER:
Quote
Alcinous rose and addressed his island people:
"Hear me, lords and captains of Phaeacia,
hear what the heart inside me has to say.
This stranger here, our guest I don't know who he is, or whether he comes
from sunrise lands or the western lands of evening,
but he has come in his wanderings to my palace;
he pleads for passage, he begs we guarantee it.
So now, as in years gone by, let us press on
and grant him escort. No one, I tell you, no one
Line #
(27)
Significance
who comes to my house will languish long here,
heartsick for convoy home."
"Call in the inspired bard
Demodocus. God has given the man the gift of song,
to him beyond all others, the power to please,
however the spirit stirs him on to sing."
(50)
In came the herald now,
leading along the faithful bard the Muse adored
above all others, true, but her gifts were mixed
with good and evil both: she stripped him of sight
but gave the man the power of stirring, rapturous song.
Pontonous brought the bard a silver studded chair,
right amid the feasters, leaning it up against
a central column -hung his high clear lyre
on a peg above his head and showed him how
to reach up with his hands and lift it down.
And the herald placed a table by his side
with a basket full of bread and cup of wine
for him to sip when his spirit craved refreshment.
All reached out for the good things that lay at hand
and when they'd put aside desire for food and drink,
the Muse inspired the bard
to sing the famous deeds of fighting heroes the song whose fame had reached the skies those days:
The Strife Between Odysseus and Achilles, Peleus' Son ...
how once at the gods' flowing feast the captains clashed
in a savage war of words, while Agamemnon, lord of armies,
rejoiced at heart that Achaea's bravest men were battling so.
(71)
That was the song the famous harper sang
but Odysseus, clutching his flaring sea blue cape
in both powerful hands, drew it over his head
and buried his handsome face,
ashamed his hosts might see him shedding tears.
Whenever the rapt bard would pause in the song,
he'd lift the cape from his head, wipe off his tears
and hoisting his double handled cup, pour it out to the gods.
But soon as the bard would start again, impelled to sing
by Phaeacia's lords, who reveled in his tale,
again Odysseus hid his face and wept.
His weeping went unmarked by all the others;
only Alcinous, sitting close beside him,
noticed his guest's tears,
(99)
I've held my place in the front ranks, I tell you,
long as I could trust to my youth and striving hands.
But now I'm wrestled down by pain and hardship, look,
I've borne my share of struggles, cleaving my way
through wars of men and pounding waves at sea.
Nevertheless, despite so many blows,
I'll give your games a whirl. Your insults
cut to the quick -you rouse my fighting blood!"
(208)
A rippling prelude now the bard struck up an irresistible song:
(300)
The Love of Ares and Aphrodite Crowned with Flowers . . .
how the two had first made love in Hephaestus' mansion,
all in secret. Ares had showered her with gifts
and showered Hephaestus' marriage bed with shame
but a messenger ran to tell the god of fire Helios, lord of the sun, who'd spied the couple
lost in each other's arms and making love.
Odysseus rose to the moment deftly, gently:
"Nausicaa, daughter of generous King Alcinous,
may Zeus the Thunderer, Hera's husband, grant it so that I travel home and see the dawn of my return.
Even at home I'll pray to you as a deathless goddess
all my days to come. You saved my life, dear girl."
521)
There, he sang, Odysseus fought the grimmest fight
he had ever braved but he won through at last,
thanks to Athena's superhuman power.
That was the song the famous harper sang
but great Odysseus melted into tears,
running down from his eyes to wet his cheeks . . .
as a woman weeps, her arms flung round her darling
husband,
a man who fell in battle, fighting for town and townsmen,
trying to beat the day of doom from home and children.
Seeing the man go down, dying, gasping for breath,
she clings for dear life, screams and shrills but the victors, just behind her,
digging spear-butts into her back and shoulders,
drag her off in bondage, yoked to hard labor, pain,
and the most heartbreaking torment wastes her cheeks.
So from Odysseus' eyes ran tears of heartbreak now.
True, there's an old tale I heard, my
father telling once. Nausithous used to say
that Lord Poseidon was vexed with us because
we scorted all mankind and never come to grief.
He said that one day, as a well built ship of ours
sailed home on the misty sea from such a convoy,
the god would crush it, yes,
and pile a huge mountain round about our port.
(582)
(631)
Homer’s Odyssey: Structure
Books 5-8: We meet Odysseus on Ogygia. He is by himself and weeping, longing for home, captive
of the immortal nymph Calypso. Hermes on instructions from Zeus tells Calypso she must release
her captive. Odysseus has a long, storm filled journey to Phaeacia, overcoming the wind and waves
stirred up by Poseidon, who is angry at Odysseus for having blinded his son, the Cyclops,
Polyphemus. After being virtually washed up on Scheria, the island of the Phaeacians, Odysseus is
discovered by the king's daughter Nausicaa who, inspired by Athena, bathes him and invites him to
the palace of King Alcinous, and Queen Arete. Once there, Odysseus is treated as an honored
(and initially anonymous) guest and he stirs only when he is insulted at the "games." He responds to
goading by hurling a stone discus long past any of the Phaeacian's efforts. Alcinous has noticed that
Odysseus weeps whenever the bard Demodocus sings of Troy. Finally, he is pressed by Alcinous to
tell his story.
Name:___________________
Date:____________
Book 9: IN THE ONE-EYED GIANT'S CAVE
SCENE: In the palace of Alcinous in the land of the Phaeacians where Odysseus tells of the Lands of
the Cocones and the Lotus Eaters as well as of the Island of the Cyclops.
IMPORTANT CHARACTERS: Odysseus and Polyphemus: a son of Poseidon and a Cyclops.
Odysseus identifies himself to his hosts and agrees to tell the take of his adventures. He describes
his pillage of the Cicones where his men become greedy, and the "honey sweet fruit" of the Lotus
Eaters that entrances his men. He then tells the story of his experience with Polyphemus, the Cyclops
who traps him and his men and whom he escapes through guile. The exhilaration of his triumph leads
him to commiting the biggest error of his life – boasting who he is to his victim – a creature who just
happens to be a son of Poseidon.
PAY ATTENTION TO:
 Odysseus' failure to control his men in the land of the Cicones.
 His rescuing them in the land of the Lotus-eaters, and saving them in the land of the Cyclops.
 Odysseus' adventurous attitude as he lands on the Cyclops' land.
 The reverse of the hospitality found in Phaeacia.
 The "farm" culture of the Cyclops.
 Odysseus' cleverness in calling himself "Nobody."
 Odysseus' flattery of the Cyclops.
 The vividness of Odysseus' "attack." The similes used to describe this.
 The cleverness of his escape.
 The curse of Polyphemus.
 Odysseus' leadership qualities; his adventurous spirit; his courage and cleverness; his lapse
into pride (hubris).
EPITHETS: Who is...
 "teller of tales?"
 "god of the sea blue mane who rocks the earth?"
QUESTIONS:
1. Where do Odysseus and his men go first after they leave Troy?
2. Who are the Cicones?
3. Who are the lotus eaters?
4. How does Polyphemus prevent Odysseus and his men from leaving his cave?
5. What does Polyphemus' diet consist of?
6. Are the Cyclopes in any way civilized?
7. What mistake does Odysseus makes as he sails away?
QUOTES TO REMEMBER:
Quote
Line #
"I am Odysseus, son of Laertes, known to the world
for every kind of craft – my fame has reached the skies.
Sunny Ithaca is my home. . .
and I, myself, I know no sweeter sight on earth
than a man's own native country.
(21)
I sacked the city,
killed the men, but as for the wives and plunder. . .
we shared it round so no one, not on my account,
would go deprived of his fair share of spoils.
Then I urged them to cut and run, set sail,
but would they listen? Not those mutinous fools;
there was too much wine to swill...
And all the while the Cicones sought out other Cicones. . .
the Cicones broke our lines and beast us down at last,
Out of each ship, six men-at-arms were killed.
(45)
So off they went and soon enough
they mingled among the natives, Lotus Eaters, Lotus Eaters
who had no notion of killing my companions, not at all,
they simply gave them the lotus to taste instead...
Any crewmen who ate the lotus, the honey sweet fruit,
lost all desire to send a message back, much less return...
grazing on lotus, all memory of the journey home
dissolved forever. But I brought them back, back
to the hollow ships, and streaming tears – I forced them.
(102)
"The rest of you stay here, my friends-in-arms.
(192)
Significance
I'll go across with my own ship and crew
and probe the natives living over there."
A grim loner, dead set in his own lawless ways.
Here was a piece of work, by god, a monster...
mountain
rearing head and shoulders over the world.
(210)
a man
I told most of my good trusty crew to wait,
to sit tight by the ship and guard her well
while I picked out my dozen finest fighters
and off I went.
(215)
But since we've chanced on you, we're at your knees
in hopes of a warm welcome, even a guest gift,
the sort that hosts give strangers. That's the custom.
Respect the gods, my friend. We're suppliants, at your mercy!
Zeus of the Strangers guards all guests and suppliants:
strangers are sacred – Zeus will avenge their rights!
"Stranger," he grumbled back from his brutal heart,
"you must be a fool, stranger, or come from nowhere,
telling me to fear the gods or avoid their wrath!"
(300)
So he laid his trap
but he never caught me, no, not me, wise to the world
I shot back in my crafty way, "My ship?
Poseidon, God of the earthquake, sunk my ship."
(316)
... he left me there, the heart inside me brooding on revenge,
how could I pay him back, would Athena give me glory?
(355)
..."Nobody, that's my name. Nobody –"
(410)
I drove my weight on it from above and bored it home
like a shipwright bores his beam with a shipwright's drill
that men below, whipping the strap back and forth, whirl
and the drill keeps twisting, never stopping –
So we seized our stake with it fiery tip
and bored it round and round in the giant's eye...
its crackling roots blazed and hissed –
as a blacksmith plunges a glowing ax or adze
in an ice-cold bath and the metal screeches steam
and its temper hardens – that's the iron's strength –
so the eye of Cyclops sizzled round that stake.
(419)
"Nobody's killing me now by fraud and not by force."
There was one bellwether ram, the prize of all the flock
and clutching him by the back, tucked up under
his shaggy belly, there I hung, face upward
both hands locked in his marvelous deep fleece,
clinging for dear life, my spirit steeled, enduring. . .
So well we held on, waiting Dawn's first light.
(455)
"Cyclops –
if any man on the face of the earth should ask you
who blinded you, shamed you so – say Odysseus,
raider of cities, he gouged out your eye,
(558)
Laertes son, who makes his home in Ithaca!"
Hear me –
Poseidon , god of the sea blue mane who rocks the earth,
If I really am your son and you claim to be my father –
come, grant that Odysseus, raider of cities . . .
Laertes son, who makes his home in Ithaca . . .
never reaches home . . . or if he's fated to see
his people once again . . . let him come home late
and come a broken man – all shipmates lost,
alone in a stranger's ship –
and let him find a world of pain at home."
(584)
Name:___________________
Date:____________
Book 10: THE BEWITCHING QUEEN OF AEAEA
SCENE: In the palace of Alcinous in the land of the Phaeacians where Odysseus tells of the Aeolia
land of the Laestrygonians, and of Aeaea, the island of Circe
IMPORTANT CHARACTERS: Odysseus, Aeolus, King of Aeolia and master of the winds,
Antiphates, King of the Laestrygonians, Eurylochus, Circe, Hermes, and Elpenor.
Odysseus and his crew are treated hospitably by Aeolus, King of Aeolia, who sends off the Ithacans
with a gift of wind in a bag which is to ensure a swift voyage. Just before the Ithacans reach home,
Odysseus' crew, thinking their captain had been rewarded by Aeolus with riches, open the "gift" while
Odysseus sleeps. The escaping wind blows the ships back to Aeolus where an irritated King refuses
to help the ill-favored Greeks. They then make a disastrous journey to the land of the Laestrygonians,
a race of giants who destroy all of Odysseus' ships but his which he had had cautiously anchored
outside the small harbor. The despondent survivors travels to Aeaea where only one of an
exploratory "platoon" escapes the bewitching Circe and returns to Odysseus to describe how the men
he had led had all been turned into swine. Odysseus goes to attempt to deal with this situation. On
the way to Circe's palace he is visited by Hermes who tells him what he needs to do to resist the
beautiful witch's spells. Forewarned, Odysseus succeeds in winning his men's freedom and the bed
of "the nymph with the lovely braids." All spend a relaxing and somewhat licentious year before
Odysseus is told by Circe that he will need to go to the land of the dead to learn his fate.
PAY ATTENTION TO:
 King Aeolus' gift to Odysseus
 Odysseus's letting his guard down
 Aeolus' belief that Odysseus is not favored by the Gods,
 Aeolus' attitude toward second chances
 Odysseus' caution when he reaches the land of the Laestrygonians,
 Odysseus' caution when he reaches Aeaea,
 Circe's initial reception of Odysseus' men, her witchcraft.
 The role of Hermes
 Odysseus as seducer and seduced.
 The importance of Circe's “word”,
 the luxury of the palace, good times,
 Circe's ultimate support and hospitality,
 the need to visit Hades and hear from Tiresias.

EPITHETS: Who is...the nymph with the lovely braids
QUESTIONS:
1. After the attack from the Laestrygonians, how many ships are left out of the original twelve?
2. What sort of character is Circe? What craft does she practice that Penelope also practices?
3. Why (aside from her magic) is she able to turn Odysseus' men into swine? How do they
offend her?
4. Into what does Circe transform Odysseus' crew?
5. What does Hermes give to Odysseus?
6. What makes Odysseus give in to Circe's enticements? Is this typical of him?
7. How long does Odysseus stay in Circe's palace?
8. Why does he want to leave?
9. Where must Odysseus go to learn his way home?
QUOTES TO REMEMBER:
Quote
Line #
They loosed the sack and all the winds burst out
and a sudden squall struck up and swept us back to sea,
wailing in tears, far from out own native land,
(52)
"Crawling back like this –
It proves the immortals hate you. Out! Get out!"
(82)
Significance
The [the Laestrygonians] speared the crews like fish
and whisked them home to make a grisly meal.
But while they killed them off in the harbor depths
I pulled the sword from beside my hip and hacked away
at the ropes that moored the blue-prowed ship of war
and shout rapid orders at my shipmates:
"Put your backs to the oars – now row or die!"
In terror of death they ripped the swells – all as one –
and what a joy as we darted out toward open sea,
clear of those beetling cliffs. . . my ship alone.
(135)
I was well on my way down, nearing our ship
when a god took pity on me wandering all alone;
he sent me a big stag with high branching antlers,
right across my path – the suns heat forced him down
from the forest range to drink at the river's banks –
just bounding out of the timber when I hit him
square in the backbone, halfway down the spine
and my bronze spear went punching clean through –
he dropped in the dust, groaning, gasping his last breath.
(171)
Deep in the wooded glens they came to Circe's palace
built of dressed stone on a cleared rise of land.
Mountain wolves and lions were roaming round the grounds
she'd [Circe] bewitched them herself, she gave them magic
drugs.
But they wouldn't attack my men; they just came pawing
up around them, pawing, swishing their long tails –
. . . they [the men] paused at her door, the nymph with
lovely braids,
Circe – and deep inside they heard her singing, lifting
her spell-binding voice as she glided back and forth
on her great immortal loom, her enchanting web
a shimmering glory only goddesses can weave.
(229)
Only Eurylochus stayed behind – he sensed a trap. . .
(256)
Once they'd drained the bowls she'd filled, suddenly
she struck with her wand, drove them into her pigsties,
all of them bristling into wine – with grunts
snouts, even their bodies, yes, and only
the men's minds stayed steadfast as before.
So off they went to their pens, sobbing, squealing. . .
(261)
"Eurylochus, stay right here,
eating, drinking, safe by the black ship.
I must be off. Necessity drives me on."
(299)
Hermes god of the golden wand
crossed my path. . .
"have you come to set them free?
Well I warn you. You won't get home yourself. . .
But wait, I can save you, free you from that great danger.
Look here is a potent drug. . .
Now here is your plan of action, step by step.
The moment Circe strikes with her long thin want
(305)
you draw your sharp sword sheathed at your hip
and rush her fact as thought to run the through!
She'll cower in fear and coax you toward her bed –
but don't refuse the goddess' bed, not then. . .
But have her swear the binding oath of the blessed gods
she'll never plot some new intrigue to harm you
once you lay there naked –
never unman you, strip away your courage!"
"Mount your bed? Not for all the world. Not
until you consent to swear, goddess, a binding oath
you'll never plot some new intrigue to harm me!"
Straightaway
she began to swear the oath. . .
and when she's finished
then at last, I mounted Circe's gorgeous bed."
(380)
"If you, you really want me to eat and drink
set them free – all my comrades –
let me feast my eyes."
(426)
So she enticed
and won our battle hardened spirits over.
And there we sat, at ease,
day in, day out, till a year had run its course,
feasting on sides of meat and drafts of heady wine. . .
But then, when the year was through. . .
my loyal comrades took me aside and prodded,
"Captain, this is madness!
High time you though of your own home at last. . ."
That urging brought my stubborn spirit round.
(513)
"Royal son of Laertes, old campaigner,
stay on no more in my house against your will.
But first another journey calls. You must travel down
to the House of Death and the awesome one, Persephone,
there to consult the ghost of Tiresias, seer of Thebes,
the great blind prophet whose mind remains unshaken
Even in death – Persephone has given him wisdom . . .
the rest of the dead are empty, flitting shades."
(537)
He [Tiresias] will tell you the way to go, the stages of your
voyage,
how you can cross the swarming sea and reach home at
last."
(541)
There was a man, Elpenor, the youngest in our ranks,
none too brave in battle, none too sound in mind. . .
keen for the cool night air,
sodden with wine he'd bedded down on her roofs . . .
he forgot to climb back down again by the long ladder –
headfirst from the roof he plunged, his neck snapped
from the backbone, his soul flew down to death.
(608)
Name:___________________
Date:____________
Book 11: THE LAND OF THE DEAD
SCENE: the land of the Cimmerians, Hades, and a few moments in the palace of the Phaeacians.
IMPORTANT CHARACTERS: Odysseus, Elpenor, Tiresias, Anticleia (Odysseus' mother,) Arete,
Alcinous, Agamemnon, Achilles, Telemonian Ajax, Tantalus and Sisyphus.
After arriving at the land of the Cimmerians and performing appropriate sacrifices, Odysseus moves
to the land of the dead. Before he can reach Hades proper he's stopped by Elpenor, a crewman of his
who died the last night on Aeaea . After Odysseus agrees to return to Aeaea and honor Elpenor with
burial, he moves onto Hades where he follows Circe's directions and talks first to the blind prophet of
Thebes, Tiresias, who predicts Odysseus' future and tells him what he will ultimately have to do to
placate Poseidon. Odysseus then talks to other who have died, first Anticlea, followed by a number of
illustrious women who had "known" gods. He also meets the fellow Captains at Troy who have died
and two men, Tantalus and Sisyphus, whose "lives" in the Underworld are perpetual torment.
PAY ATTENTION TO:
 The importance of treating the dead with respect (Elpenor): The ritual Odysseus performs in
order to meet those in the Underworld. The prophesy of Tiresias and the importance of
prophesy (this seems to underscore the inevitability of fate). The parade of women followed
by a break in the narration for some Phaeacian reaction before Odysseus nreturns to his
story. Agamemnon's rage at his wife's betrayal. How Ajax reacts to Odysseus. The cause of
this reaction. What Achilles tells Odysseus about the misery of the dead.
 Commentary from the translator, Robert Fagles: "I love that marvelous meeting between
Odysseus and Achilles. It brings back all the latent hostility between the two of them that you
see in the Iliad, especially in the ninth book. Achilles, the great hero of the Iliad, is a ghost
who yearns for life, and Odysseus is able to give him a form of life that's very precious--the
depiction of the heroic life of Achilles' son Neoptolemus. As long as the son is leading that
life, the father can leap triumphant across those fields of asphodel. Two things are being

stressed: the extreme fragility of life and how terrible its loss, on the one hand, and how very
precious the extension of life is into the next generation.
"Odysseus plays such a crucial role because by giving the sheep's blood to the dead, he
animates them. That's the power that the living have, to reanimate the dead--to reanimate
memory. It's what we do. We are forever in conversation with these great ancestors."
(http://www.princeton.edu/pr/news/96/q4/1114fagl.html)
EPITHETS: Who is...
 "the seer of Thebes?"
 "famous Atrides, lord of men?"
 "Son of Peleus, greatest of the Achaeans?"
QUESTIONS:
1. What favor does Elpenor as of Odysseus?
2. What ritual does Odysseus perform in order to meet those in the Underworld?
3. What does Tiresias do in order to speak to Odysseus?
4. What does Odysseus learn about his journey from Tiresias in Hades?
5. What does Odysseus learn from Anticleia? What does he try to do when she speaks to him?
Why does he fail?
6. What does Agamemnon tell Odysseus about how men should feel about women? Is it
significant that earlier in the book we hear about celebrated women?
7. What is the reason for Ajax's anger at Odysseus?
8. What is the Greek Underworld (Hades) like?
9. What do you make of Tantalus and Sisyphus?
QUOTES TO REMEMBER:
Quote
Line #
Significance
But first the ghost of Elpenor, my companion, came toward me.
He'd not been buried under the wide way of earth,
not yet, we'd left his body in Circe's house,
unwept, unburied - this other labor pressed us.
But I wept to see him now. . .
(55)
But look, the ghost of my mother came!
My mother dead and gone now . . .
whom I have left alive when I sailed for sacred Troy.
I broke into tears. . .but . . .I would not let her ghost
approach the blood till I had questioned Tiresias myself.
(93)
At last he [Tiresias] came The shade of the famous Theban prophet,
holding a golden scepter, knew me at once and hailed me:
"Royal son of Laertes, master of exploits,
man of pain, what now, what brings you here? . . .
Stand back from the trench . . .
so I can drink the blood and tell you all the truth,
(100)
"[Mother] What form of death overcame you, what laid you low?
Tell me of my father, of the son I left behind . . .
Please tell me about my wife, her turn of mind,
Her thoughts. . ."
(194)
[Alcinous] "Keep telling us your adventures - they are wonderful
I could hold court here till awns first light
if only you could bear, here in out halls,
to tell the tale of all the pain you've suffered."
(302)
. . . so even your own wife - never indulge her too far.
Never reveal the whole truth, whatever you may know . .
the time for trusting woman's gone forever!"
(341)
. . . "But you, Achilles,
there's not a man in the world more blest than youthere never has been, never will be one.
Time was, when you were alive, we Argives
honored you as a god, and now down here, I see,
you lord it over the dead in all your power.
So grieve no more at dying, great Achilles".
(364)
"Ajax . . . the gods set up that prize to plague the Achaea - . . .
For your death we grieved as we did for Achilles death . . . none's to blame
but Zeus. . .
Conquer your rage, your blazing, headlong pride!'
(458)
And I saw Tantalus too, bearing endless torture.
He stood erect in a pool as the water lapped parched, he tried to drink he tried to drink, but he could not reach the surface.
no, time and again, the old man stooped, craving a sip,
time and again the water vanished, swallowed down,
laying bear the caked black earth at his feet -
(499)
some spirit drank it dry. And over his head
leafy trees from high aloft,
pomegranates and pears, and apples glowing red,
succulent figs and olives swelling sleek and dark,
but as soon as the old man would strain to clutch them fast
a gust would toss them up to the lowering black clouds.
And I saw Sisyphus too, bound to his own torture
grappling his monstrous boulder with both arms working,
heaving, hands struggling, legs driving, he kept on
thrusting the rock uphill towards the brink, but just
as it teetered, set to topple over time and again,
the immense weight of the thing would wheel it back and
the ruthless boulder would tumble down to the plain again so once again he would heave, would struggle to thrust it up,
sweat drenching his body, dust swirling above his head.
(538)
Tantalus - in Greek mythology, king of Sipylos, son of Zeus and father of Pelops and Niobe. He was
admitted to the society of the gods, but his abominable behavior aroused their anger, and Zeus
condemned him to suffer eternally at Tartarus. One legend says that he had divulged divine secrets
and stolen the gods' sacred food. Another tells that he had murdered his son Pelops and served his
body to the gods to test their omniscience. (http://www.encyclopedia.com/html/T/Tantalus.asp)
Sisyphus - in Greek mythology, son of Aeolus and founder and king of Corinth. Renowned for his
cunning, he was said to have outwitted even Death. For his disrespect to Zeus, he was condemned to
eternal punishment in Tartarus.
(http://www.encyclopedia.com/html/S Sisyphus.asp)
Name:___________________
Date:____________
Book 12: THE CATTLE OF THE SUN
SCENE: Aeaea, dangerous waters (Sirens, Scylla and Charybdis), the island of Helios (Thrinacia);
the sea; Ogygia.
IMPORTANT CHARACTERS: Odysseus, Circe, the Sirens, Scylla, Eurylochus.
On Aeaea Odysseus fulfills his promise to Elpenor. A hospitable Circe repeats some of what Tiresias
has warned Odysseus about, and also advises him how best to negotiate some upcoming perils. By
following her advice, Odysseus is able to resist the Sirens' song and avoid most of the perils of the
straight between Scylla and Charybdis. Then, though Odysseus had been told that landing on Helios'
island Thrinacia cold lead to a fateful error, his near mutinous men insist they need some rest. Once
there, they break an oath to Odysseus and while he sleeps fail resist the temptation of feasting on the
Sun god’s sacred cattle. Helios, with the assistance of Zeus, has his revenge and only Odysseus
survives a thunderbolt that sinks his ship. His destiny is to be swept to Ogygia.
PAY ATTENTION TO:
 the burial of Elpenor
 Circe's helpfulness
 Odysseus leadership - its success and failures
 Eurylochus' role (remember he is the most reluctant to join Odysseus at the "party" on Aeaea
 the South Wind
 the absoluteness of the Gods
 Odysseus' endurance.
QUESTIONS:
1. Why has Odysseus returned to Aeaea?
2. How does Circe help him?
3. What does the episode of the Sirens tell us about Odysseus' character? Homer's understanding
of the power of music?
4. What advice does Odysseus take that Circe gives him about Scylla and Charybdis? What does
this tell us about leadership?
5. Why are the cattle of Helios' island so tempting?
6. What warning does Odysseus give his men?
7. This is not the first time Odysseus' warnings are ignored. Whose fault is this?
8. This is also not the first time Odysseus's orders are defied. Does this absolve him of
responsibility?
QUOTES TO REMEMBER:
Quote
And so we saw to his [Elpenor's] rites, each step in turn
". . . but listen closely to what I [Circe] tell you now. . .
Whoever draws too close . . .
The high thrilling sound of the Sirens will transfix,
lolling there in the meadow, round them heaps of corpses
rotting away, rags of skins shriveling on their bones . . .
Line #
(16)
(41)
Race straight past that coast! "But once your ships has passed the Sirens(61)
a choice of routes is yours . . .
On one side beetling cliffs shoot up, and against them
pound the huge roaring breakers of the blue eyed Amphitirite the clashing rocks they're called . . .
Not even birds can escape them . . .
No ship of men has ever approached and slipped past . . .
"On the other side loom two enormous crags . . .
And halfway up against that cliffside stands a fog-bound cavern . . .
Scylla lurks inside it - the yelping horror . . .
a grisly monster . . .
She has twelve legs, all writing hanging down
and six long swaying necks, a hideous face on each. . .
and armed to the hilt with black death.
(81)
"The other crag is lower
Atop it a great fig-tree rises, shaggy with leaves
beneath it awesome Charybdis drinks the water down
(112)
Significance
Three times a day she vomits it up, three times she gulps it down . . .
hug Scylla crag . . .
Better by far to lose six men and keep your ship
than lose your entire crew . . .
"Then you will reach the island of Thrinacia . . .
where herds of the Sungod's cattle graze . . .
Leave the beasts unharmed, your mind set on home. . .
but harm them in any way . . . you'll come home late,
all shipmates lost and come a broken man."
(137)
I informed my shipmates point by point. . .
(180)
. . . I stopped the ears of my comrades one by one.
They bound me hand and foot in the tight ship. . .
(193)
So they sent their ravishing voices out across the air
and the heart inside me throbbed to listen longer.
I signaled the crew with frowns to set me free they flung themselves at the oars and rowed on harder.
Up now, follow my orders,
all of us work as one . . .
Keep her clear of that smoke and surging breakers.
(208)
Now wailing in fear, we rowed on up those straights
Scylla to starboard, dreaded Charybdis off to port,
her horrible whirlpool gulping the sea surge down . . .
(253)
But now, fearing death, all eyes fixed on Charybdis now Scylla snatched six men from out hollow ship . . .
Just as an angler poised on a jutting rock
flings his treacherous bait in the offshore swell,
whips his long rod - hook sheathed in an oxhorn lure and whisks up little fish he flips on the beach-break,
writhing, gasping out their lives . . . so now they writhed . . .
lost in that mortal struggle . . .
(263)
And I was struck once more
by the words of the blind Theban prophet, Tiresias
and Aeaean Circe, too; time and again they told me
to shun this island of the sun, the joy of man. . .
(298)
"Eurylochus,
I'm one against all - the upper hand is yours.
But swear me a binding oath . . .
no man among us will slaughter an ox or ram."
(321)
They quickly swore the oath . . .
(328)
But for one whole month the South Wind blew nonstop . . .
(350)
At once they drove off the Sungod's finest cattle Surrounding them in a ring, they lifted prayers to the gods . . .
(380)
"Father Zeus . . .
you with your fatal sleep. You lulled me into disaster."
(398)
(232)
"Father Zeus . . .
punish them all, that crew . . .
what an outrage!"
(405)
But once we'd left that island in our wake . . .
then Zeus the Son of Cronos mounted a thunderhead . . .
a murderous blast shearing the two forestays off . . .
(435)
And the father of men and gods did not let Scylla see me . . .
(482)
I drifted along nine days. On the tenth, at night,
the gods cast me up on Ogygia . . .
home of the dangerous nymph with glossy braids.
(484)
Books 9-12: After revealing that he is the legendary Odysseus, he tells of his life from his leaving
Troy until his journey to Ogygia. In order, these adventures describe his men's foolish greed at the
land of the Cicones, their temptation by the Lotus Eaters, Odysseus' wounding of the monstrous
Cyclops, a squandered gift from Aeolus, a hazardous expedition to the land of the Lastrygonians, a
year long sojourn with the bewitching Circe who sends Odysseus to Hades so he can hear the
prediction of his future from the blind seer Tiresias, and where he meets his mother and several of
his fellow Captains from Troy, including Agamemnon who tells of his betrayal by his wife; after
returning to Circe's island to bury a fallen comrade, Circe gives him advice that enables him to travel
past the seductive Sirens, between the hideous Scylla and terrifying Charybdis, only to be blown
onto Thrinacia, Island of Helios, the sun god, where, after a month, his men succumb to temptation
and eat Helios' sacred cattle. When Odysseus and his men leave, Zeus strikes their ship with a
thunderbolt. Odysseus, who did not eat the cattle, is spared, and clinging to the wreckage, he finally
lands on Ogygia. At the end of the recounting of his story, Odysseus is offered a ship by Alcinous,
many gifts, and a transport back to Ithaca.
Name:___________________
Date:____________
Book 13: ITHACA AT LAST
SCENE: The palace of Alcinous, Ithaca
IMPORTANT CHARACTERS: Odysseus, Alcinous, Poseidon, Zeus, Athena
The Phaeacians fulfill their promise to Odysseus but at what will prove to be a terrible cost for
Poseidon feels betrayed and goes to Zeus for sanction to punish the overly hospitable Phaeacians.
Zeus not only agrees, but offers a more dramatic solution and the boat of the returning sailors is
transformed into stone in full view of Alcinous and his people. They pray that no further punishment
will ensue, but we never know if that prayer is answered. We do know that Poseidon planned to "pile
a huge mountain round their port" and that if he chose not to it would be the first time a god in the
Odyssey changed its mind. Meanwhile, Odysseus, not recognizing his homeland, also feels betrayed.
But he is greeted by Athena in disguise as a shepherd who tells him where he is. Their ensuing
"conversations" are a kind of friendly duel of wits. Odysseus senses his protector and she seems
pleased with his guardedness. Transformed into a beautiful woman, she leads him to a cavern to hide
his treasure. She tells him that his son lives, but that he will have to endure hardships before he
recaptures his homeland from the suitors of his faithful wife. He is to be disguised as an old man.
PAY ATTENTION TO:
 the departure from the land of the Phaeacians
 the power of the Gods
 the juggling of that power
 the way Zeus placates Poseidon
 his reaction to being "betrayed"
 Odysseus' anticlimactic arrival in Ithaca
 his dialogues with Athena
 her transformations
 the juxtaposition of the differing attitudes of gods towards men
 Odysseus' learning about Telemachus
 his disguise after his arrival in Ithaca.
QUESTIONS:
1. How do Poseidon and Zeus interact in this book? What is the balance of power between
them? How does Zeus assert his authority? How does Poseidon assert his displeasure?
2. How does Odysseus first feel as he lands on Ithaca?
3. How much does he tell the "shepherd" he meets about his true identity and intentions?
4. Does he change when he realizes it is Athena? How does she react to his caution?
5. How do the actions Odysseus takes compare with those he takes in the stories he has told?
Does the fact that he has at this point no crew affect the way acts?
6. Where is Athena going at the end of the book? How does she help him at this point?
QUOTES TO REMEMBER:
Quote
And then, that hour the star rose up,
the clearest brightest star, that always heralds,
the newborn light of day the deep-sea-going ship
made landfall on the island . . . Ithaca at last.
"Zeus, Father, I (Poseidon) will lose all my honor now
among the immortals, now there are mortal men
who show me no respect – Phaecians, too –
born of my own loins!"
Line #
Significance
(105)
(145)
Zeus: "Incredible! . . .
(158)
Earthshaker, you with your massive power, why moaning so . . .
if any man . . . pays you no respect . . . just pay him back . . .
Do what you like. Whatever warms your heart."
"I'd like to avenge myself at once, as you advise
but I've always feared your wrath and shied away. . .
But now I'll crush that fine Phaeacian cutter . . ."
(167)
"Wait dear brother, here's what seems best to me.
As the people all lean down from the city heights
to watch her speeding home, strike her into a rock
that looks just like a racing vessel, just of shore –
amaze all men with a marvel for the ages
Then pile your huge mountain round their port."
(174)
Alcinous: "Oh no, my father's prophecy years ago . . .
He used to say Poseidon was vexed with us because
we escorted all mankind and never came to grief . . .
Hurry friends, do as I say, let us all comply;
(194)
stop our convoys home for every castaway
chancing on our city!"
Odysseus: "Damn those . . . Phaeacians . . .
sweeping me off to this, this no man's land . . . well,
they never kept their word. Zeus of the suppliants
pay them back. (note the irony here!)
(237)
Ithaca! Heart racing, Odysseus that great exile,
filled with joy to hear Athena, daughter of storming youth,
pronounce that name. He stood on native ground at last.
. . . he replied . . . not with a word of truth . . .
always invoking the cunning in his heart.
"Ithaca, yes, I seem to have heard of Ithaca."
(284)
As his story ended
(324)
goddess Athena, grey eyes gleaming, broke into a smile . . .
now she appeared a woman,
beautiful, tall, and skilled at weaving lovely things . . .
"Any man – any god who met you – would have to be
some champion lying cheat to get past you. . .
. . . I am famous among the gods for wisdom,
cunning wiles, too.
Ah, but you never recognized me, did you? . . .
And now I am here once more to weave a scheme with you . . .
the trials you must suffer in your palace . . .
Endure them all. You must. You have no choice.
And to no one . . .
reveal that you are the wanderer home at last.
No, in silence you must bear a world of pain . . ."
"Ah goddess . . . you're mocking me . . . telling me tales
to make me lose my way. Tell me the truth now . . ."
(354)
"Always the same, your wary turn of mind . . .
That's why I can't forsake you in your troubles –
you are so winning, so worldly–wise, so self-possessed . . .
I never had doubts myself, no . . .
But I could not bring myself to fight my father's brother . . ."
(374)
"Clearly, I might have died the same ignoble death as Agamemnon(437)
if you had not revealed this to me now. . .
Stand by me . . . comrade in arms in battle!"
Athena stroked Odysseus with her wand.
She shriveled the supple skin on his lithe limbs . . .
and gave him a staff and a beggars sack,
torn and tattered, slung from a fraying rope.
(492)
All plans made
they went their separate way – Athena setting off
to bring Telemachus home from hallowed Lacedaemon.
(501)
Name:___________________
Date:____________
Book 14: THE LOYAL SWINEHERD
SCENE: Ithaca
IMPORTANT CHARACTERS: Odysseus, Eumaeus.
For the next seven books Odysseus, following Athena's directions, assumes the disguise of an old
beggar. Here, he travels to the swineherd's place - a pig farm (technically Odysseus') that is overseen
by the loyal Eumaeus. Eumaeus has retained the traditional values relating to hospitality; he quickly
calls off the dogs that threaten Odysseus when he arrives, and immediately offers him food and
shelter. He also clearly has remained faithful to his master ("Worlds away as he is. I call him Master,
Brother!"). Eumaeus reveals the terrible state of things with the opportunistic and greedy suitors tells
Penelope's fate and laments Telemachus' journey to Pylos. When Odysseus foretells his own return,
Eumaeus expresses doubt. After worrying about Telemachus' safety, he asks the stranger to tell his
story. Odysseus claims he is a man from Crete who has fallen upon hard times after fighting in the
Trojan War and having a successful seven year venture in Egypt. The tales have some similarity to
Odysseus' adventures in that they feature many swings of fortune. In the story, "the stranger"
mentions that recently he has heard of Odysseus' being readied with a ship for his return to Ithaca.
Once again Eumaeus expresses doubt, somewhat exasperating the storyteller. The chapter ends
with the swineherd preparing a feast for the guest who had suffered so much. He passes a final "test"
by covering his thin clad guest with a winter cloak before going to sleep near the "white tusked boars"
to ensure their protection.
PAY ATTENTION TO:
 Odysseus testing of Eumaeus; the frequent mention of Zeus;
 Eumaeus referred to as "_ou";
 Eumaeus' pride in Odysseus; his pessimism;
 Odysseus as a story teller;
 parallels and difference in his "story" to his own experiences;



Odysseus as a tester of Eumaeus;
the fixing of the "tasty supper in the lodge";
cloaks.
EPITHETS : Who is:
 "loyal swineherd?"
 "great teller of tales?"
QUESTIONS:
1. How is the swineherd (Eumaeus) connected to Odysseus?
2. What is the prediction about Odysseus that the stranger swears "on my oath" to Eumaeus?
3. How does Eumaeus react to this information?
4. Odysseus tells the swineherd he is from what kind of background? Suffered what kind of
hardships?
5. How does Eumaeus react to Odysseus' story?
6. Who gets the "boar's long loin . . . the cut of honor" in Eumaeus' shelter?
7. Why does Odysseus say, "I'm not long for the living. The cold will do me in./ See, I've got no
cloak."
QUOTES TO REMEMBER:
Quote
And you replied, Eumaeus, loyal swineherd,
It's wrong, my friend, to send a stranger packing even one who arrives in worse shape than you.
Every stranger and beggar comes from Zeus."
Line #
(63)
Significance
"Eat up now, my friend. It's all we slaves have got,
scrawny pork, while the suitors eat the fatted hogs –
no fear of the god in their hard hearts, no mercy
Trust me, the blessed gods have no love for crime.
They honor justice, the decent acts of men."
(93)
"Believe me, my master's wealth was vast;
No other prince on earth could match his riches."
(111)
"True, this very month - just as the old moon dies
and the new moon rises into life - Odysseus will return!
He will come home and take revenge on any man
who offends his wedded wife and princely son. "
(188)
I hail from Crete's broad land . . .
(228)
But now my heyday's gone -
(244)
. . .it was always oarswept ships that thrilled my heart,
and wars, and the long polished spears and arrows,
dreadful gear that makes the next man cringe.
I loved them all - god planted that love inside me.
Each man delights in the work that suits him best. , , ,
(266)
"But swept away by their own reckless fury, the crew went beserk -(296)
they promptly began to plunder the lush Egyptian farms. . . .
"Zeus himself . . .
(350)
thrust the huge mast of my dark prowed vessel
right into my arms . . . .
"The gods hid me themselves . . . ."
(404)
"Bring in your fattest hog!
I'll slaughter it for our guest from far abroad."
(468)
"You won't want for clothes or whatever else
is due a worn-out traveler come for help."
(596)
Then out he went to sleep where the white-tusked boars
had settled down for the night.
(600)
Name:___________________
Date:____________
Book 15: THE PRINCE SETS SAIL FOR HOME
SCENE: Sparta, Ithaca
IMPORTANT CHARACTERS: Athena, Telemachus, Pisistratus, Menelaus, Helen, Theoclymenus,
Odysseus, Eumaeus.
Athena comes to Telemachus to urge him to return to Ithaca. He quickly responds. Menelaus and
Helen shower Telemachus and Pisitratus with gifts. Interestingly, it is Helen who interprets "an eagle
clutching a huge white goose in its talons" as a signal of Odysseus' return to Ithaca. When they arrive
near Pylos, Pisistratus agrees that it best that Telemachus not stop for Nestor's sense of hospitality
would waylay him. Just before departing on his ship (that conveniently seems to await him)
Telemachus agrees to take aboard the exiled prophet Theoclymenus. The book then returns to
Eumaeus and Ithaca. This time Odysseus asks Eumaeus to tell his story. Like Odysseus' invented
history, Eumaeus actual history is one of many twists and turns, including a kidnapping by his "nurse"
who had been seduced by a Phoenician sailor. After she is ultimately punished by Artemis, Eumaeus
lands on Ithaca where Odysseus' father Laertes buys him. Odysseus is as moved by the swineherd's
tale as the swineherd was by Odysseus'. As they turn in for sleep, Telemachus lands in Ithaca
successfully, but secretly. He will not return to his home, but has been directed be Athena to go to the
swineherd's farm.
PAY ATTENTION TO:
 return (of Telemachus),
 exile (note: all of the mortals listed above as an "important character" except for Pisistratus
have experienced or are experiencing some form of exile);
 hospitality (of Menelaus, Nestor, the swineherd);
 bird signs from above; the new sophistication of Telemachus and Pisistratus;
 Odysseus' continued testing of Eumaeus;
 Eumaeus' story of his "Phoenician nurse."
QUESTIONS:
1. Why is Telemachus awake when Athena comes upon him?
2. How does the beginning of this book compare to the ending of Book 14?
3. How does Telemachus' departure from Sparta parallel Odysseus' departure from Phaecia?
4. Who gives going away presents to Telemachus? What does this signify?
5. What is the portent which precedes Telemachus' departure?
6. Who is unsure of how to interpret it? Who knows how to interpret it? How does the portent
resemble the earlier portent in Book 2 that is interpreted by Halitherses?
7. Why does Telemachus not want to revisit Nestor? How does Pisistratus react to this?
8. Who is Theoclymenus? What portent does he interpret?
9. How does Odysseus test Eumaeus?
10. What aspect of Eumaeus' story causes Odysseus to say, "You've moved my heart deeply."
11. How does Telemachus distinguish Eurymachus among the suitors? Who suggested he do
this?
QUOTES TO REMEMBER:
Quote
Line #
Significance
"I'd find fault with another host, I'm sure,
(74)
too warm to his guests, too pressing or too cold. Balance is best in all things . . . .
"(Pisistratus) With that man's (Nestor's) overbearing spirit . . .
he'll never let you go,
he'll come down here and summon you himself . . . ."
(234)
"Just like you, I have left my land I because I killed a man of my own tribe . . . .
I am a fugitive now . . . ."
(303)
"They're a far cry from you,
the men who do their bidding. Young bucks
all rigged out in their fine robes and shirts,
hair sleeked down with oil, faces always beaming,
the ones who slave for them. . . . No, stay here.
No one finds you a burden." (Eumaeus)
"Hunger never attacks that land (Syrie), no sickness either,
that always stalks the lives of us poor men.
No, as each generation grows old on the island,
down Apollo come with his silver bow, and Artemis
and shoot them all to death with gentle arrows." (Eumaeus) "
(367)
. . . . a long, deep embrace,
that can break a woman's will,
even the best alive . . . .
'I'll bring you all the gold I can lay my hands on . . . .
I'm a nurse for my master's son in the palace now . . .
he'll fetch you quite a price' !" (Eumaeus) "
(472)
. . . and then, when god brought on the seventh day,
Artemis showering arrows came and shot the woman."
(534)
The prince strode out briskly,
legs speeding him on until he reached the farm . . . .
(618)
(457)
Odysseus to Telemachus
A Poem by Joseph Brodsky
My dear Telemachus,
The Trojan War
is over now; I don't recall who won it.
The Greeks, no doubt, for only they would leave
so many dead so far from their own homeland.
But still, my homeward way has proved too long.
While we were wasting time there, old Poseidon,
it almost seems, stretched and extended space.
I don't know where I am or what this place
can be. It would appear some filthy island,
with bushes, buildings, and great grunting pigs.
A garden choked with weeds; some queen or other.
Grass and huge stones . . . Telemachus, my son!
To a wanderer the faces of all islands
resemble one another. And the mind
trips, numbering waves; eyes, sore from sea horizons,
run; and the flesh of water stuffs the ears.
I can't remember how the war came out;
even how old you are--I can't remember.
Grow up, then, my Telemachus, grow strong.
Only the gods know if we'll see each other
again. You've long since ceased to be that babe
before whom I reined in the plowing bullocks.
Had it not been for Palamedes' trick
we two would still be living in one household.
But maybe he was right; away from me
you are quite safe from all Oedipal passions,
and your dreams, my Telemachus, are blameless.
Name:___________________
Date:____________
Book 16: FATHER AND SON
SCENE: Ithaca
IMPORTANT CHARACTERS: Odysseus, Eumaeus, Telemachus, Athena, Antinous, Amphinomus,
Medon, Eurymachus, Penelope.
Telemachus is greeted by Eumaeus with much emotion; he is introduced to the stranger who does
not reveal himself. Telemachus sends Eumaeus to tell Penelope of his return. Then Odysseus is
signaled by an Athena Telemachus cannot see, and he slips outside the lodge whereupon the
goddess instructs Odysseus to reveal himself to his son; she proceeds to transform make him appear
"taller, supple, young." Telemachus reacts as if the stranger were a god, and after Odysseus reveals
his identity refuses at first to believe that this is indeed his father. Odysseus explains his
transformation is Athena's work, the first of a number of times that Odysseus explains the ways of the
gods to his son. Convinced, the son embraces his father. After tears and "shrilling cries," Odysseus
explains how the Phaeacian's helped him, and Telemachus details the powerful position of the
suitors. Odysseus explains that with the help of Athena and Zeus, the suitors will ultimately be
defeated. Telemachus promises his father he is not a "flighty weak-willed boy," and together they plot
out a plan to overthrow their enemies. Meanwhile Eumaeus tells Penelope of the return of her on, and
the suitors spot Telemachus' ship in the harbor. They are dissuaded from following the advice of
Antinous to kill Telemachus by Amphinomus. An inspired Penelope, informed of the plot, attacks
Antinous upon his return to palace with a mother's fury. Eumaeus returns to his home, his mission
filled, and Odysseus transformed back into an ancient beggar.
PAY ATTENTION TO:
 Reunions (first of Eumaeus and Telemachus, then of Telemachus and Odysseus);






the irony in several situations; Eumaeus' emotions;
Telemachus' self-control,
Odysseus' discipline ("or are your brothers at fault?");
Athena's role;
Penelope's position and response;
the importance of loyalty (Eumaeus, Penelope)
QUESTIONS:
1. How does Eumaeus greet Telemachus?
2. What errand is Eumaeus sent on?
3. Why does Odysseus reveal his identity to Telemachus?
4. How does Odysseus' look when he reveals himself to his son?
5. How does Telemachus react when Odysseus identifies himself?
6. What are the three major points of strategy in the plan which Odysseus tells to Telemachus?
7. How does Odysseus' look when he reveals himself to his son?
8. What does Antinous try to get the suitors to do?
9. Who offers a different perspective?
10. How does Penelope learn of what the suitors are thinking?
11. How does Penelope react to this information?
12. Which of the suitors attempts to reassure her?
QUOTES TO REMEMBER:
Quote
Line #
"You're home, Telemachus,
sweet light of my eyes. I never thought I'd see you again . . .
under my roof, the rover home at last."
(26)
As he [Telemachus] approached, his father, Odysseus, rose
to yield his seat, but the son, on his part
waved him back: "Stay where you are, stranger,
I know we can find another seat somewhere."
(49)
"It's hard for a man to win his way against a mob,
even a man of iron. They are much too strong."
"Friend," the long enduring Odysseus stepped in –
"surely it's right for me to say a word at this point.
My heart, by god, is torn to pieces hearing this,
both of you telling how these reckless suitors . . .
plot your ruin . . . .
(98)
I'd rather die, cut down in my own house
than have to look on at their outrage day by day."
(118)
"Royal son of Laertes, Odysseus, old campaigner,
now is the time, now tell your son the truth.
Hold nothing back, so the two of you can plot
the suitors doom . . . ."
(188)
"No I am not a god . . . .
Why confuse me with one who never dies?
No, I am your father –
the Odysseus you wept for all your days,
you bore a world of pain, the cruel abuse of men."
(209)
And with those words Odysseus kissed his son
(215)
and the tears streamed down his cheeks and wet the ground . . . .
"It's light work for a god who rules the skies
to exalt a mortal man or bring him low."
(241)
"Think: can you come up with a friend-in-arms?
Some man to fight beside us, some brave heart?"
"Let me tell you," the old soldier said,
"bear in mind now, listen to me closely.
Think: will Athena flanked by Zeus
do for the two of us?"
(287)
Significance
"Soon enough, father . . .
you'll sense the courage inside me, that I know –
I'm hardly a flighty, weak-willed boy these days.
But I think your plan would gain us nothing.
Reconsider, I urge you."
(342)
But now an inspiration took the discreet Penelope
to face her suitors, brutal, reckless, men . . . .
rounding on Antinous, [she] cried out against him,
"You, Antinous! Violent, vicious, scheming –
Madman, why do you weave destruction for Telemachus? . . . .
It's wrong, unholy, yes . . .
Stop I tell you,
stop all this, and make the rest stop, too!"
(453)
And now,
with the roasting done, the meal set out
and no one's hunger lacked a proper share of supper.
When they'd put aside desire for food and drink,
they remembered bed and took the gift of sleep.
(529)
Name:___________________
Date:____________
Book 17: STRANGER AT THE GATES
SCENE: Ithaca
IMPORTANT CHARACTERS: Odysseus, Telemachus, Eurycleia, Penelope, Piraeus,
Theoclymenus, Eumaeus, Melanthius, Phemius, Argos, Antinous.
A "strong" Telemachus, upon whom Athena has "lavished a marvelous splendor," returns home and
stemming sentiment instructs his mother to go her own room and pray for success; he leaves to
rendezvous with Theoclymenus who is with Piraeus. Telemachus tells Piraeus, who has hidden the
hoard Menelaus had sent off with Telemachus, to keep it to ensure it stay out of the suitor's hands.
When Telemachus returns again to the palace with Theoclymenus, he tells Penelope the story of his
time with Menelaus (quoting the latter's prediction of how Odysseus would treat the suitors) but
denies knowing of Odysseus whereabouts. This is left instead to Theoclymenus who "sees" the truth.
Meanwhile Odysseus (as a beggar) and Eumaeus begin their journey toward town. On the way
Odysseus is taunted by is old goatherd. At the gate he is recognized by his ancient dog who is in
terrible conditions but dies comforted. Inside the beggar is scorned by the suitor Antinous whose
behavior is so inhospitable that the other suitors chastise him. Eumaeus tells the beggar he is
summoned by the queen.The beggar says he will wait until dark. As the sun goes down, the suitors
are in a festive mood
PAY ATTENTION TO:
 Telemachus' resolve with Penelope;
 Telemachus' "true" story ("I'll not deceive you ever.");
 Theoclymenus' prophecy;
 the taunting of Odysseus by the goatherd Melanthius;
 Odysseus' self-control;
 the recognition by Argos;



the lack of hospitality;
Odysseus' encounter with Antinous – Antinous insulting the stranger and the reactions to this;
Eumaeus' messages from Penelope to the stranger and back again.
EPITHET: Who is... "The man who'd borne long years abroad?"
QUESTIONS:
1. Why compare Penelope to "Artemis or golden Aphrodite" when she comes down the stairs?
2. What does Telemachus leave out of his "true" story when he talks to Penelope; what does he
leave in? How does Theoclymenus contribute to the scene?
3. Where has Argos been lying in the absence of his master?
4. What is Odysseus' reaction to seeing Argos?
5. How does Odysseus handle his "humiliation"? Does he seem more at ease with it than
Eumaeus and Telemachus? If so, why?
6. Who throws a footstool at Odysseus? Why do even the other suitors take exception to this?
7. Why does Penelope want to talk to the stranger?
QUOTES TO REMEMBER:
Quote
Line #
At that Telemachus strode down through the farm
in quick, firm strides, brooding death for the suitors.
(30)
" Weak as the doe that beds down her fawns
in a mighty lions den - her newborn sucklings then trails off to the mountain spurs and grassy bends
to graze her fill, but back the lion comes to his own lair
and the master deals both fawns a ghastly, bloody death,
just what Odysseus will deal that mob - ghastly death."
(This is Telemachus quoting Menelaus (see Book 4, line 374)
(135)
Significance
Wild reckless taunts – and just as he passed Odysseus
the idiot lurched out with a heel and kicked his hip
but he couldn't knock the beggar off the path
he stood his ground so staunchly . . . . Odysseus was torn . . .
He steeled himself . . . his mind in full control.
(254)
"Listen to him . . .
All bark and no bite from the vicious mutt."
(this is referring to Melanthius not Argos!)
(271)
". . . you'd be amazed to see such speed, such strength.
No quarry that he chased in the deepest, darkest woods
could ever slip this hound." (this is referring to Argos!)
(347)
But the dark shadow of death closed down on Argos' eyes
the instant he saw Odysseus, twenty years away.
(359)
Right behind him (Eumaeus) came Odysseus, into his own house,(369)
looking for all the world like an old and broken beggar
hunched on a stick, his body wrapped in shameful rags.
"Good God Almighty," Antinous cut the beggar short,
"What spirit brought this pest to plague our feast??
(492)
"But if beggars have their gods and Furies, too,
Let Antinous meet his death before he meets his bride!"
(524)
. . . the rest were outraged, even those brash suitors.
One would say to another, "Look, Antinous,
that was a crime, to strike the luckless beggar!"
(529)
"Nobody's fool that stranger," wise Penelope said,
"he sees how things could go. Surely no men on earth
can match that gang for deadly, restless scheming."
(653)
Name:___________________
Date:____________
Book 18: THE BEGGAR-KING OF ITHACA
SCENE: Ithaca
IMPORTANT CHARACTERS: Odysseus, Irus (Arnaeus), Amphinomus, Penelope, Telemachus,
Eurymachus, Antinous, Eurynome, and Melantho.
Odysseus is challenged by the resident beggar Irus who comes to have second thoughts about the
wisdom of a proposed match against Odysseus. However, the suitors, especially Antinous, think the
contest will be good sport. It is short lived, though Odysseus chooses to deliver only a glancing blow
and then, to the laughter of the audience, haul his victim across the yard to the outer gate. Afterwards
he warns the kindest suitor Amphinomus that it might be a good idea to be elsewhere in the future,
but even though Amphinomus grows "grave with forebodings" he will not escape his fate. At the point
in time, Athena inspires Penelope to both tempt and chastise the suitors, and to embolden
Telemachus. Penelope notes that the tradition for suitors is to provide not to pillage. Just as Penelope
criticizes the suitors, Odysseus criticizes the maids who have slept with them. For this he is tonguelashed by Melantho, one of the maids, who he in turn threatens to turn into Telemachus. Later, after a
debate with Eurymachus, Odysseus avoids a thrown stool which hits the wine steward. The suitors
complain that the beggar has ruined everything, but a bold Telemachus sends them out of the hall.
PAY ATTENTION TO:
 Odysseus being insulted by Irus and his response;
 Odysseus' caution to Amphinomus;
 Penelope's appearance before the suitors;
 Melantho's mockery of Odysseus;
 Odysseus' verbal duel with Eurymachus;
 Odysseus' self-control;
 the strength of Telemachus.
EPITHETS:
 Descriptors for Penelope: wary, poised, discreet, wise;
 Descriptors for Odysseus: foxy veteran, seasoned fighter, the one who knew the world,
staunch, master of many exploits
QUESTIONS:
1. Why does Irus quarrel with "the stranger?"
2. What is Antinous' reaction to the unfriendly words Irus speaks to Odysseus?
3. What is the prize for the beggar who wins the fight?
4. Has Telemachus fully reached manhood yet? Why is this important? What is the symbol of
manhood?
5. Who is Penelope's father?
6. What is the implication of the maids' inappropriate behavior?
QUOTES TO REMEMBER:
Quote
Line #
Significance
"If that old relic whips you and wins the day
(96)
I'll toss you into a black ship and sail you off
to Echetus the mainland kind who wrecks all men alive!
He'll lop you nose and ears with his ruthless blade,
he'll rip your privates out by the roots, he will,
and serve them up to his doge who'll bolt them raw!"
As he mulled things over, that way seemed best,
a glancing blow, the suitors would not detect him.
(106)
"Amphinomus, you seem a man of good sense to me . . . (145)
I, too, seemed destined to be a man of fortune once . . . .
Look at me now.
And so, I say, let no man be lawless all his life
just take in peace what gifts the gods will send . . . .
I say [Odysseus] is right at hand - and may some power save you,(167)
spirit you home before you meet him face to face the moment he returns to native ground."
. . . . but not even so could he escape his fate.
Even then Athena had bound him fast to death
at the hands of Price Telemachus and his spear.
(177)
But now the goddess Athena with her glinting eyes
inspired Penelope, Icarius' daughter, wary, poised,
to display herself to her suitors, fan their hearts.
(180)
"Eurynome," discreet Penelope objected,
"don't try to coax me . . .
Whatever glow I had dies long ago . . .
The gods of Olympus snuffed it out that day
my husband sailed away in the hollow ships."
(201)
[Athena] made her taller in all men's eyes,
her skin whiter than ivory freshly carved . . .
(222)
"Ah what a marvelous gentle sleep enfolding me
in the midst of all my anguish! Now,
if only blessed Artemis sent me a death as gentle, now
this instant.
(228)
"Odysseus - if he could return to tend my life
the renown I had would only grow in glory . . .
(285)
'But once you see the beard on the boy's cheek,
(303)
you wed the man you like and leave the house behind.'
So my husband advised me then. Now it all comes true . . .
a night will come when a hateful marriage falls my lot this cursed life of mine! Zeus has torn away my joy.
But there's something else that mortifies me now.
Your way is a far cry from the time-honored way
of suitors . . . .
They bring their own calves and lambs . . . .
" Staunch Odysseus glowed with joy to hear all this his wife's trickery luring gifts from her suitors now,
enchanting their hearts with suave seductive words,
but all the while with something else in mind.
(316)
Flushed with beauty, Melantho mocked him shamelessly . . . (363)
"You (Melantho) wait,
you bitch."
(380)
His fury sent the woman fluttering off, scattering
down the hall with panic shaking every limb.
(384)
"Ah, Eurymachus . . . if only the two of us could go
man to man in the labors of the field.
At last Amphinomus rose to take the floor . . .
"Fair enough, when a man speaks well
we have no grounds for wrangling, no cause for abuse.
Hands off the stranger!"
(414)
(467)
Name:___________________
Date:____________
Book 19: PENELOPE AND HER GUEST
SCENE: Ithaca
IMPORTANT CHARACTERS: Odysseus, Telemachus, Eurycleia, Penelope, Eurynome.
After Odysseus tells Telemachus to put away all the weapons lying about the palace, he goes to
Penelope who chastises Melantho for criticizing him again. She tells Odysseus how she longs for her
husband, and asks for his (the beggar's) story. Odysseus invents still another self (different from the
one he told Eumaeus of). The tale's feature is a claim the he knew Odysseus, something he
convinces Penelope of when he describes what the hero wore when he had been his host twenty
years before. He predicts, but does not convince her, that Odysseus will return. She calls him "friend,"
saying that "any man you meet would call you blest"; she tells the women to wash him and offers him
"bedding, blankets, and lustrous spreads" that he declines as not his style. After Eurycleia notes his
resemblance to his old master, she discovers that it is him when she recognizes a scar on his leg
while washing it. The narration is interrupted by the adventure the young Odysseus had when a boar
had gored his leg. When we return to the scene, the nurse is trying to signal Penelope of her
discovery. A stern Odysseus commands Eurycleia to say nothing. The chapter closes with Penelope
describing a dream which Odysseus interprets as signaling his return. Unconvinced, she says that it
is time to have the contest to see which of the suitors can string Odysseus' bow and shoot an arrow
through a dozen lined up axes; only for that man will she forsake her palace. Odysseus in turn tells
her not to put off the contest. "Before that crew can handle the polished bow . . . Odysseus, man of
exploits, will be home for you."
PAY ATTENTION TO:
 the interaction of Odysseus and Penelope;
 the continuing development of Penelope as a character;
 the recognition by Eurycleia;
 the story behind the scar;
 the plan to test the suitors' abilities.
EPITHETS:
 More descriptors for Penelope: alert, observant, wise, reserved, discreet. seasoned.
 More descriptors for Odysseus: the old soldier, old trooper, master of craft, master
improviser, great master of subtlety, wily, cool tactician, man of exploits.
QUESTIONS:
1. What ruse does Odysseus tell Telemachus to carry out at the beginning of the book?
2. What does the stranger ask Penelope not to ask him? Why? Does she ask him anyway?
3. Where does Odysseus tell Penelope he is from? Does this story have anything in common
with the story he tells Eumaeus?
4. How does Penelope react to what she hears of Odysseus? How does Odysseus react to her
reaction?
5. What prediction does Odysseus give to Penelope?
6. How did Odysseus obtain the scar that Eurycleia recognizes?
7. What does Odysseus say to Eurycleia?
8. What is the dream which Penelope describes to Odysseus? How does he interpret it?
9. How does the stranger affect Penelope? Why is she favorably disposed toward the stranger?
10. How does Penelope plan to test the suitors to see which one she will marry?
QUOTES TO REMEMBER:
Quote
"Surely a god is here one of those who rule the vaulting skies."
Line #
(42)
"Quiet," his father, the old soldier warned him.
"Get a grip on yourself. No more questions now."
. . . alert Penelope
(97)
wheeled on the maiden (Melantho) and tongue-lashed her smartly
"Make no mistake . . . you will pay with your life, you will."
" . . .whatever form and feature I had, what praise I'd won,(138)
the deathless gods destroyed that day the Achaeans
sailed away for Troy, my husband in their ships,
Odysseus - if he could return to tend my life
the renown I had would only grow in glory.
Now my life is torment . . ."
"Three whole years
(169)
I deceived them blind, seduced them with this scheme . . . .
Then, thanks to my maids - the shameless, reckless creatures the suitors caught me in the act, denounced me harshly,
So I finished it off. Against my will. They forced me.
And now I can't escape a marriage, nor can I contrive
a deft way out. My parents urge me to tie the knot
Significance
and my son is galled as they squander his estate he sees it all. he is a grown man by now, equipped
to tend his own royal house and tend it well."
"Now stranger, I think I'll test you, just to see
(248)
if there in your house, with all his friends-in-arms,
you actually entertained my husband as you say."
"King Odysseus . . .
(259)
he was wearing a heavy woolen cape, sea purple
in double folds, with a golden brooch to clasp it"
His (Odysseus' words) renewed her deep desire to weep . . ."
(285)
"I swear by Zeus, the first, the greatest god all will come to pass, I swear, exactly as I say.
True, this very month - just as the old moon dies
and the new moon rises into life - Odysseus will return!"
(349)
in a flash she new the scar -
(445)
that old wound
made years ago by a boars white tusk when Odysseus
went to Parnassus, out to see Autolycus and his sons . . .
Odysseus rushed him first,
shaking his long spear in his sturdy hand,
wild to strike but the boar struck faster,
lunging in on a slant, a tusk thrusting up
over the boys knees, gouging a deep strip of flesh
but it never hit the bone Odysseus thrust and struck,
stabbing the beasts right shoulder "Nurse, you want to kill me? . . .
quiet, not a word to anyone in the house
Or else. I warn you - and I mean business, too. . .
Just be quiet. Keep your tails to yourself.
Leave the rest to the gods."
Hushed so,
the old nurse went padding down the halls
to fetch more water - her basin had all spilled -
(516)
(545)
"When night falls . . . I may go mad with grief.
Like Pandareus' daughter, the nightingale in the green woods
lifting her lovely song at the first warm rush of spring,
perched in the treetops' rustling leaves and pouring forth
her music, shifting, trilling, and sinking, rippling high to burst
in grief for Itylus, her beloved boy, King Zethus' son
whom she in innocence once cut down with bronze so my wavering heart goes shuttling back and forth:
Do I stay beside my son and keep all things secure . . .
or do I follow at last the best man who courts me? . . .
But please,
read this dream for me. . . the eagle killed my geese . . ."
(582)
"Destruction is clear for each and every suitor;
not a soul escapes his death and doom. . ."
(628)
"Ah my friend," seasoned Penelope dissented,
"dreams are hard to unravel, wayward drifting things not all we glimpse in them will come to pass . . .
Two gates there are for our evanescent dreams,
one is made of ivory, the other made of horn."
(630)
"The hand that can string this bow with greatest ease,
that shoots an arrow through all twelve axes he is the man I follow, yes, forsaking this house
where I was once a bride, this gracious house
so filled with the best that life can offer I shall always remember it, that I know . . .
even in my dreams."
(note these words are repeated in Book 21, beginning with line 86)
(641)
Destroy, I call it - I hate to say its name!
(673)
Penelope, once they reached the upper story,
fell to weeping for Odysseus, her beloved husband,
till watchful Athena sealed her eyes with welcome sleep.
(679)
Name:___________________
Date:____________
Book 20: PORTENTS GATHER
SCENE: Ithaca
IMPORTANT CHARACTERS: Odysseus, Athena, Penelope, Telemachus, Eurycleia, Melanthius,
Philoetius (the cowherd), Antinous, Theoclymenus (the seer), Eurymachus, and Ctesippus, a suitor
who abuses Odysseus.
Odysseus spends a restless night, his anger stoked as he hears the maids slipping from the house to
sleep with the suitors. Restrained by Athena who chides him for not appreciating all he has (wife, son,
palace), he questions his ability to regain it all. She scolds him for his lack of faith in her and "showers
sleep across his eyes." Penelope is also having a restless night, feeling desperate though cheered by
a dream that Odysseus lay beside her. When Odysseus awakes, he prays for a sign from Zeus and
has his prayer answered with a thunderbolt. Odysseus has a nasty encounter with Melanthius, the
goatherd, but is encouraged by loyalty of the cowherd Philoetius. The suitors have spawned a plan to
kill Telemachus, but a sign from an eagle and some words from Amphinous deflects them. They
gather to feast and abuse the beggar. Telemachus dresses the worst offender down. At the feast, the
suitors break into grotesque laughter, even after Theoclymenus predicts their doom.
PAY ATTENTION TO:
 Odysseus' "seething anger";
 the behavior of the maids;
 his self-control;
 Penelope's prayer;
 Zeus' omen; Melanthius' continuing abusiveness contrasted with the cowherd's talk with the
beggar;
 the cowherd's affection for Odysseus;
 Telemachus' behavior - all of which suggests he has become a man;
 Athena's role;
 the prophecy of Theoclymenus;
 the "manic" behavior of the suitors.
QUESTIONS:
1. What does Athena do in this book to boost Odysseus' spirits? To test them?
2. Why are the stranger's interactions with Melanthius and Philoetius placed one after the other?
3. What does Philoetius have in common with Melanthius and Eumaeus?
4. How is Odysseus insulted by Cteppis? How does Odysseus react? Telemachus?
5. Why do the suitors behave even more inappropriately than usual?
6. What is Penelope doing at the end of the book?
QUOTES TO REMEMBER:
Quote
Line #
The heart inside in growled low with rage,
(15)
as a bitch mounting over her weak defenseless puppies
growls, facing a stranger, bristling for a showdown so he growled from his depths, hackles rising at their outrage.
But he struck his chest and curbed his fighting heart:
Bear up old heart! You've borne worse, far worse . . ."
"What if I kill them - thanks to you and Zeus how do I run away from their avengers?
Show me the way, I ask you."
"Impossible man!"
Athena bantered, the godless' eyes ablaze.
Others are quick to trust a weaker comrade . . ..
But I am a goddess . . ."
(44)
"Artemis with your glossy braids, come shoot me dead - (89)
so I can plunge beneath this loathsome earth
with the image of Odysseus vivid in my mind."
"Father Zeus . . . show me a sign . . ."
(109)
And Zeus in all his wisdom heard that prayer.
He thundered at once, out of the clear blue heavens
high above the clouds, and Odysseus' spirit listened.
(114)
Significance
Third to arrive was Philotetius, that good cowherd . . .
he walked up to Odysseus, gave him his right hand
and winged a greeting, "Cheers old friend, old father here's to your luck, great days from this day on . . .
It's unbearable here.
True, but I still dream of my old master . . ."
(203)
suddenly, banking high on the left
an omen flew past, clutching a trembling dove.
And Amphinomus rose in haste to warn them all,
"My friends we'll never carry off this plot
to kill the prince. Let's concentrate on feasting."
(269)
On that note,
(333)
grabbing an oxhoof out of a basket where it lay,
with a brawny hand he (Ctesippus) flung it straight at the king –
but Odysseus ducked his head a little, ducking the blow
and seething just as the oxhoof hit the solid wall
he clenched his teeth in a wry sardonic grin.
But Athena had no mind to let the brazen suitors
hold back now from their heart rending insults she meant to let the anguish cut still deeper
into the core of Laertes' son Odysseus.
(316)
But I (Telemachus) shrink from driving mother from our house
issuing harsh commands against her will.
God forbid it ever comes to that!"
So he vowed
and Athena set off uncontrollable laughter in the suitors,
crazed them out of their minds - mad, hysterical laughter
seemed to break from the jaws of strangers, not their own,
and the meat they were eating oozed red with blood tears flooded their eyes, hearts possessed by grief.
The inspired seer Theoclymenus wailed out in their midst,
"Poor men, what terror is this that overwhelms you so?
Night shrouds your heads, your faces down to your knees cries of mourning are bursting into fire - cheeks rivering tears the walls and the handsome crossbeams dripping dank with blood!
Ghosts, look, thronging the entrance, thronging the court,
go trooping down to the world of death and darkness!
The sun is blotted out of the sky - look there a lethal mist spreads all across the earth!"
At that
they all broke into peals of laughter aimed at the seer Polybus' son Eurymachus braying first and foremost . . ."
(382)
Name:___________________
Date:____________
Book 21: ODYSSEUS STRINGS HIS BOW
SCENE: Ithaca
IMPORTANT CHARACTERS: Athena, Penelope, Eumaeus, Odysseus, Antinous, Telemachus,
Philoetius, Eumaeus, Melanthius, Eurymachus, Eurycleia.
In a scene that in its quietness contrasts with everything that is to follow in Books 21 and 22,
Penelope goes to retrieve Odysseus' legendary bow. After Telemachus sets out the axes (no one
quite knows how this worked), he is the first to try to string the bow. It seems he will succeed on his
fourth try, but Odysseus signals him not to. A number of suitors, the last being Eurymachus, then also
try and fail, after which Antinous suggests that they should continue this contest on another day.
Meanwhile Odysseus has slipped away and he reveals his identity to the two faithful herdsmen.
When it looks like the contest will be postponed, the beggar indicates he would like to try his hand. He
is mocked by Antinous who is chastised by Penelope. In turn, Telemachus sends her to her quarters.
After the bow is given to Odysseus by a mocked Eumaeus, Odysseus effortlessly strings the bow and
sends and arrow through the axes.
PAY ATTENTION TO:
 Penelope as she leads up to announcing the contest, especially her emotions as she
removes the bow from its hiding place;
 Telemachus' attempt to string the bow;
 Odysseus' shaking his head ("no");
 Odysseus slipping out of the hall during the contest;
 his revealing of his identity to the cowherd (Philoetius) and the swineherd (Eumaeus);
 Antinous' proposal after Eurymachus fails to string the bow;
 Odysseus counter-proposal;
 Antinous' reaction ("Not a shred of sense in your head, you filthy drifter");
 Penelope's reaction to Antinous;
 Telemachus' sending her back to her quarters:
 Eumaeus taking the bow to Odysseus;
 the mockery of the suitors toward both Eumaeus and Telemachus;
 Odysseus stringing the bow.
QUESTIONS:
1. What must the stringer of the bow do with his shot?
2. In what way do Telemachus' words after "giving up" show him to be a worthy son?
3. What is Antinous' and Eurymachus' reaction to the challenge?
4. Melanthius is ordered to do what in order to make the bow easier to bend?
5. How does Odysseus prove his identity to the cowherd and the swineherd?
6. What is the purpose of the "biography" of the bow?
7. Penelope's taking the bow from its hiding place is one of the most moving moments in this
part of the poem – why?
Commentary from the translator, Robert Fagles: "In many ways one of the most moving moments in
the poem for me is when Odysseus strings his bow at the end of the 21st book. The simile for
stringing the bow describes the hero as 'an expert singer skilled at lyre and song' who tunes his harp
to a new pitch. That means the bow, the killing instrument, is really a musical instrument at the same
time. Story-telling at that point becomes action.
"It's as though Homer were taking his whole narrative art and conferring it upon his hero and saying,
all right, take your bow and treat it as a lyre and play a new song. With that lyre-bow Odysseus
recomposes his kingdom; he rids it of discordant elements--the suitors--and establishes a new era of
harmony. The storytelling image and the whole activity of heroism come together and are one and the
same." (http://www.princeton.edu/pr/news/96/q4/1114fagl.html)
QUOTES TO REMEMBER:
Quote
Line #
She stepped onto a plank where chests stood tall,
brimming with clothing scented sweet with cedar.
Reaching, tiptoe lifting the bow off its peg,
still secure in the burnished case that held it,
down she sank, laying the case across her knees,
and dissolved in tears with a high thin wail
as she drew her husband's weapon from its sheath . . .
Then, having wept and sobbed to her heart's content,
off she went to the hall to meet her proud admirers,
cradling her husband's backsprung bow in her arms,
its quiver bristling arrows, shafts of pain
(60)
"So to arms my gallants!
Here is the prize at issue, right before you now!
The hand that can string this bow with greatest ease,
that shoots an arrow through all twelve axes –
he is the man I follow, yes, forsaking this house
where I was once a bride, this gracious house
so filled with the best that life can offer –
I shall always remember it, that I know . . .
even in my dreams."
(note the last seven lines are identical to the words
Penelope speaks beginning on line 649 in Book 19)
(84)
. . . and now, struggling with all his might for the fourth time,(146)
he would have strung the bow, but Odysseus shook him off.
"God help me," the inspired prince cried out,
"must I be a weakling, a failure all my life?"
With that
pushing back his rags, he revealed the great scar . . .
(257)
Significance
And then the men gazed at it, scanned it, knew it well,
broke into tears and threw their arms around their master.
"Listen to me, you me who court the queen,
I have to say what the heart inside me urges.
I appeal especially to Eurymachus, and you,
brilliant Antinous, who spoke so shrewdly now.
Give the bow a rest for today, leave it to the gods –
at dawn the Archer God will grant a victory
to the man he favors most.
For the moment,
give me the polished bow now, won't you? So,
to amuse you now I can try my hand, my strength . . .
is the old force inside the gnarled limbs?"
(307)
"Antinous," watchful Penelope stepped in,
"how impolite it would be, how wrong, to scant
whichever guest Telemachus welcome to his house.
You really think if the stranger . . . strings the bow,
he'll take me home and claim me as his bride?
He'd never dream of such a thing, I'm sure."
(350)
"So Mother,
(389)
go back to your quarters, tend to your own tasks,
the distaff and the loom, and keep the women
working hard as well. As for the bow now,
men will see to that, but I most of all,
I hold the reign of power in this house."
Astonished,
she took to her own room. She took to heart
the clear good sense of what her son had said.
Climbing up to the lofty chamber with her women
she fell to weeping for Odysseus, her beloved husband
till watchful Athena sealed her eyes with welcome sleep.
(note: these lines, except to the bow reference, are identical to those in Book 1, lines 409-420)
So they mocked, but Odysseus, mastermind in action, (451)
once he'd handled the great bow and scanned every inch,
then, like an expert singer skilled at lyre and song-who strains a string to a new peg with ease,
making the pliant sheep-gut fast at either end-so with his virtuoso ease Odysseus strung his mighty bow.
Quickly his right hand plucked the string to test its pitch
and under his touch it sang out clear and sharp as a swallow's cry.
Name:___________________
Date:____________
Book 22: SLAUGHTER IN THE HALL
SCENE: Ithaca
Important Characters: Odysseus, Antinous, Eurymachus, Telemachus, Eumaeus, Melanthius,
Athena, Phemius, Medon, Eurycleia.
Odysseus commences his revenge by slaying Antinous, despite the pleading of Eurymachus, who
says they will make everything up to him and places the blame for their bad behavior on Antinous. He
quickly discovers that Odysseus is not in a negotiating mood. The sheer number of the suitors (over
100) ensures that Odysseus and his three cohorts, Telemachus, Eumaeus, and Philoetius, will be
kept busy. Their situation is not improved when the place they had stored the weapons was unlocked
by the traitorous Melanthius. For a moment Odysseus is unsure of himself, but he is mocked by
Athena (disguised as Mentor) and responds vigorously. Although Telemachus intercedes on behalf of
two loyal men, the sense of the book is the ruthlessness of Odysseus' delivering of justice. This is
accentuated by the "execution" of the faithless maids.
EPITHETS: Who is... "the master of longhorn cattle?"
PAY ATTENTION TO:
 the violence of this book and the totality of Odysseus’ revenge;
 Initial reaction of the suitors;
 Athena’s aid as Mentor;
 the sparing of Phemias and Medon, Melanthius’ betrayal and subsequent end;
 the hanging of the servant girls who have slept with the suitors;
 the purification of the palace.
QUESTIONS:
1. What is Antinous doing when Odysseus shoots him? Why is he the first victim?
2. How do the other suitors appeal to Odysseus?
3. How does Eurymachus react to Mentor?
4. How much does Athena help Odysseus, and how much is the victory his?
5. Who tests the strength and courage of Odysseus and Telemachus?
6. The dead suitors are compared to what kind of creatures?
7. Which appendages does Melanthius lose? Where do they end up? (Remember Antinous'
threats to send Irus to Echetus in the beginning of Book 18; and a similar threat to Odysseus
in Book 21)
QUOTES TO REMEMBER:
Quote
Line #
Significance
". . . Apollo give me glory!"
(
7)
With that he trained a stabbing arrow on Antinous . .
just lifting a gorgeous golden loving-cup in his hands,
just tilting the two handed goblet to his lips,
about to drain his wine, slaughter the last thing
on the suitor's mind . . .
But Odysseus aimed and shot Antinous square in the throat
and the point went stabbing clean through the neck and out and off to the side he pitched, the cup dropped from his grasp
as the shaft sank home, and he man's life blood came spurting
from his nostrils . . .
No Eurymachus, not if you paid me all your father's wealth . . .
no, not even then would I stay my hands from slaughter.
(78)
"You two wrench Melanthius' arms and legs behind him . . .
and strap a twisted cable fast to the scoundrel's body,
hoist him up a column until he hits the rafters let him dangle in agony still alive
for a good long time!"
(181)
[Athena] lashed out now with blazing accusations:
"Where is it gone, Odysseus -your power, your fighting heart?
The great soldier who fought for the white armed Helen,
battling Trojans none long years . . . How can you . . .
bewail the loss of your combat strength in a war with suitors?"
(235)
Rousing words but she gave no all out turning of the tide, not yet
she kept on testing Odysseus and his gallant son,
putting their force and fighting heart to proof.
For all the world like a swallow in their sight
she flew on high to perch
on the great hall's central roof beam black with smoke.
The attackers struck like eagles, crook-clawed, hook-beaked,
swooping down from a mountain ridge to harry smaller birds
that skim across the flatland, cringing under the clouds
but the eagles plunge in fury, rip their lives out -hopeless,
never a chance of flight or rescue - and people love the sport so the attackers routed the suitors headlong down the hall,
wheeling into the slaughter, slashing left and right
and grisly screams broke from skulls cracked open the whole floor awash with blood.
(316)
[Odysseus] found them all in blood and dust . . .
(408)
great hauls of them down and out like fish that fishermen
drag from the churning gray surf in looped and coiling nets
a fling ashore on a sweeping hook of beach -some noble catch
heaped on the sand, twitching, lusting for fresh salt sea
but the Sungod hammers down and burns their lives out . . .
so the suitors lay in heaps, corpse covering corpse.
Then, as doves or thrushes beating their spread wings
against some snare rigged up in thickets -flying in
for a cozy nest but a grisly bed receives them so the women's head were trapped in a line,
nooses yanking their necks up, one by one,
so all might die a pitiful death . . .
they kicked their heals for a little -not for long.
The devoted nurse snapped to his command,
brought her master fire and brimstone. Odysseus
purged his palace, halls and court, with cleansing fumes.
(494)
(520)
Name:___________________
Date:____________
Book 23: THE GREAT ROOTED BED
SCENE: Ithaca
IMPORTANT CHARACTERS: Odysseus, Penelope, Eurycleia, Telemachus, Athena
Penelope cannot believe Odysseus had returned. Odysseus, worried that the suitors' relatives will
seek vengeance, tells Telemachus that there should be a festive air in the court so that the Ithacans
think Penelope has finally agreed to a marriage. The reunion of Penelope and Odysseus features
Penelope's "testing" of Odysseus, something he, who has been testing her and virtually everyone he
had met since arriving at Ithaca, seems to understand better than anyone else. Odysseus finally
convinces Penelope that he is Odysseus when she implies the bed, whose construction he alone
knew, could be moved. Odysseus, a master carpenter (making the raft in Book 5 was not a
challenge) had made it from a still rooted olive tree. After an emotional reunion, Odysseus speaks of
his one remaining chore – planting the oar inland in honor of Poseidon. As the beggar, he had
already told her of some of Odysseus adventures, now he tells all, including the interlude with
Calypso that he had left out before, in 33 lines! Their reunion is blessed by Athena who arranges to
stay the dawn so their first night together again may be prolonged.
PAY ATTENTION TO:
 The interaction of Penelope and Eurycleia;
 Penelope's "hardness";
 Penelope’s test of Odysseus;
 the story of the bed;
 Odysseus’ reaction to the test;
 Odysseus’ shorter” version of his adventures;
 the ritual and consummation of their reunion and Athena’s “gift.”
QUESTIONS:
1. What do Penelope and Eurycleia argue about at the beginning of Bk. 23?
2. Why is Telemachus irritated at his mother?
3. What (who) does Penelope believe caused the deaths of the suitors?
4. What future problems does Odysseus see as a result of the killing of the suitors?
5. What does Odysseus want those outside his palace believe is happening within the palace?
6. Where does Penelope order Eurycleia to make up the bed? How does Odysseus react to
this?
7. Who made the bed and what is remarkable about it?
8. What reason does Penelope give for not recognizing Odysseus earlier?
9. Who made Helen act as she had according to Penelope?
10. Who is responsible for holding Dawn at bay while Penelope and Odysseus spend their first
night together?
11. What does Odysseus tell Penelope about his next journey?
12. Where is Odysseus headed at the end of the book?
QUOTES TO REMEMBER:
Quote
Line #
"Dear old nurse, wary Penelope replied,
The gods have made you mad."
Significance
(11)
"Dear old nurse," Composed Penelope responded,
deep as you are, my friend, you'll find it hard
to plumb the pans of the everlasting gods.
All the same, let's go and join my son
so I can see the suitors lying dead
an see . . . the one who killed them."
With that thought
Penelope started down from her lofty room, her heart
in turmoil, torn . . . should she keep her distance,
probe her husband, or rush up to the man at once
and kiss his head and cling to both his hands? . . .
A long while she sat in silence . . . numbing wonder
filled her hear as her eyes explored his face.
(90)
"Oh mother," Telemachus reproached her,
"cruel mother, you with you hard heart . . .
What other wife could have a spirit so unbending?
Holding back from her husband after twenty years of brutal struggle . . .
your hear was always harder than iron."
(111)
". . . if he is truly Odysseus
home at last, make no mistake
we two will know each other, even better –
we two have secret signs. . . . . . .
(121)
a passer-by on the road, a neighbor round about
will think it's a wedding underway.
No news of the suitors' deaths must spread through town.
(152)
Putting her husband to the proof – but Odysseus
blazed up in fury, lashing out at his loyal wife,
"Woman – Your words, they cut me to the core!
Who could move my bed?"
(203)
Penelope felt her knees go slack, he heart surrender,
recognizing the strong, clear signs Odysseus offered.
She dissolved in tears, rushed to Odysseus, flung her arms
around his neck . . .
"The gods, it was the gods who sent us sorrow . . ."
But now, since you've revealed such overwhelming proof –
. . . you've conquered my heart, my hard heart at last.
The more she spoke, the more a deep desire for tears
welled up inside his breast – he wept as he held the wife
he loved, the soul of loyalty, in his arms at last.
Joy, warm as the joy that shipwrecked sailors feel
when they catch sight of land – Poseidon has struck
their well-rigged ship on the open sea with gale winds,
and crushing walls of waves, and only a few escape, swimming,
struggling out of the frothing surf to reach the shore,
their bodies crusted with salt, but buoyed up with joy
as they plant their feet on solid ground again,
spared a deadly fate. So joyous now to her
the sight of her husband vivid in her gaze,
that her white arms, embracing his neck,
would never for a moment let him go . . .
Dawn with her rose-red fingers might have shone
upon their tears,, if with her glinting eyes
Athena had not thought of one more thing.
. . . he told how he reached
Ogygia's shores, the nymph Calypso held him back,
cherishing him . . .
yes, but she never won the heart inside him, never . . .
. . .the Phaeacians . . .
and that was the last he told her, just as sleep
overcame him, sleep loosing his limbs,
slipping the toils of anguish from his mind.
(231)
(259)
(375)
Athena, eyes afire, had fresh plans.
Once she thought he had his hearts content
of love and sleep at his wife's side, straightaway
she roused young dawn from ocean's banks . . .
(388)
"But now I must be off to the upland farm,
our orchard green with trees, to see my father . . ."
"By now the daylight covered the land, but Pallas,
shrouding them all in darkness,
quickly led the four men out of town.
(406)
Name:___________________
Date:____________
Book 24: PEACE
SCENE: Hades, Ithaca (the town and Laertes' farm)
CHARACTERS: shades of the tutors, Agamemnon, Achilles, Odysseus, Laertes, Telemachus, Dolius
(Father of Melanthius and Melantho); Eupithes (father of Antinous), Medon, Halitherses, Athena.
The suitors descend into Hades and meet three of the Greek Captains from the Trojan war, Achilles,
Patroclus and Agamemnon. Once again we hear from Agamemnon, who not only details the nature
of his death, but contrasts it with the honors the Achaeans paid to Achilles when he had died. The
suitors, who tell their story hoping for solace, instead are scorned by Agamemnon, who extols the
virtues of Penelope. When he reaches the farm, Odysseus decides to test his father - old habits die
hard. Their ultimate reunion, like those between Odysseus and Telemachus, and Odysseus and
Penelope, is emotional. It is juxtaposed to the non-reunion of Eupithes and his slain son Antinous. A
number of the relatives of the suitors vow vengeance and cannot be dissuaded by the sensible voices
of Medon and Halitherses. They come to fight Odysseus, his father and the faithful herdsmen and a
new ally, Dolius, the loyal father of the traitorous Melantho and Melanthius. The three generations of
Odysseus family stand side by side and Laertes is given a moment of glory. Another slaughter seems
immanent but Athena disguised as Mentor stays Odysseus' hand and the epic ends on a note of
reconciliation.
PAY ATTENTION TO:
 the suitors escorted by Hermes into Hades;
 the appearance of the great Achaean captains (who seem not to have come across one
another that often in Hades);
 Agamemnon's description of the honors showed to Achilles upon his death in contrast to his
own end;
 Agamemnon's lack of sympathy for the suitors and his praise of Penelope;
 Odysseus' decision to reveal himself to his father only after "testing" him;
 Dolius' faithfulness;
 the contrast between Laertes' reunion with his son and Eupithes desire to avenge the death
of his son;
 the attempts by Medon and Halitherses to convince the families of the suitors not to seek
revenge;
 Athena's role (with Zeus' blessing) to resolve the conflict;
 reconciliation (father and son; Odysseus and Ithaca)
QUESTIONS:
1. What different views of their fates do Agamemnon and Achilles seem to hold?
2. When they speak to Agamemnon and Achilles how do suitors' shades feel about their
responsibility for Odysseus' actions?
3. How does Odysseus test his father Laertes, now living a hard life, after the slaughter has
been accomplished? What's the point of testing his father?
4. How does Odysseus prove to his father who he is?
5. What reasons does Eupithes give when encouraging revenge on Odysseus?
6. What does Athena (disguised as Mentor) do to insure that the families will not succeed in
revenging the suitors' deaths? What does she do to ensure that Odysseus won't cause
further havoc?
QUOTES TO REMEMBER:
Quote
. . . and the ghosts trailed after (Hermes) with high thin cries
as bats cry in the depths of a haunted cavern,
shrilling, flittering, wild when one drops from the chain slipped from the rock face, while the rest cling tight.
Line #
Significance
(6)
Hearing the news (of Achilles' death), your mother, Thetis, rose from the sea, (50)
immortal sea nymphs in her wake, and a strange unearthly cry
came throbbing over the ocean. . . .
and the Muses, nine in all, voice to voice in choirs,
their vibrant voices rising, raised their dirge. . . .
You were dear to the gods,
so even in death your name will never die . . .
"So we died,
(205)
Agamemnon . . . our bodies unattended even now . . ."
"Happy Odysseus,
(210)
Agamemnon's ghost cried out. "Son of old Laertes mastermind - what a fine faithful wife you've won! . . .
The glorious gods will lift a song for all mankind
a glorious song in praise of self-possessed Penelope.
A far cry from the daughter of Tyndareus, Clytemneastra . . .
She brands with a foul name the breed of womankind,
even the honest ones to come.
At these words
(352)
a black cloud of grief came shrouding over Laertes.
Both hands clawing the earth for dirt and grime,
he poured it over his grizzled head, sobbing in spasms.
Odysseus' heart shuddered . . .
Living poof - and Laertes
(383)
knees went slack, his heart surrendered . . .
". . .we'll hang our heads together,
all disgraced, even by generations down the years,
if we don't punish the murderers of our brothers and our sons!
Why life would lose its relish . . ."
(478)
(Zeus to Athena) Do as your heart desires but let me tell you how it should be done.
(531)
"Hold back you men of Ithaca, back from brutal war!
Break off - shed no more blood - make peace at once!"
So Athena commanded. Terror blanched their faces,
they went limp with fear, weapons slipped from their hands . . .
They spun in flight to the city, wild to save their lives,
but loosing a savage cry, the long-enduring great Odysseus,
gathering all his force, swooped like a soaring eagle just as the son of Cronus hurled a reeking bolt
just at her feet, the mighty father's daughter,
and blazing eyed Athena wheeled on Odysseus, crying,
"Royal son of Laertes, Odysseus, master of exploits,
hold back now. Call a halt to the great leveler, War don't court the rage of Zeus who rules the world!"
(584)
So she commanded. He obeyed her, glad at heart.
(598)
Name:___________________
Date:____________
Homer’s Odyssey: Structure
Books 13-24: The last half of the Odyssey follows Odysseus from his landing on Ithaca to his
eventual reunion with Telemachus, the defeat of the suitors, and his reunions with Penelope and his
father. Following the advice of Athena, who is never far from him during these books, he is disguised
as a beggar until he reveals himself to the terrified suitors at the beginning of Book 22. During this
time, he has endured humiliations at the hands of many of the suitors, including his goatherd, but he
has also discovered the loyalty of the swineherd and the cowherd, as well as that of his son, his wife
(who, like the swineherd and the cowherd, do not recognize him) and his old nurse, Eurycleia (who,
because of a scar from childhood, does recognize him). Through the help of the swineherd and
Telemachus, and the sporadic in attentiveness of the somewhat drunk suitors, he manages to be
allowed to enter a contest to string his old bow. After he succeeds, he reveals himself. His onslaught
is ferocious but not without a moment when Athena feels the need to chastise him for his lack of spirit
(and faith in her). After reuniting with Penelope (who stubbornly refuses at first to recognize him) and
his father Laertes, he has a final showdown with the families of the suitors who have come to
revenge the deaths of the children. After a brief skirmish, Athena (in disguise) and her "team" rout the
Ithacans to route. The poem ends when Athena restrains Odysseus from wrecking further havoc.