The Odyssey – Book Focus Points (Books II – XXIV)
BOOK II
SCENE: Ithaca
CHARACTERS: Eurycleia, Mentes/Mentor/Athena, Telemachus, Antinous, Halitherses,
Eurymachus.
FOCUS POINTS:
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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.
BOOK V
SCENE: Ogygia
CHARACTERS: Odysseus, Calypso, Athena, Zeus, Poseidon, Ino/Leucothoe
FOCUS POINTS:
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Odysseus weeping, his longing for home.
The council of the Gods.
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 agreement to help Odysseus with tools and other gifts.
Odysseus' tact when he explains to Calypso why he so wants to go home.
The wrath of Poseidon.
Ino's gift and Odysseus' mistrust of it.
Athena's aid and Odysseus' survival skills.
What Odysseus does to make sure he survives his first night back on land
BOOK VI
SCENE: The island of Scheria, land of the Phaeacians
CHARACTERS: Odysseus, Athena, Nausicaa, Alcinous
FOCUS POINTS:
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How the Phaeacians are protected by the gods.
How Athena visits Nausicaa in her dreams.
How beautiful, wise, and young Nausicaa is.
The innocent scene of washing the clothes.
The differing reaction of the girls and Nausicaa to Odysseus' appearance.
Odysseus' tact and Nausicaa's hospitality.
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Odysseus' changed appearance.
Nausicaa's hospitality and her caution at leading Odysseus to the palace.
The presence of Athena.
BOOK VII
SCENE: The island of Scheria, land of the Phaeacians.
CHARACTERS: Odysseus, Athena, Alcinous, Arête
FOCUS POINTS:
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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-favored 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
BOOK VIII
SCENE: The island of Scheria, land of the Phaeacians
CHARACTERS: Athena, Alcinous, Demodocus, Odysseus, Laodamon, and Broadsea
and the gods of Demodocus' tale, especially Hephestus, Aphrodite, Ares, Apollo, Hermes
FOCUS POINTS:
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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 gifts presented Odysseus by the Lords of Phaeacia after the dancing
BOOK IX
SCENE: In the palace of Alcinous in the land of the Phaeacians
CHARACTERS: Odysseus and Polyphemus
FOCUS POINTS:
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Odysseus' failure to control his men in the land of the Cicones.
Odysseus' adventurous attitude as he lands on the Cyclops' land.
The reverse of the hospitality found in land of Cyclops compared to Phaeacia.
Odysseus' cleverness in calling himself "Nobody."
Odysseus' flattery of the Cyclops.
The vividness of Odysseus' "attack." The Homeric 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).
BOOK X
SCENE: In the palace of Alcinous in the land of the Phaeacians
CHARACTERS: Odysseus, Aeolus, King of Aeolia, Antiphates, King of the
Laestrygonians, Eurylochus, Circe, Hermes, and Elpenor.
FOCUS POINTS:
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King Aeolus' gift to Odysseus
Odysseus's letting his guard down
Aeolus' belief that Odysseus is not favored by the Gods,
Odysseus' caution when he reaches the land of the Laestrygonians and Aeaea
Circe's initial reception of Odysseus' men, her witchcraft.
The role of Hermes
The importance of Circe's “word”
Circe's ultimate support and hospitality
The need to visit Hades and hear from Tiresias.
BOOK XII
SCENE: Aeaea, dangerous waters (Sirens, Scylla and Charybdis), the island of Helios
(Thrinacia); the sea; Ogygia.
CHARACTERS: Odysseus, Circe, the Sirens, Scylla, Eurylochus
FOCUS POINTS:
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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.
BOOK XIII
SCENE: The palace of Alcinous, Ithaca
CHARACTERS: Odysseus, Alcinous, Poseidon, Zeus, Athena
FOCUS POINTS:
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The departure from the land of the Phaeacians
The power of the Gods
The way Zeus placates Poseidon
His reaction to being "betrayed"
Odysseus' anticlimactic arrival in Ithaca
His dialogues with Athena
Athena’s transformations
The differing attitudes of gods towards men
Odysseus' learning about Telemachus
His disguise after his arrival in Ithaca
BOOK XVI
SCENE: Ithaca
CHARACTERS: Odysseus, Eumaeus, Telemachus, Athena, Antinous, Amphinomus,
Medon, Eurymachus, Penelope.
FOCUS POINTS:
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Reunions (Eumaeus and Telemachus, Telemachus and Odysseus)
Eumaeus' emotions
Telemachus' self-control
Odysseus' discipline
Athena's role
Penelope's position and response
The importance of loyalty (Eumaeus, Penelope)
BOOK XVII
SCENE: Ithaca
CHARACTERS: Odysseus, Telemachus, Eurycleia, Penelope, Piraeus, Theoclymenus,
Eumaeus, Melanthius, Phemius, Argos, Antinous.
FOCUS POINTS:
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Telemachus' resolve with Penelope
Telemachus' "true" story
Theoclymenus' prophecy
The taunting of Odysseus by the goatherd Melanthius
Odysseus' self-controL
The recognition by Argos
The lack of hospitality
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Odysseus' encounter with Antinous
Eumaeus' messages from Penelope to the stranger
BOOK XIX
SCENE: Ithaca
CHARACTERS: Odysseus, Telemachus, Eurycleia, Penelope, Eurynome
FOCUS POINTS:
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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
Dramatic Irony
BOOK XX
SCENE: Ithaca
CHARACTERS: Odysseus, Athena, Penelope, Telemachus, Eurycleia, Melanthius,
Philoetius, Antinous, Theoclymenus, Eurymachus, and Ctesippus
FOCUS POINTS:
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Odysseus' anger
The behavior of the maids
Odysseus’ self-control
Penelope's prayer
Zeus' omen
The cowherd's affection for Odysseus
Telemachus' behavior
Athena's role
The prophecy of Theoclymenus;
The behavior of the suitors.
BOOK XXI
SCENE: Ithaca
CHARACTERS: Athena, Penelope, Eumaeus, Odysseus, Antinous, Telemachus,
Philoetius, Eumaeus, Melanthius, Eurymachus, Eurycleia.
FOCUS POINTS:
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Penelope’s emotions
Telemachus' attempt to string the bow
Odysseus' actions during the contest
his revealing of his identity to the cowherd (Philoetius) and the swineherd
(Eumaeus);
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Antinous' proposal after Eurymachus fails to string the bow
Odysseus counter-proposal
Penelope's reaction to Antinous
The mockery of the suitors toward both Eumaeus and Telemachus
Odysseus stringing the bow
BOOK XXII
SCENE: Ithaca
CHARACTERS: Odysseus, Antinous, Eurymachus, Telemachus, Eumaeus, Melanthius,
Athena, Phemius, Medon, Eurycleia.
FOCUS POINTS:
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The violence and Odysseus’ revenge
Initial reaction of the suitors
Athena’s aid as Mentor
The sparing of Phemias and Medon
The hanging of the servant girls
The purification of the palace
BOOK XXIII
SCENE: Ithaca
CHARACTERS: Odysseus, Penelope, Eurycleia, Telemachus, Athena
FOCUS POINTS:
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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”
BOOK XXIV
SCENE: Hades, Ithaca (the town and Laertes' farm)
CHARACTERS: Agamemnon, Achilles, Odysseus, Laertes, Telemachus, Dolius (Father
of Melanthius and Melantho); Eupithes (father of Antinous), Medon, Halitherses, Athena.
FOCUS POINTS:
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The suitors escorted by Hermes into Hades
The appearance of the great Achaean captains
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
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Odysseus' decision to reveal himself to his father only after "testing" him
Dolius' faithfulness
Laertes' reunion with 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)