The Odyssey. PART II “Father and Son” “Suitors” “Penelope” pages 631-644
1. How does Odysseus get home to Ithaca?
The King of Phaeacia provides a boat and crew to take him home after
an absence of 20 years!
2. How does Athena help Odysseus?
She warns Odysseus to proceed cautiously - - believing that he is dead,
many suitors have taken over his palace and are eager to marry his
wife, Penelope, and kill his son, Telemachus before he is old enough to
inherit his father’s lands.
3. What is Telemachus’ reaction when he first sees his father? (Use a
vocabulary word in your answer!)
He reacts with incredulity! He thinks the Gods are playing a trick on
him (because O. changes from dirty & bearded to a clean cut guy).
4. Why can’t Odysseus immediately reveal his identity to the people of
Ithaca?
He needs to see who is loyal to him and whom he can trust.
5. Explain Odysseus’s plan for fighting the suitors.
*Athena disguises O. as a beggar and Telemachus mingles with the
suitors.
*At O’s signal, T. will lock up all the armor and weapons.
*T puts aside 2 swords/spears/shields for themselves.
*T. must keep O’s identity a secret from all, including  Penelope  to
see who’s loyal.
6. Who is the most arrogant of the suitors? What does the beggar say
that provokes him? How does this suitor respond?
Antinous is the most arrogant suitor.
The beggar accuses Antinous of being selfish and having “more looks
than heart”.
Antinous responds by hitting him on the shoulder with a stool.
7. Why do the other suitors rebuke Antinous?
Because the beggar could be a god disguised as a beggar there to test
their behavior.
8. What is Penelope’s reaction to Antinous’ behavior?
She wishes he would die. “If all we pray for came to pass, not one
would live till dawn.”
9. Why does Penelope send for the beggar?
She hopes that while traveling the world, the beggar may have heard
about Odysseus or may have known him!
10. What questions does Penelope ask? How does the beggar respond?
She questions the beggar about his past (home, family) and the beggar
asks not to make him discuss such matters; it is too painful.
11. Explain in your own words Penelope’s famous “weaving trick”. For
how long did this ruse serve to keep the suitors at bay? How is the
trick foiled?
For three years, Penelope’s ruse of weaving and unweaving Laertes’
burial shroud deceived the suitors. By day she weaved, and by night,
she unwove, so the shroud never grew. The trick is foiled by her
imprudent maids who caught her and “ratted” her out.
12. What does the beggar tell Penelope at the end of the interview? Why
do you think he says this?
He claims to have seen Odysseus. The beggar says that Odysseus is
about to set sail for Ithaca and he is alive and well!
He says this to give Penelope hope!