The Homecoming from the
Odyssey
Hamilton High School
English 9
Mrs. Chen
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Mt. Olympus
Troy
Cicones
Lotus Eaters
Cyclops
6. Aeolia’s Island
7. Laestrygonians
8. Circe’s Kingdom
9. Land of the Dead
10. Sirens
11. Scylla & Charybdis
12. Calypso
13. Ithaca
Picture Source: http://www.nadasisland.com/odyssey/
Book 16: Father and Son
• Odysseus has been gone from his home
for 20 years. What changes does
Odysseus find on his homecoming?
All of the people from his former life have grown
older. His son is now a tall man. Furthermore,
Ithaca has changed to the extent that Odysseus
does not even recognize his island.
Epic (P1144, L19-23): What theme is
being developed in this epic simile?
“Think of a man whose dear and only son,
born to him in exile, reared with labor,
has lived ten years abroad and now returns:
how would that man embrace his son! Just so
the herdsman clapped his arms around Telemachus…”
A. Eumaeus’ reunion with Telemachus is like a father’s
meeting with his only son after ten years’ absence.
B. Eumaeus is like a father to Telemachus during
Odysseus’ absence.
C. Family relationships are deep and enduring.
Epic (P1144, L26-30): How do these
lines indicate an epic setting?
“Light of my days, Telemachus,
you made it back! When you took ship for Pylos
I never thought to see you here again.
Come in, dear child, and let me feast my eyes;
here you are, home from distant places!”
A. These lines indicate a journey to strange and distant
lands.
B. These lines suggest that Telemachus has been
engaged in his own epic voyage during his father’s
absence.
C. Both A and B.
Reread lines 1-60 and put the following
events in order:
a.
b.
c.
d.
Eumaeus says she is waiting for Odysseus.
Eumaeus greets Telemachus like a long-lost son.
Odysseus goes to Eumaeus’ mountain home.
Telemachus enters, Odysseus moves, and Telemachus
stops him.
e. Odysseus thinks Telemachus’ footsteps are those of
one of Eumaeus’ men.
f. Eumaeus makes a couch for Telemachus.
g. Telemachus asks about his mother.
h. Athena sends Telemachus to Eumaeus’ home.
i. They all sit down to a meal.
c ___
h ___
e ___
b ___
g ___
a ___
d ___
f ___
i
___
Epic (P1145, L61-67): What
supernatural event is described here?
“Saying no more,
she tipped her golden wand upon the man,
making his cloak pure white and the knit tunic
fresh around him. Lithe and young she made him,
ruddy with sun, his jawline clean, the beard
no longer grew upon his chin. And she
withdrew when she had done.”
A. Athena changes Odysseus to a different person.
B. Athena transforms Odysseus into a young, cleanshaven man in fresh clothing.
C. Athena turns Odysseus to an immortal.
Reread lines 61-90. What central
conflict is beginning to find
resolution in this scene? What
elements indicate the importance of
this moment?
Possible answer: The scene between Odysseus
and Telemachus begins to resolve Odysseus’
long struggle to be reunited with his family
and to return to his own home. The
supernatural elements elevate the moment,
infusing it with a mysterious, fateful quality.
Reread lines 99-107. What striking
character traits is emphasized in
both Odysseus and Telemachus?
Why is this unusual?
Possible answer: The emotional depth of
both characters is striking. Their feelings
of longing and loss are emphasized in this
passage. Such an open display of emotion
is unusual for a hero and his son. Until
now, Odysseus has kept these feelings at
bay.
Book 17: The Beggar at the Manor
Reread lines 28-41. Why is it
considered a dramatic irony that
Eumaeus still doesn’t know that he is
speaking to Odysseus in disguise?
Hint: Dramatic irony is when the reader
knows more than a character knows.
Book 21: The Test of the Bow
Archetypes are
characters, situations,
and images that are
recognizable in many
times and cultures
What archetypal image do you recognize in
these lines (L8-10)?
“Then came a rasping sound
as those bright doors the key had sprung gave way-a bellow like a bull’s vaunt in a meadow”
The image of a bull bellowing in a field is an archetypal
male image. The bull suggests strength, anger, power.
Its bellowing indicates both a warning and a challenge.
The bull represents Odysseus and reminds us that he
is preparing to defend his home and family.
Archetype: Identify the trait that
Odysseus values so highly in these two
servants (L60-64).
“I bore adversities, but in the twentieth year
I am ashore in my own land. I find
the two of you, alone among my people,
longed for my coming. Prayers I never heard
except your own that I might come again.”
Epic: Identify the plot stage in lines
84-93. What do you think is about
to happen?
The conflict between Odysseus and the
suitors is coming to a climax; the action is
rising. Odysseus is preparing to face the
suitors with his loyal servants and his son
by his side.
Epic: What is the primary
conflict in lines 94-104?
The primary conflict is between Odysseus,
who hopes to reclaim his home and family,
and the rude suitors who want to displace
him and kill his son.
Epic: Book 21 ends with the image
of father and son standing side by
side facing more than 100
enemies. How can this be
considered an epic moment?
This is an epic moment because Odysseus is making a
heroic stand against an enemy that greatly outnumbers
him in order to defend home and honor against those
who have scorned and abused him and his family. He
must bring to bear all of his heroic traits—bravery,
strength, determination, and cunning---in order to
vanquish the enemy.
Book 22: Death in the Great Hall
Identify the metaphor in line 3. What does
this detail add to the description of
Odysseus as a warrior? (P1156)
“He poured out at his feet a rain of arrows
from the quiver…”
The metaphor compares
the falling arrows to pouring rain.
Epic: Read lines 7-15. Does
Odysseus seem to have the
support of Apollo? Why or why not?
Odysseus does indeed seem to have
Apollo’s support, given that he made the
shot for which he invoked Apollo’s name
(line 6)
Epic: What reasons does Odysseus
give for killing the suitors (Lines 34-40)?
“You yellow dogs, you thought I’d never make it
home from the land of Troy. You took my house to plunder,
twisted my maids to serve your beds. You dared
bid for my wife while I was still alive.
Contempt was all you had for the gods who rule wide
heaven,
contempt for what men say of you hereafter.
Your last hour has come. You die in blood.”
Suitors stole his goods and tried to take his wife.
They showed no regard for what was right and
thereby dishonored him and themselves.
Epic: What is Eurymachus’
motivation in lines 45-59? What is
his strategy for achieving his goal?
Motivation: He wishes to save himself and his friends.
Strategy: He tries to mollify Odysseus by saying that his
reasons for being angry are correct, but that only
Antinous, as ringleader, was to blame, and Antinous is
dead. He reminds Odysseus that despite their errors, he
and the other suitors are of Ithaca, Odysseus’ own
people. He also promises that the suitors will pay him for
everything they consumed and an additional 20 oxen
each, as well as bronze and gold.
Why do you think Odysseus rejects
Eurymachus’ explanation and offer of
restitution (lines 61-67)?
• Odysseus probably doesn’t believe that
Antinous caused all the trouble.
• He may also consider all the men
responsible for going along, regardless of
Antinous’ role.
• His anger is too deep to accept restituion
for the dishonor they caused him.
Lines 70-84
Discussion Questions:
• Have you ever met a person that you
disliked yet couldn’t help admiring in some
way? How does this enhance your
understanding of Eurymachus?
• What heroic qualities does Eurymachus
possess?
• Do you think that Eurymachus is a good
leader? Explain your opinion.
Epic: How has the battle with the
suitors taken on epic proportions?
In this battle, Odysseus’ heroic traits—
bravery, cunning, and strength—must now
come into play. The gods have already
shown signs that they are on Odysseus’
side, in Zeus’ thunderbolt (Book 21, lines
115-118) and Apollo’s apparent response
to his plea for help (Book 22, lines 5—6).
The interest of the gods heightens the epic
proportions of the battle.
Epic (lines 110-118): How does
Telemachus conduct himself in this
conflict with the suitors?
Telemachus shows that he is the song of
Odysseus in character and action as well
as in blood. He is brave, able, and quick of
foot and mind.
Book 23: The Trunk of the Olive
Tree
• Reread lines 22-26.
What do you think is
the motivation for
Penelope’s
skepticism about this
man who claims to be
the husband she
hasn’t seen in 20
years?
cautious &
deliberate
What conflict does Odysseus face
now? How is this conflict different
from his other struggles in the
homecoming section of the
Odyssey? How is it ironic?
This conflict involves proving his identify to his
wife. The conflict is not a physical struggle but
an emotional one between Odysseus and
Penelope. It is ironic that he must prove himself
to his wife after struggling all these years to get
back to her.
Archetype (P1164):
• How has Penelope tricked Odysseus into
proving his identity? What do her actions
suggest about archetypal characters?
Penelope wanted to check Odysseus’ reaction when
she told her servant to move his bed and make it up;
this would be impossible, because Odysseus had made
one bedpost from an olive tree still rooted in the
ground. Only he would have known this. Penelope’s
actions show caution and guile, traits expected of
archetypal heroic characters.
Epic (P1165): Reread lines 58-80.
What traits of Penelope’s does this
speech reveal?
This speech reveals Penelope’s
thoughtfulness, her self-awareness,
her loyalty, her strength, and her
underlying tenderness.
Epic simile (lines 83-86): What is
Penelope compared to in these lines?
“his dear wife, clear and faithful, in his arms,
longed for
as the sunwarmed earth is longed for by a swimmer
spend in rough water where his ship went down
under Poseidon’s blows, gale winds and tons of sea.”
Penelope is compared to a safe shore,
where a tired, shipwrecked swimmer
comes to rest after a monumental struggle
for survival in tumultuous seas.
Part II Vocabulary
• adversity
• aloof
• commandeer
• contemptible
• desolation
• implacable
• restitution
• revelry
• revulsion
• tremulous