Odyssey Review

1. Odyssey Review Books 13 - 24

2. #1 How does Odysseus arrive on Ithaca? He’s asleep on a Phaeacian ship. The Phaeacians carry him and all his gifts onto shore while he’s still sleeping.

3. #2 Who is the first character Odysseus meets on Ithaca? Describe him or her. Odysseus meets Athene dressed as a young shepherd.

4. #3 Where does Odysseus spend his first few days on Ithaca? In the hut of Eumaeus, the faithful swineherd.

5. #4 Give three facts about Odysseus’s disguise while on Ithaca. His skin is withered, he’s bald, he looks old and stooped, his clothes are ragged.

6. #5 Which character is addressed by Homer in the second person? Eumaeus.

7. #6 Briefly describe the story of how Eumaeus came to be on Ithaca. He was the son of a powerful man on his home island. When pirates come by, his nurse ran away with them and took Eumaeus with her. She was killed, and the pirates sold Eumaeus to Laertes, Odysseus’s father, during a stop at Ithaca.

8. #7 Who is the first person on Ithaca to learn of Odysseus’s true identity. Describe how that recognition happens. Just before a private conversation between Odysseus and Telemachus, Athene changes Odysseus back to his normal appearance. Odysseus convinces his son who he is.

9. #8 Who accompanies Odysseus into town, and whom do they meet en route? Eumaeus accompanies Odysseus. They meet the goatherd Melanthius on the path, who taunts and abuses Odysseus.

10. #9 Who dies soon after hearing Odysseus’s voice? Argus, Odysseus’s faithful old hunting dog.

11. #10 Why does Odysseus beg around the table of the suitors? He wants to see how each will treat a poor beggar.

12. #11 What’s the alternate name for Arnaeus? Who is he? Irus is a beggar who regularly begs at the palace.

13. #12 What participates in the fist fight, and what is the prize? Odysseus and the beggar Irus particpate in the fight. The winner gets a prime piece of meat, a “goat paunch.”

14. #13 Give the names of two people who throw things at Odysseus. Antinous and Eurymachus each throw a stool at Odysseus; Ctesippus throws a cow’s hoof at him.

15. #14 What clever means of stalling about making a decision on her second marriage does Penelope use and how long does it work? She says she needs to weave a burial shroud for her father-in-law, Laertes, but each night she unravels the day’s work. This goes on for three years.

16. #15 Who is Eurynome? She is Penelope’s housekeeper.

17. #16 Inspired by Athene, Penelope tells the suitors to prove they are worthy to be her husband by this means that follows normal tradition. What is her idea? Each suitor must bring her a magnificent gift.

18. #17 Who is Eurycleia? Faithful old servant who had been Odysseus’s and Telemachus’s nurse.

19. #18 Describe how Eurycleia becomes aware of Odysseus’s true identity. At Penelope’s request, she is washing Odysseus’s feet when she catches sight of a scar on his leg just above the knee.

20. #19 How did Odysseus get the scar? When he was a young man, he was attacked by a boar when hunting with his grandfather Autolycus.

21. #20 Describe the prophetic dream Penelope relates to the beggar during their conversation. In her dream an eagle swooped down and broke the necks of 20 geese that Penelope kept. The eagle then reveals itself to be Odysseus and said the geese represent the suitors.

22. #21 What is the sign that Penelope is supposed to watch for as the indication that she is to remarry according to Odysseus’s instructions before he left for Troy? When Telemachus grows and beard.

23. #22 What preparation for battle does Odysseus make the same night that he holds the private conversation with Penelope? Who helps with that work? (two characters) Odysseus and Telemachus hide all the weapons in the hall. Athene holds a light for them.

24. #23 Describe the contest for her hand in marriage that Penelope announces to the suitors. Each man must try to string Odysseus’s powerful bow and then shoot an arrow down the handle rings of twelve lined up axes.

25. #24 To whom does the beggar reveal his secret just before the battle. How does he prove who he is? Odysseus shows Eumaeus the swineherd and Philoetius the goatherd the scar he ot from the boar.

26. #25 What will the beggar win if he succeeds in stringing the box Penelope will give him a new cloak, passage to anywhere he wants to go and some money.

27. #26 When does Odysseus reveal his identity to the whole crowd of suitors: Just before stringing the bow Just after stringing the bow and shooting the arrow down the line of axes After killing the first suitor After Athene arrives c. After killing the first suitor

28. #27 Tell the name of the first suitor killed and describe how his death occurred. Antinous is the first suitor to die with an arrow from Odysseus’s bow through his throat.

29. #27 Which is the second suitor to die, and who kills him? Eurymachus is the second suitor to die. Odysseus shoots an arrow through his breast and liver.

30. #28 What is Melanthius’s treachery? Melanthius finds the storeroom open and brings a dozen shields and spears to the suitors.

31. #29 Who suspends Melanthius to stop his work for the suitors? Philoetius and Eumaeus

32. #30 Describe Athene’s arrival during the battle. Athene appears in the form of Mentor.

33. #31 What other form does Athene take during the battle? She changes into a swallow.

34. #32 How does Athene help Odysseus and his friends during the battle? Twice she causes a volley of spears thrown by the suitors to all miss their marks.

35. #33 Who are Medon and Phemius? Medon is the herald and Phemius is the minstrel.

36. #34 Who saves Medon and Phemius from being killed and why? Telemachus saves them by arguing with Odysseus that the were unwilling workers for the suitors.

37. #35 Who is responsible for identifying the good and the bad serving women? Eurycleia.

38. #36 How many serving women were punished and how? Twelve serving women were hanged from a ships cable by the necks until dead.

39. #37 Describe Penelope’s first encounter with her husband after she knows the beggar is Odysseus. She sat across the room from Odysseus “with bewilderment in her heart” staring at his downcast face.

40. #38 What instructions does Odysseus give to the household after the battle clean up is complete? Tell why he does this. He orders the musicians to play and everyone to get in their fine clothes. He wants the townspeople to think there is a wedding going on so the word of the massacre won’t get out.

41. #39 What is Penelope’s final test to make sure the beggar is Odysseus? In his hearing she orders that their bed be moved out in the hallway. He gets mad because knows the bed the used to have was built around a tree and couldn’t be moved.

42. #40 Where does Odysseus go after his night getting re-acquainted with Penelope? To see his father, Laertes.

43. #41 What is happening in the first pages of the final book? Where is it set? Hermes is leading the souls of the suitors to Hades, where they meet many other dead spirits.

44. #42 Describe Laertes appearance and occupation. Laertes is a farmer. He is old and worn in ragged and patched clothing.

45. #42 The families of the dead suitors seek to battle with Odysseus and his friends. Why does this battle not happen? Athene and Zeus interfere and demand that the combatants stop fighting..

46. #43 Give the term that describes the part of the following expression that is in italics: the prudent Penelope Epithet

47. #44 Give the term that describes the part of the following expression that is in italics: “Odysseus, son of Laertes” Patronymics

48. #45 Tell the term for the Greek concept of hospitality. Spelling counts. Xenia

49. #46 Tell three facts often true about the beginning of an epic. It begins in the middle of the story (in media res), it contains a statement of theme, it reveals a storyteller or calls upon a muse for inspiration.

50. #47 What is a libation? An offering of some liquid to the gods. It is used during a ceremony or during other times to honor the gods and is often poured out on the ground.