Odyssey - Book 19

What does Odysseus order Telemachus to do?

Remove the weapons from the hall

What excuses should Tel. give when taking out the armour? (2)

1 To stop smoke damage 2 to avoid their use in a quarrel

Who provides light in the hall?

Athene

Who abuses Odysseus?

Melantho, sister of Melanthius

What does Odysseus look like?

A beggar

What does Od say to Melantho? (2)

1 He was rich once 2 He gave good xenia to beggars

What does Penelope do?

Tells off Melantho

Who is Penelope compared to? (2)

1 Artemis 2 Aphrodite

What does Pen do for Od?

She provides a chair

Why does Pen want to chat to Od?

She wants to ask about her husband

How does Od flatter Pen?

Her fame has reached heaven, like a good king

In what way are they both alike in what they say?

They have both suffered much

What does Pen feel about her husband?

She eats her heart out with longing for him

How had Pen kept the Suitors at bay initially? (2)

1 She wove a shroud every day 2 and unpicked it every evening

Who was the shroud for?

Laertes, when he dies

How many years did Pen's trick work for?

3 years

Why did Pen's trick stop working?

Disloyal maids told the Suitors

What reasons does Pen have for remarrying? (3)

1 Od has been away 20 years 2 Her parents want her to remarry 3 Tel. wants the Suitors to leave

What false story does Od give about his family? (3)

1 He is the grandson of Minos, king of Crete 2 His brother Idomeneus was fighting at Troy 3 His father was Deucalion

What does Od say had happened on Crete? (2)

1 Od had arrived on his way to Troy 2 and been entertained for 12 days

What is Pen's response to hearing of her husband?

She weeps like a river filled with melted snow

What three pieces of evidence does Od mention? (3)

1 The golden brooch 2 The tunic 3 the squire Eurybates

What does Od say about the brooch?

It showed a hound attacking a young deer

What does Od say about the tunic?

It gleamed like the skin of a dry onion

What news does Od give Pen? (3)

1 Od is returning home 2 with a large fortune 3 but no crew

What does Od have no crew?

They were killed because they ate the sun god's cattle

Where is Od now apparently?

At the oracle of Dodona, to find out the will of Zeus

What is Pen's response to this news?

She is uncertain

What is Od's response to the offer of Pen? (2)

1 He wants to sleep by the door 2 But he will accept a foot wash from an old maid

Who is Eurycleia?

Od's old faithful nurse

What is significant about the scar on Od's thigh?

A boar had wounded Od

Where had Od been hunting?

At his grandfather Autolycus' house

What was Autolycus? (2)

1 The most accomplished thief 2 a manipulator of oaths

What did Odysseus, the name given by Autolycus, mean? (2)

1 I am angry or 2 I am the cause of anger

Why did Autolycus suggest the name Odysseus?

He had been 'at odds' with many men and women

How does Od stop Eurycleia from revealing his identity? (2)

1 Grabs her by the throat 2 threatens to kill her

Who had distracted Penelope?

Athene

What two options does Pen have?

1 Stay, in loyalty to her husband's bed 2 marry again, so Tel. can enjoy the house

What dream does Pen have? (3)

1 A great eagle 2 kills her flock of 20 beloved geese 3 breaking their necks

What does the eagle say in the dream? (2)

1 The geese are the Suitors 2 the eagle was Od. returned home

What two sorts of dreams are there? (2)

1 those from an ivory gate (false) or 2 those from a horn gate (true)

Which sort of dream does Pen think she has had?

A false dream from the ivory gate

What test does Penelope propose for the Suitors? (3)

1 String the bow 2 Shoot an arrow through 12 axe-heads 3 like Odysseus

Who helps Pen sleep?

Athene