final odyssey

1. Even though Penelope is eager to hear what Telemachus has learned about Odysseus on his journey, what does Telemachus tell her to do instead?

Telemachus tells Penelope to go back to her rooms and pray to the gods instead of pressing him for news.

2. What does Telemachus say to Piraeus when he suggests that he bring all the gifts Telemachus came home with to Telemachus’s house?

He tells him to hold onto the gifts until things are more secure in Ithaca.

3. When Penelope finally gets Telemachus to tell her of Odysseus, what does Telemachus tell her about what happened to him?

He reports that Odysseus is alive but stranded on Calypso’s island, with no certain way home.

4. What does Theoclymenus tell Penelope about Odysseus’s whereabouts?

He prophesies that Odysseus is already in Ithaca.

5. Who do Odysseus and Eumaeus encounter at the spring just outside Odysseus’s home city? How does this person greet them, and how does Odysseus respond?

They meet Melanthius, the goatherd, who insults Odysseus and kicks him. Odysseus endures the abuse silently.

6. Just outside of Odysseus’s home, who recognizes him, despite his disguise?

His old dog, Argos.

7. Who criticizes Eumaeus for bringing a beggar into Odysseus’s home?

Antinous

8. When Antinous, thinking Odysseus was a beggar, refuses to give him any food, what does Odysseus say to Antinous in response?

He calls Antinous arrogant and warns that the gods will punish him.

9. Who throws a footstool at Odysseus when he is still disguised as a beggar?

Antinous

1. Who tried to drive Odysseus out of his own house while he was still disguised as a beggar?

Irus, another beggar.

2. What does Antinous use to try to talk Irus and Odysseus into fighting each other, and what does Odysseus make him promise to do if Odysseus agrees to fight?

Antinous offers food and rewards, and Odysseus makes him promise not to interfere if he wins.

3. Why did Odysseus decide on the “gentle tap” as opposed to killing Irus on the spot?

He doesn’t want to reveal his true strength too soon.

4. How does Amphinomus react when Odysseus warns him, “I think the pretenders and [Odysseus] will not part without bloodshed, when he returns to this house”?

Amphinomus is troubled but remains with the suitors anyway.

5. What makes Penelope decide to show herself to the suitors?

Athena inspires her to appear and win gifts from them.

6. When Penelope comes before the suitors, Eurymachus tells her that her beauty would attract even more suitors if she allowed the whole nation to see her. What does Penelope say to Eurymachus in return?

She responds with modesty, saying her beauty has faded since Odysseus left.

7. What does Odysseus, while still disguised as a beggar, say to Eurymachus after Eurymachus accuses him of not being interested in doing honest work?

He defends himself, saying poverty forces him to beg, and criticizes Eurymachus’s arrogance.

1. What excuse does Telemachus give for storing the arms?

He says he is moving them to protect them from smoke damage and from the suitors’ misuse.

2. Who lit the way to the storeroom with a golden light when Telemachus goes to store the arms?

Athena.

3. When Penelope insists on seeing and speaking to Odysseus while he is still disguised as a beggar, who does Odysseus tell Penelope he is?

He claims to be a traveler from Crete.

4. To prove he really saw her husband, Penelope asks the disguised Odysseus to tell her what her husband was wearing when he saw Odysseus years before. What is Odysseus’s answer?

He accurately describes Odysseus’s clothing and the brooch he wore.

5. What good news does the disguised Odysseus tell Penelope?

That Odysseus is alive and will soon return.

6. What does Penelope tell Odysseus’s old nurse Eurycleia to do?

To bathe the beggar’s feet.

7. How did Odysseus receive the old scar above his knee that Eurycleia recognizes?

He got it from a boar’s tusk while hunting as a boy.

8. Who named Odysseus and what does his name mean?

His grandfather Autolycus named him; it means “man of pain” or “trouble.”

9. When his nurse Eurycleia blurts out who Odysseus is, why didn’t Penelope hear her?

Athena distracts Penelope so she doesn’t hear.

10. What is the contest Penelope tells the suitors she has decided to use to choose her husband from among them?

They must string Odysseus’s bow and shoot an arrow through twelve axeheads.

1. What does Athena tell Odysseus when he cannot sleep while waiting to revenge himself on the suitors?

She reassures him that the gods are on his side.

2. When Penelope wakens the night before Odysseus gets his revenge, what does she beg the gods to do?

She begs Artemis to kill her so she won’t have to marry a suitor.

3. What does Zeus send as an omen for Odysseus?

3. What does Zeus send as an omen for Odysseus? A loud clap of thunder.

4. What does Eurycleia have the maids do as Telemachus leaves for the market-place?

She orders them to clean and prepare the house.

5. What is the difference between the way that Melanthius treats the disguised Odysseus and the way Philoetius treats him?

Melanthius insults and abuses him, while Philoetius treats him kindly and hopes for Odysseus’s return.

6. What warning does Telemachus give the suitors as they return to Odysseus’s house?

He warns them not to mistreat the stranger (Odysseus in disguise).

7. What warning does Theoclymenos give the suitors after they taunt Telemachus, and Agelaus expresses doubt that there is any hope of Odysseus’ return?

He prophesies doom and death for the suitors.

8. Who is listening at the door to all the talk among Telemachus, Theoclymenus, and the suitors the morning Odysseus and Telemachus are about to take revenge?

euraclyia

1. What does Penelope get from the storeroom after telling the suitors about her decision to choose a new husband?

Odysseus’s great bow.

2. Is Telemachus able to string Odysseus’s bow?

No, though he tries three times.

3. Who are the only two servants to welcome Odysseus’s homecoming, and how does Odysseus prove to them that he is their master?

Eumaeus and Philoetius; he shows them his scar.

4. After he reveals to them that he is their master, what does Odysseus ask Eumaeus and Philoetius to do to help him?

To lock the doors and keep the women safe while he deals with the suitors.

5. When Eurymachus doesn’t want to allow Odysseus to try the bow for fear his success would give all the suitors who tried and failed a bad name, how does Penelope reply?

She says the bow is hers to give, and she wants the beggar to try.

6. What does Penelope say she will do for the “beggar” Odysseus if he succeeds in bending the bow?

She promises him fine clothing and gifts.

7. Why does Telemachus send Penelope back to her room and how do his words surprise and please her?

He asserts his authority as her son, showing his maturity, which pleases her.

8. What sign does Zeus send when Odysseus successfully strings the bow?

A loud clap of thunder.

9. When Odysseus nods to Telemachus, what does Telemachus do?

He arms himself and prepares for battle.

1. Whom among the suitors does Odysseus kill first?

Antinous

2. Hoping to save his own life, what does Eurymachus say to Odysseus about Antinous?

He blames everything on Antinous and begs for mercy.

3. What does Telemachus retrieve from the storeroom and for whom after he kills Amphinomus?

Weapons and armor for Odysseus, Eumaeus, and Philoetius.

4. How does Melanthius get weapons to help arm the suitors once Telemachus and Odysseus start attacking them?

He sneaks into the storeroom through a back passage.

5. How do Eumaeus and Philoetius the drover stop Melanthius from making a second trip to the storeroom to arm the suitors?

They catch him, tie him up, and hang him painfully from the rafters.

6. In what form does Athena appear during Odysseus’s fight with the suitors?

She appears as Mentor.

7. After Athena challenges Odysseus to continue to fight against the suitors, what form does she take and where does she go?

She takes the form of a swallow and perches on a beam.

8. Why aren’t the suitors able to kill Odysseus, Telemachus, Eumaeus, and Philoetius?

Athena deflects their spears.

9. Which of those fighting on Odysseus’s side are wounded in the fight with the suitors and where is he wounded?

Telemachus, wounded slightly on the wrist.

10. What happens when Athena holds her cape against the suitors?

It terrifies and confuses them, making them miss their strikes.

11. Who does Telemachus ask Odysseus to spare during their fight battle with the suitors and their supporters?

Phemius the bard and Medon the herald.

12. When Odysseus spares the two men that Telemachus asks him to spare, what message does Odysseus ask them to send to the other men?

To tell the others that the gods are on Odysseus’s side.

13. Once Odysseus has dealt with the suitors, what does he ask his old nurse, Eurycleia, to do?

To gather the 12 disloyal servant women.

14. What happens to the women who betrayed Odysseus’s house?

They are forced to clean up the blood, then Telemachus hangs them.

1. How does Penelope test Odysseus to be sure that Eurycleia is correct about his true identity?

She asks about their marriage bed.

2. What is the secret of Odysseus’s and Penelope’s marriage bed that only the two of them know about?

It was built around a rooted olive tree and cannot be moved.

3. What does Odysseus have to do to finally appease the wrath of Poseidon?

Travel inland carrying an oar until he meets people who know nothing of the sea, then sacrifice to Poseidon.

4. Whom does Odysseus plan to visit after reuniting with Penelope?

His father, Laertes.

1. Which great heroes of the Trojan war do all the dead suitors encounter as Hermes leads them to the land of the dead?

Achilles, Agamemnon, and Ajax.

2. What does Agamemnon tell Achilles after Achilles tells Agamemnon how sorry he is that Agamemnon died such a terrible death?

Agamemnon praises Penelope’s faithfulness and contrasts her loyalty with Clytemnestra’s betrayal.

3. Which of the suitors tells Agamemnon about how all the suitors died?

Amphimedon.

4. When Agamemnon hears the story of how all the suitors died, what is his response?

He praises Penelope’s virtue and Odysseus’s glory.

5. What does Odysseus do when he finally sees his father Laertes after so long?

He tests him with a false story before revealing his true identity.

6. How does Laertes respond when Odysseus asks him who his master is and tells him that he once had Laertes’ son as a guest?

He mourns, thinking Odysseus must be long dead.

7. How does Odysseus prove his identity to Laertes?

He shows his scar and describes the trees Laertes once gave him.

8. When the people of the city hear what has happened in Odysseus’s house, how do they react?

They are outraged and gather to take revenge.

9. What does Medon tell the people of the city and how does that affect them?

He says Odysseus acted with the gods’ support, which calms some of them.

10. What advice does Halitherses give to those who are upset by the suitors’ deaths?

He urges them not to fight Odysseus, warning it will bring ruin.

11. What do both Athena and Zeus agree to do about the bad blood between Odysseus and the families of the men he killed?

They decide to bring peace and end the cycle of vengeance.

12. What happens at first when the men who were angry with Odysseus come armed against him?

A battle breaks out between them and Odysseus’s supporters.

13. When Athena tells Odysseus to make peace with the men who attacked him after he reunited with his father, how does Odysseus respond?

He obeys and stops fighting, making peace at last.