The Odyssey Books 13-20

Book Thirteen

Odysseus Leaves Phaeacia and Reaches Ithaca

What does Poseidon do to the Phaeacian ship and crew?

Poseidon turns the ship to stone and wants to surround the Phaeacians with a mountain.

As the Phaeacian ship approaches its home port of Scheria after dropping off Odysseus, Poseidon turns the ship to stone making it instantly sink to the bottom of the sea.

Poseidon was mad that the Phaeacians decided to help Odysseus and spoil him with riches, though they are his own descendants. He wants til the people can see the boat, turns boat to stone, then lets it sink to ocean bed. He wants to put a mountain around the city so no one can come again, however the Phaeacians try to sacrifice twelve bulls for mercy.

After he arrives in Ithaca, what does Athena tell Odysseus to patiently do?

Not tell any man or woman that he has returned.

Odysseus must disguise himself, not telling anyone he has arrived home, and not saying who he is.

Odysseus must hide himself and not tell a soul that he has returned home

What does Athena tell Odysseus about Penelope, his "godlike wife"?

She sits at home, in misery, from her grief.

The suitors have been attempting to marry Penelope for 3 years, offering her many gifts. Penelope mournfully looks for Odysseus' home coming.

An ordinary man would go straight to his wife and children. Odysseus is more cautious and wants to test her. Penelope spends every night in misery and every day in tears. Three years of the suitors, lording over the house and courting Penelope. She is kind with promises and messages, but her mind is with Odysseus and her yearning for his return.

Into what kind of person does Athena transform Odysseus?

An old beggar with tattered clothes.

Into a an old, ragged beggar. She makes his skin withered, makes his hair thinner, dims his eyes, and dresses him in tattered, dirty clothing.

She bleaches hair, wrinkles skin, and dims eyes. She gives tattered clothes full of soot.

Book Fourteen

Odysseus Meets Eumaeus

How do the dogs behave toward Odysseus?

The dogs rush towards odysseus with loud barks, almost ripping him apart, the swineherd rushes to chase away the dogs.

How does swineherd Eumaeus treat Odysseus when he arrives?

with xenia, offering generosity despite not knowing it is odysseus. He fends off the dogs, invites him in his home, provides him with food, clothing, and treats him with dignity.

Gives what he has, which is not much, even though hee does not know this stranger.

Where does Eumaeus sleep?

outside near the boars and pigs to guard his absent master's property

Book Fifteen

Telemachus Returns to Ithaca

What does Telemachus do while his crew rows back to the city?

binds his sandals onto his feet, grabs his bronze-tipped spear from the deck, and walks swiftly up into the hills to the farmstead of the loyal swineherd, Eumaeus

Book Sixteen:

Odysseus Reveals Himself to Telemachus

How do the dogs behave toward Telemachus?

trained to bark at strangers, they were quiet when they say Telemachus, and panted at him. Odysseus assumes due to their behavior, someone friendly and well known has arrived.

What message does Telemachus ask Eumaeus to deliver to Penelope?

to tell her Telemachus has arrived home safely, but to only tell her, since if others here the news, they will plot to kill him.

How do the dogs respond to Athena?

the dogs do not bark or attack; instead, they cower and run away whimpering. Like Odysseus, the dogs are able to see the goddess even though she remains invisible to normal mortals

How do both Odysseus and Telemachus react when Odysseus reveals himself to Telemachus?

They both express shock, disbelief, and embrace each other while weeping, displaying tears and affection.

How does Odysseus instruct Telemachus to behave if the suitors are abusive to Odysseus?

restrain himself, repress his feelings, and politely tell them to stop this folly even though they will not listen. Just watch.

What "bad news" do the suitors learn about Telemachus?

Telemachus managed to escape their trap to kill him. His journey to find more about his father was successful. Despite their lookouts and attempts, a god brought him home safely. Need new plans to murder him.

Book Seventeen

Odysseus goes to the Palace as a Beggar

About what does Penelope complain when she first speaks to Telemachus upon his return?

for leaving without telling her where he was going, and for putting himself in danger while she was kept in the dark weeping and worrying about his safety

What "truth" does Telemachus tell Penelope about Odysseus?

that Odysseus was last seen trapped on the island of the nymph Calypso with no way home

How does Melanthius treat Odysseus at the "well-made spring"?

with extreme hostility, verbal abuse, and physical violence. He taunts him for being a beggar, and kicks him on the hip with spite. Even though he is tempted to harm him, odysseus maintains self-restraint to conceal his ultimate plan.

Why does Antinous reprimand Eumaeus?

Eumaeus brings the disguised Odysseus (the beggar) into the crowded banquet hall. Antinous accuses beggars for draining their wealth/spoil feasts, and claims beggars add no value to their feast.

Book Eighteen

The Boxing Match with Irus

Book Nineteen

Eurycleia Recognizes Odysseus

Odysseus tells Penelope several lies. Name one.

His Identity (Aithon): He claims his name is Aithon and that he is a noble prince from Crete. Minos grandpa Deucalion is his father. He is the younger brother. In Crete, he saw Odysseus. A storm had driven him off course at Malea. He escaped the winds and found refuge in Amnisus for the boats. Good friends with Aethon's brother, Idomeneus, who left earlier. Gave crew xenia and lavish welcome. stayed for twelve days. It has been twenty years. Odysseus wore purple cloak of doubled folded wool, golden brooch wit double pins. dog held down fawn. soft white tunic and shiny too. Herald Eurybates, mind matched his. To see Evilium.

The Cretan Encounter with Odysseus: He fabricates a story that he met and hosted the real Odysseus in Crete years earlier, that odysseus boats were blown off course, and he welcomed odysseus into his home.

Why does Eurycleia recognize the beggar as Odysseus?

by a distinct scar on his leg from a boar attack when he was hunting with his cousins on Mount Parnassus. The white tusk pierced above his knee.

What threat does Odysseus make to Eurycleia?

to kill her along with the other female servants in the house if she reveals his true identity to anyone

Book Twenty

Odysseus Prepares for his Revenge

How does Philoetius treat Odysseus?

the loyal cowherd treats the disguised Odysseus with deep respect, kindness, and unwavering loyalty, standing in sharp contrast to the abusive suitors and the unfaithful goatherd Melanthius.

Evoke

bring or recall to the conscious mind

Deduce

To draw a conclusion from fact; to infer

Advocate

to recommend; to speak in favor of

Adhere

to stick to; To believe in and follow the practices of

Tenuous

(adj.) thin, slender, not dense; lacking clarity or sharpness; of slight importance or significance; lacking a sound basis, poorly supported

Very weak or slight

Consensus

general agreement

Bolster

(v.) to support, give a boost to; (n.) a long pillow or cushion; a supporting post

Validate

(v.) to confirm, support, corroborate (Yoko's chemistry lab partner was asleep during the experiment and could not validate the accuracy of her methods.)

Erractic

(adj.) not regular or consistent; different from what is ordinarily expected; undependable

Obstruct

be in the way of; hinder; impede; block

Nuanced

Characterized by slight degrees of meaning or expression

Repression

The restraint, prevention, or inhibition of a feeling, quality, etc.

Curtail

To reduce in extent or quantity

Prominent

important; famous

Provoke

stimulate or give rise to (a reaction or emotion, typically a strong or unwelcome one) in someone.

Buttress

(v.) to support, prop up, strengthen; (n.) a supporting structure

Subtle

Adjective So delicate or precise as to be difficult to analyze or describe

Subsumed

include or absorb (something) in something else.

Substantiate

(v.) to establish by evidence, prove; to give concrete or substantial form to

Repudiate

(v.) to disown, reject, or deny the validity of

Ironic

(adj.) suggesting an incongruity between what might be expected and what actually happens; given to irony, sarcastic

Palpable

(adj.) capable of being touched or felt; easily seen, heard, or recognized

Derive

To take or receive from a specific source

Resilient

(adj.) able to return to an original shape or form; able to recover quickly

Denounce

publicly declare to be wrong or evil

Mandate

(n.) an authoritative command, formal order, authorization; (v.) to issue such an order

Verb: To order something to be done or someone behave in a certain way

Foster

(v.) to bring up, give care to; to promote, encourage; (adj.) in the same family but not related by birth

encourage or promote development of

Juxtapose

To place close together for contrasting effect

Reciprocate

respond to (a gesture or action) by making a corresponding one.

Epitome

The best or most typical example

Noun: To be most perfect example of

Capitalize

To attempt to gain an advantage from an opportunity or situation